Brimfield Flea Market

Sunday we went to a flea market the size of a few blocks. broken wind-up wristwatches, giant heavy tables made out of found wood and factory parts, jewelry, door knobs, plates, dresses, a giant antique yellow sofa (the kind with the arms splayed out), bells, cameras, Buddhas, all things rust (like old-fashioned apple peelers), vases, glass figurines, posters, step stools, postcards (with and without writing, I got one sent in 1908), scales, glass bottles, suitcases and storage trunks, wooden cases with tons of tiny little drawers, cameo and other pins, and 'open' sign with an arrow (like those seen in movies about old Vegas or old NYC), lamps from many different eras, cigarette lighters with wicks, baskets, furniture keys, chairs, books, Life magazine and Playboy, spools of thread, type keys and other stamps, more tables, rugs, satchels, large coral, shoes, photo enlarger that just needed a light bulb, machine oil, school lockers, mirrors, and so many things that I didn't even know what they were. I  don't know if I saw things just once and they impressed me, or multiple times. If I saw them multiple times in different places, or just past the same place more than once. Like the city of Zirma, a blind black man shouting in the crowd, a lunatic teetering on a skyscraper's cornice, a girl walking with a puma on a leash.

We got Polish food from a man who moved here 25 years ago but still wears Polish crest necklace, and got lemonade somewhere else. I sent the postcard from 1908 to Hannah, the vendor told me all he knew about Marshall McLuhan, which was a lot; About how he predicted that it was information that was valuable, not computers, and that he coined the terms "global village" and "the medium is the message". We also talked about how they no longer are teaching cursive in schools, which I read about as well, and how because of that one of the guys who came by looking to buy (and sell) autographs was freaking out because what happens to autographs when penmanship dies. How writing by hand will be an upper class thing again. "Wait one second, I have to finish" he said "this is one of my favorite topics". Though, in spite all this, Sima came from school today and told me that they are going to start teaching them cursive in third grade, same as they did with me. The vendor was so caught up in his own speech that he gave me an extra dollar back in change.

Some boy tried to get my attention (which caught me off guard more than usual) and Mama said "I know! you can't meet boys at bars. They are too standard and basic for you. You need to meet boys at places like antique fairs, where they are strange and inadequate"

Birthday Queen

Yulka's birthday, as usual, was during our camping trip. She had considered not coming - but something about being alone on the day she turns 22, after spending it with us for most of those years, turned her against the decision (thankfully.) For me the night was perfect in a way words cannot quite describe, though I will pitifully try.

The four of us (Yulka, me, Lizza, Veta) celebrated, first sitting on top of the playground structure, trying to get enough reception to play a Miley Cyrus song from when she was still Hannah Montana. We watched the sun set and felt the chill set in. Most everyone went to the theater that day, but we drove to a gas station instead; played a mix cd on the way, got chips and the saccharine poison Red Bull. Ordered a Dominoes pizza and consumed it, crouching in front of Yulka's car on the pavement. Lizza and Veta presented the Birthday Queen with cards and flowers and a bracelet. I was happy, and I think they were too.

CC 2014

I wrote to Sorrel about camping this year, and she agreed that this is what it's like when you meet up with old friends: everything is exactly the same, yet different.

We did things, as usual - same people with a few variations, and the kids are growing. KVN, climbed in the trees of an adventure park, swam. We put on plays, played music, cooked, played games, attended classes, hugged, slept, stayed awake, drank, recited poetry. Part of the time I felt anxious like a crumpled piece of paper. Part of it I was as gleeful as a soon-to-expire spark of fire, singeing joyously against the cold summer night. Sometime I will be back again, but not to this place, not quite.

coconut cake

DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT

says the banner in the middle of town. I'm not sure what they want me to vote for. People have been standing on the corners of streets with signs -- waving and smiling, but their waving and their smiling is so peculiar that I have yet to read what the sign says.

Yesterday Yosef and I sat in the car after buying him school supplies, ate Reese's cups and debated who has a bigger nose. He turned 16 the day before, complaining about school the second day in, but I hope he enjoyed the coconut cake.

Tomorrow I'll be helping at a 3D printing booth at Sudbury Fair.

small summer

Yosef and I met the falling sun on the front steps, trying to scrub away the black crust from camp pots. We'd gone canoing earlier, past people jumping from trees into the water under the beating heat. Summer is coming to a close; the geese plump enough for flight, the trees whispering "we are still green but not for long", the period of convalescence from the academic year not quite enough for those returning to high school, but already too long for those not going anywhere at all.

they landed!

Yesterday a little before midnight I got in the car and drove to the airport. I passed a car in flames, smoke billowing mercilessly, a figure a few yards in front silhouetted by the street light.

Papa and Yosef seemed quite cheerful when I picked them up, despite the fact that one of their suitcases had been taken. I can only imagine the surprise of the person who took it when they get home: opening it up only to find it filled with ice picks and other mountaineering gear. (we got it back today though so it's okay).


currently on level 31 of this game: http://gameaboutsquares.com

girl on ground

1) Yesterday, Yulka and I went to Vegi Galaxy (black bean burger for her, chickpea and mushroom for me) before wandering around Central Sq. and inevitably ending up at the Arts&Craftsman store. We indulged ourselves in calligraphy pens and ink.

3) We then watched The Double (2013, UK) though I should probably read the Dostoevsky short story. Also recently: Man on Wire (2008, UK).

Welch-Dickey Loop from a couple weeks ago

4) Karen and I met up for the first time in a long time at the beginning of the summer, ate at the Border Cafe in Harvard Sq, walked from there to Northeastern. We followed up last weekend with pizza and coffee. The distance between people vacillates.

5) I dreamed I was dancing on water. I had to make sure my weight was distributed equally on the soles of my feet and that I moved quickly not to fall through into the lake.

6) Our refrigerator broke over a week ago. The snow my brothers gathered and kept through the years melted. The oldest bag filled with water and small twigs is from winter 2008-2009.

7) Sima did not manage to keep it a secret when his tooth fell out. He was too excited, running up to Mama and me to show it before washing it, putting it in a sandwich bag and under his pillow to be replaced by a Sacagawea coin.