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We parked. The address was 9th @Folsom. That’s exactly what he had written on the napkin the night we met at Cafe du Nord. I hadn’t thought anything of it when he gave it to me, but now that the night was here, I realized that covered a lot of area. I looked at Emily. “Are we going to be able to find this?” She had no doubts we would find it; she was interested in having him paint a picture for her; we got out of the car.

 

We crossed the street. We had seen several people hanging out on the sidewalk as we drove by; we assumed that must be the art gallery/opening/party we were meant to attend. See, Michael was an artist. The artist we met at Cafe du Nord. Who convinced us we must come to his first showing. That he couldn’t talk about his art; we just had to experience it. So I had kept the napkin he had scribbled on for two weeks now. And truthfully, had forgotten about the event, until Emily reminded me last night. “That’s right. That’s tomorrow. Of course I’m still going…” 

  

The sign over the door read New Langton Arts. We ducked in. Funky beats reached our ears from the next room. We noticed a rope across the stairway with the words “Gallery Now Closed” strung from it. Damn. We had missed the show. Which surprised me, because when I had asked Michael how long the event would last he took back the napkin and scribbled, “Bedtime.”

 

We wandered into the darkened room, a theater of sorts. The DJ was spinning. A group of probably a dozen people danced, twirled, moved, gyrated, in front of us. This was not simply dancing. This was carefree movement, not afraid of judgment, doing whatever your body felt like doing movement. The dude in the blue suit with the heavy glasses jerking this way and that. The gray haired woman, twirling, twitching her shoulders, pulling her body through the space. The teenager with the massive tattoo on her lower back, bopping back and forth. The blonde, kicking high, dropping to the floor, pulling out never seen before breakdancing moves. Two women twirled another, urging her white skirt higher and higher and higher into the air. We watched, mesmerized.

 

Emily turned to me, wide eyed. I stared at her for a moment. “Are we in the right place?” I asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t see Michael anywhere….”

 

We watched the dancers some more.

 

“Look at them, Lori. Everyone is doing exactly what they want to. There’s no judgment here. Let’s dance.”

 

I looked at her. “I know. This is quite bizarro. I feel like I’ve entered a sci-fi movie. Are you sure you want to dance? I feel like, I don’t know, I feel like, we’ve entered a strange place, Emmy.”

 

“Do you feel like everyone’s tripping on something but you’re not?”

 

“Exactly! But it’s fun to watch.”

 

“I really want to dance. But I really don’t want to at the same time. You know in the movies, when everyone is going about their business, and then someone attempts something they shouldn’t, and the soundtrack sounds like everyone going silent and a record being scratched?”

 

I stared at her, urging her to continue with my stare.

 

“I think that’s what would happen if we went and danced. The music would stop. The dancing would stop. Everyone would stop and stare. Screeeeeeeeeeetch.”

 

I laughed wholeheartedly. “Emmy….” I started to say she was being silly. But then I realized she wasn’t. “Let’s do it. Let’s dance.” As the words left my mouth, the people left the dance floor. Only one brave soul remained. The man in the blue suit. He jerked. He gyrated. He was in the spotlight. He was everyone’s private dancer.

 

I turned to Emmy. At the same time we said, “No. Not now.”

 

“Emily, I think we’re in the wrong place.”

 

She laughed. “Let’s ask someone.” As we headed for the lobby, I noticed people sitting in the back row of chairs. “Psst. Emmy. There’s Michael. Right there. We’re in the right place.”

 

She looked long and hard. “No, he looks too stretched out. He wasn’t that long, Lori.” I stared again. “Hey, he’s getting up. Let’s wait here for a moment.”

 

He walked by. Very loudly I whispered, “Michael!”  He didn’t respond. I thought maybe he hadn’t heard me. “MICHAEL!” He turned to me. “I’m not Michael, but it’s a nice name…”

 

We went to the lobby. Emmy asked the ticket takers/bouncers/information desk if there had been an art show earlier. No, there had been a performance earlier, here’s a brochure, but no art show.

 

We took the brochures and left. “We WERE in the wrong place!” I exclaimed. We walked a few more steps and found Michael’s studio. Before entering I turned to Emmy, “I love going out with you. It’s always an adventure…”

“Hey, what are you doing the last week of July?” he asked me.

I thought. “Not sure. What’s up?”

“Come to Boston. Be a volunteer with me and Maggie at the Democratic National Convention.”

“Seriously? Okay, yeah, I’ll think about it.” And within hours I had booked a ticket to Boston.

It’s going to be extremely hard work, it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be unforgettable.

And Maggie needs more volunteers. Check it out here. Then meet us here.

There are some people who, when they’re around, you can’t help but feeling life is good, all is right with the world, there’s nothing better than this.

That’s the way it is with Cedric.

See, we met many, many years ago. But he was too self-absorbed to be my friend at that time. I dated his brother’s best friend all through high school. He, however, went to a different high school, the “exclusive” high school in our small town in North Carolina, RJReynolds, otherwise known as Society Hill.

