An eventful day...

The waves have almost disappeared. And, the National Weather Service has popped my bubble of hope about that tropical system floundering off the Cape Verde Islands. Now it only has a 10% chance of survival. It's just as well, I suppose. I can only imagine what would happen if a storm raged up into the Gulf right now. Shudder. This whole oil disaster is making me wonder if it really isn't the end of days.

So, how did today begin? I will abbreviate it for your sake, if you are still reading. I want to write all this down so I can remember all the things that comprise a life.

Today was the day I was to meet someone my massage therapist set me up with. I hesitated to give her my number when she asked. She said he was lamenting the lack of women his age that surfed, that he could go surfing with. I am all about making life interesting, so I said okay.

He met me at the beach today, and so far, so good. He wasn't the hunchback of Notre Dame or anything, and I don't think he thought I was, either. Although, he did say he had a doctor's appointment at eleven, so I thought it might be a ploy to escape, just in case things turned out, well, not as expected. He looked a little like Pete Dooley, and we all know what a good-looking fellow he is! But, it was Pete Dooley with a country boy accent. Don't judge, woman. Many a North Carolina man has made a good friend or life mate.

I saw him carrying a classic board, looked like an eight footer (a Yater spoon). He said he had earned it for doing something at work at the power company where he has worked for 26 years. The waves were tiny, but he pointed out one peeling off, and said how beautiful it was out there, no one around. First thing that happens is he turns right around to go back in, telling me, "I'll be right back, I forgot to take out my hearing aid!" I smiled to myself. Classic. I am old, too, that's right. I had forgotten. We are two old surfers here.

He came back and caught a left. Ah, a goofy foot! We talked as we stood, holding onto our boards, in the cool water. He has kids, all grown, and we talked about them. Then, somehow, we got on the subject of the oil spill, and ended up getting really depressed without answers or solutions. It all feels so hopeless. He said it is so much worse than anyone ever let on. We talked about the animals, the fisherman, what is going to happen? He said he heard a representative from BP say that on a grand scale that it is really nothing. "Can you believe that?" he asked me. Insert blood boiling sounds here. We talked about humanity. He has a much bleaker outlook on it than I do.

Soon it was time to go, but not before a discussion about... his colostomy experience! I am tempted to just go get it over with, just for the twilight sleep part. This is what you talk about when you are in your fifties. We headed in around 10 am, so he could make his apparently for real doctor's appointment (skin check-up). We talked about how no one used sunscreen when we were kids, how we would surf all day, burn our lips, and do it again as soon as they healed up. Stupid.

He said he wanted to go surfing with me again on his next day off, and that's fine by me.

Then it was off to sell Ghost Books downtown in this hellish heat. I can do it! Let's hear it for summer jobs! Or, in my case, let's hear it for ANY job.

First stop, the Lighthouse Museum. The buyer wasn't in today, figures. I looked down to see a huge bear of a dog sitting in the middle of the floor, a thin, frail, old man gently bending over to pick up the end of its leash. As he stood back upright, he looked into my eyes and smiled sweetly at me. I had a little shock. Dang, that guy looks like George McGovern! I realized it really was, as the women behind the counter started talking about "George." "He climbs two steps at a time!" they said - about his lighthouse explorations. Apparently, he must have a summer home here.

Next stop, the Surf Inspired Cafe to shoot photos of my art for Heather.

Three people are sitting around a table outside, and one of them, this tall good-looking guy with pale blue eyes says, "Well, here she is, gorgeous woman, where have you been?" I recognized him, but at first was unsure when I had seen him last. He looked for all the world like Jeff Bridges, and I must say the moment was a bit compelling. But, little by little, the more he spoke, the past emerged and I wanted to escape. He began rattling off his story, and I recalled, oh yeah... the guy at the pier that remembered me from my surf shop days... I had some trouble recalling his name. And then the same story began to unravel, about the wife who had cheated on him with a younger man, how they had both tried to kill him. Again he showed me the bullet wound in his leg, and told me about finding religion (in prison?). Ugh. Er, excuse me, but I have an appointment.

That's enough for this old blog today. Let's just say that the last experience reminded me how people are hooked into things like cults and religions and even relationships. For a split second, before reality brought me back, I was in the clutches of a very charismatic man. He clearly is insane, somewhat, but he has his game so down, seems so intelligent and believable, that had I not known what I know, I might have fallen it for a day. He wanted two hours of my time to talk with me, whenever it was convenient. I thought about all the women he probably could trick, and has tricked, with his charms. God, he looked like Jeff Bridges at that moment... and he would not take his eyes off mine. I ended up leaving without even saying goodbye to him, after I spoke with the owner, I was so taken off guard and disturbed by this.

On the way home, this song's words jumped out at me.

Don't fix
my smile.
Life is
long enough.

We will put this
flesh
into the ground again.