What will I remember about the July 4, 2019?
I always think I will remember.
You mention a book I should read. Oh, I’ll remember that!
The name of your dog.
Your name!
A joke.
I always think I will remember.
What will I remember about today?
Without my notes?
I’ll need my notes:
1. I woke up before Brian and this essentially makes every day like Christmas Day where you can’t wait for everyone to wake up. Except instead of opening presents, there is breakfast, or a walk or something I have to tell him the minute he opens his eyes. But I don’t. I want to. But I try to give the man a minute.
2. So at 6 a.m. or so, I put another coat of paint on the radiator in the kitchen and listened to a podcast called 1001 Short Stories. This paint job required a lot of preparation. You can learn a lot about life by working on your house like this. I’ll return to this later.
3. Eventually Brian gets up and we go out for breakfast after the usual routine of feeding the cat, cleaning her box, etc.
4. We go for a ride. The Prius compliments Brian for not using the AC. The breeze feels good. I feel happy.
5. I wait in the car while Brian gets a few grocery items. Doing this same thing a little while ago, I got an idea for a movie that would be filmed from the POV of the passenger seat looking into the side mirror. When I went to Boston with Mary Jane last month, I waited in the valet area while she checked into the Westin Hotel. Again, looking into the side mirror at the action behind me… there is a movie here.
6. Brian notes that the yard needs some attention and wants to do some weeding before it rains. I like to imagine that he enjoys tapping into his inner farmer but he doesn’t admit it. He’s just doing what needs to be done.
7. I need to make a chalk line so that I can eventually install a handrail for the stairs. Brian helps me by holding one end of the line. It takes us a few tries, but eventually, we get it. I drill holes where the brackets will go. I think I found the studs. It seems like it. I hope so. It can be hard to tell with these plaster walls.
8. I continue to prepare the stairway for painting.
9. The back door where I am working upstairs is open. I can smell food cooking on grills around the neighborhood. I am reminded of my first night at the dormitory at the U of M – Morris. My dad who drove me there has left. My roommate – a person I have yet to meet – has not arrived yet. Outside I can hear people laughing, roving around campus is groups.
10. Brian is in and out. It starts to rain. It stops. He weeds in between.
11. Brian comes in from the yard covered in dirt. To the shower!
12. Brian lays on the bed. I sit in the chair by the window. The cat is passed out on her new favorite spot on the floor facing the door. Life is good.
13. Brian starts the grill. I wish that you could be here to join us.
14. I figured I better not fall off the wagon on day two…
15. Brian asks me how much corn on the cob I want to eat. He brings the package upstairs to show me how big they are. One.
16. Let’s eat.
17. Post.
18. Edit.
19. Brian watches the Red Sox lose.
20. I work on my short story.