We met again in San Francisco. We had happened to go to the same university. And had happened to both end up in the Bay Area. And had happened to end up on the same alumni mailing list. There was a notice that Cedric was coordinating a rave dance event South of Market and his contact information. I wasn’t really into raves, but I was just married, new-ish to the city, and craving connection.

I called. And left the following message. “Uhm. Hi, Cedric. This is Lori. Lori Simos. Lori McLeese Simos. I just saw your name in our Bay Area Alumni newsletter and that you’re coordinating an event and I’d like to help. Or something. I think we know each other. Aren’t you Chris’ brother? Well, hope you’re doing okay. Give me a call when you can.”

He returned my call promptly and we haven’t been apart since. Not “haven’t been apart” in the we see each other every day, do everything together, hang out in the same social circles “haven’t been apart.” More of a “you know me so well, I can tell you anything and not fear being judged, you are always there when I need you even if I don’t know I need you” kind of way.

We had planned to meet for dinner. I was running late. Not surprisingly. But wanted to be on time. Wanted not to disappoint. I arrived at the restaurant 5 minutes after our meeting time. He wasn’t there. I sat outside to read, relishing the cool breeze, loving the coolness against the perspiration I had worked up on my way up the hill. Words, words, words. My muscles relaxing. I felt my phone vibrate. I recognized the number, I thought. “Hi.” “Hello, dear. I thought that was you. Look to your right.”

I glanced up, dropped my phone, ran and threw myself at him. He swung me through the air. “Lori, Lori, Lori…” We hugged tighter. We kissed. We hugged. We screamed. We relished each other’s company. “I am so glad to see you. Have I ever told you how glad I am that you are a part of my life? Let me tell you now.” We laughed then laughed even more at the people’s reactions in the restaurant. Who was this couple? Who couldn’t stop laughing? Who couldn’t stop smiling? Who couldn’t stop talking over each other, trying to find out what was new, what was old, what was important? At one point he grew silent, looked at me in all seriousness and asked, “Do you realize what this is?” I thought. I didn’t. Or did I? No, I didn’t. “What? What is it, Cedric?” “This is our ten year anniversary. It was ten years ago that you called me.”

After many hours of talking, of discussing, of arguing, I left. Left, knowing that if everyone else in the world deserts me, I still have Cedric.

When I left last time, she scolded me, “Lori, Lori, what is it? What are you holding on to? Just let it go. Your shoulder, it is the Berlin Wall. Let it go.”

I thought. I couldn’t tell her. I didn’t know what it was I was holding on to, but I did know my shoulders and back constantly ached. What was it?

It’s the one indulgence I have. Every month, I go to my Czechoslovakian massage therapist. She pounds, pulls, kneads, massages me. She imparts her wisdom. She gives advice. She tells stories. She always greets me with a kiss and sends me off with a hug. It’s the best hour of the month.

Today I rushed from work to get there by 7. BART was delayed; the city was crowded; I shuffled in, mumbling apologies for being late. “You are so beautiful. Look at you. Let me try your shoes.” I laughed, undressed, and slipped under the flat coolness of the cotton sheet.

She began her magic. What would my body tell her today that my words didn’t?

“So, my dear Lori. How’s life? What is new with you?” I laughed. “See, you know how to laugh. Some people, they laugh from their ears. Not you. It is from your stomach. It is from your soul. So, dear, what is new?”

Work’s good. Stressful, but good. I’m working long hours.

“You are happy. You are relaxed. No more Berlin Wall. What else, Lori dear?”

Well, I’ve met a boy. In fact, I met him on the day that I last came to you. At the party. I wore a skirt, like you suggested.

“See, Seka always knows. You have good legs. No hide them with the pants. Tell me.”

I talked for a while, then drifted into that state of barely consciousness as she manipulated my body, pulling me deeper and deeper away from this world.

“Sleeping beauty….” I felt her lightly touch my shoulders. “My dear, my sleeping beauty. It’s time to get up. Slowly, dear, slowly.”

I tried to open my eyes. I really did. The weight of happiness, of relaxation, of bliss, kept them closed. I stretched. My back cracked. My muscles unfolded. I dressed.

“Lori, dear. You are balanced. Yes, your energy, all different ways. Everywhere. But you are balanced. No more Berlin Wall. It is a good thing.”

Yes, Seka, it is.

We walked to our favorite Mexican lunch spot. As we neared, he said, “Hmm, there aren’t many cars in the parking lot. I wonder if they’re closed today.”

“No, they wouldn’t be closed. It’s July 6th. They’ve had plenty of time for a holiday.”

We walked closer. “But that charbroiled stove in the corner of the parking lot does concern me,” I said.

We came even nearer. “I think they are closed,” I offered. “It looks like maybe there was a fire – do you see all the debris in the parking lot?”

