Letter to the Old Roomie

Thanks for your letter - such beautiful writing for a short Saturday night note. Glad to hear things are going well in Family-land.

Things are settling in here, yes. Of course, not having unlimited time or money means that his house will never feel quiet perfect (I could use some more shelves in the kitchen and bathroom, and need to get the guest bed set up, and wish for new carpet, or a baring of the hidden hardwood floors, in the living room). But, this being a rental, and not having the means to buy my own place any time soon in Expensive 'Ville, I guess I just need to get used to that. Mrs. Landlord called to say that the exterminator needs to come check to see if we have bats in the attic (like another of her properties on the other street does) and I just realised that I can't actually figure out how to turn the heat on in this house. Don't need to know right now, but will soon, and how ridiculous is that, that I can't figure it out!? You would think something so basic would be self-evident, especially after 3 decades of living on this planet.

Anyway, the weather has cooled significantly, as you probably know, still being just a few hours drive from here. It musta gotten down into the 50s last night, and I was hunkered down in my bed with my still-Summer-sheet-and-blanket pairing, kept waking up wondering whether I should grab another blanket and then wondering, if yes, where do I have said blanket stored, anyway? Needless to say, I never got up to get a second blanket.

School work has been coming along fine. This week, I've been alternating between reading a nicely written ethnography of healing practices in a Turkish Black Sea village and practicing guitar work. I'm using that Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1 that you left with the Yamaha - teaching myself all of the notes on the first three frets for each string, reading music and learning a few 3-string chords, so far. Focusing on this basic stuff suits me well for now - my background in music, as you know, is very formal classroom training type stuff, although not at a high level, per se, and since I already know how to read sheet music with about 85% accuracy (perfection in this area was not my thing (grin), the new part for me is translating the notes on the sheet music to the finger positioning on the guitar strings. Playing all kind of fun melodies like Worried Man Blues and Amazing Grace - and not using a pick, just thumbing along, which will suit me well later, I hope. I was flying through the lessons until I got to the notes on the Fifth String, and suddenly couldn't retain it all, so I'm practicing in 10 minute blocks, and just doing it steadily. Last night, at about 3 a.m. when the cold woke me up, I found myself worrying about what I'm going to do when a string breaks or I need to replace the strings - who can I ask for help? There are plenty of options, but, you know, then I'll have to admit that I'm learning to play and I was hoping that it could be my little secret for now.

Went out to dinner with L/C/I/A/T last night. Once again, broke the news that you had left. "I" asked about you (oh, and I'm just now remembering that he said he thought you were only in your late 30s/early 40s!) and L wished you good luck and we all talked about the people, like you, that we've met in our lives who have figured out how to work their asses off for the summer so that they can spend the rest of their year traveling. It seems like such a nice lifestyle, ideal really, in some ways, and then in other ways, not so ideal. But, you know that part better than I do, I guess.

Off for a run, a stop at Whole Foods, and to run an errand to get ready for hosting Supper Club here at the house this week. I want to buy a few Mums for the front porch and add a few homey touches before my dear friends all come over to see the place for the first time.

Much care,
C