Sure enough, there was a note on the door. “Due to a minor kitchen fire, we’ll be closed for the next month.” Aiy-yai-yai, La Pinata. Our favorite Mexican lunch spot. Closed for a month. That’s unfortunate.

We re-traced our steps almost back to the office. We had two choices of Chinese restaurants. “Let’s go to this one,” I suggested, motioning towards the closer one. We walked several steps before noticing the “Closed” sign in the window. “Oh.”

I was ready to head back to the company cafeteria. “No, no, no,” he countered. “I know this other place is open.” We walked up and sure enough, they were open, lunch specials and all. Sometimes you just have to have a little persistence.

He called and invited me to the game. Then uninvited me. Then invited me again.

I laughed as I met him by the Willie Mays statue. “It’s so good to see you! Thanks for the invitation, sort of…”

We entered the box seats. We screamed as the Giants led, 6-1. “Spank them, baby, spank them,” I screamed. He laughed. “I think you’re mixing your metaphors…”

She and I went to the bathroom. She headed towards an unmarked door. “Hey, is that the right way? Are you sure that’s the women’s?” “The worst thing we’ll see is a few penises….” and we entered, the back way into the women’s restroom.

“Hey! It’s the top of the 7th inning. We need to go get another beer before they stop selling them.” I bounded towards the concession stand. He said, “Hey, let’s go to the bathroom first, then we’ll buy beers.” “Good plan,” I countered.

We went our separate ways, meeting up a mere minute later at the concession stand. “Sorry, he’s our last customer. It’s the top of the 8th.” Huh? We only were gone less than a minute. How could this be? The man in front of me said, “No, no, no, I said two beers, not one. Two beers.” She poured him another then he handed it to me. Sometimes it’s nice being a girl in tight blue jeans and red cowboy boots.

I had a Jill Scott moment this weekend. Right.

I’m still reading Eats, Shoots and Leaves and I love it. I can’t put it down on BART. I squeeze in just one more paragraph before starting work. Today I read all about the history behind colons and semicolons.

I thought back to the first time I used, really used well, really used correctly, the semicolon. Ahhhhhh. It was Freshman English 101 at UNC. David, that was my TA. David, the name embodied a Greek god. He embodied a Greek god. A mountain man from Boone, via way of the beaches of San Diego, ranches in Montana, other locales I could only dream of. He wore faded blue jeans and a plaid flannel shirt. His blonde hair encircled his head in tight ringlets. His blue eyes penetrated whatever, whomever, he looked at. He was the most exotic man, the most exotic person, I had ever met.

He had the practice of passing out sample compositions, asking us to read them, then challenging us to pick out the one, the two mistakes. I was torn. Should I give into my inner desire to identify the error, to embrace my language geekiness, to the mutual exclusion of popularity in class? Should I? The class was small; in the end I didn’t care. I couldn’t stay away from the pull of the language. I raised my hand. “Yes, Lori?” “Well, the second to the last paragraph contains a split infinitive.” He smiled; I had identified it correctly.

Pre-David, I didn’t know the correct usage of semicolons. I used them indiscriminately. As he pointed out. One day in his office, I remember it well, the sun streaming through the windows, the cool air of an autumn day in Chapel Hill, he dissected my paper with me. “What are you trying to say here? Do you know how to use a semicolon?” I thought for a moment. “Actually, no, I don’t.”

“You can only use a semicolon when connecting two complete thoughts.” He pointed out my errors. Pointed out where colons were appropriate, where commas should be inserted, where my lovely semicolon could rest peacefully.

I’ve felt a certain smugness since then. I don’t think most people know the correct usage of semicolons; I feel a special calling to insert them into my writing. I notice when others use them wrongly and think of David, his blue eyes staring at my composition, “Do you really know how to use a semicolon?”

So where does the typing go? I often have several programs open at the same time on my computer. After toggling back and forth, I’ll begin typing, only to look at the screen and realize the words aren’t there. I’ve typed them. I toggle again. They’re not in any program. Where have all the letters gone?

It’s not particularly original, but it did make me laugh. My friend was waiting for me to meet him for drinks; I was obviously taking longer than he expected. This appeared in my inbox:

Lori- Lori Loo, Where Are You?

We Got Some Work To Do Now.

Lori- Lori Loo, Where Are You?

We Need Some Help From You Now.

Come On Lori Loo, I See You . . .

Pretending You Got A Sliver.

But You’re Not Fooling Me,

Cause I Can See The Way You Shake And Shiver.

You Know We Got A Mystery To Solve,

So Lori Loo Be Ready For Your Act.

Don’t Hold Back!

And Lori Loo If You Come Through

You’re Gonna To Have Yourself A Lori Snack!

That’s A Fact!

Lori- Lori Loo, Here Are You.

You’re Ready And You’re Willing.

If We Can Count On You, Lori Loo,

I Know We’ll Catch That Villain.

I called him, didn’t even say hello, and just laughed. “You’ve made your point; I’m on my way.”