My weekend started on Wednesday. A free pass to a beautiful new film always gets me going. Friends, beer, sake, drive, rain. Reluctant trip to the Lost Leaf, wasn't really feeling like it but decided you only live once, why not. I was expecting, well I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe more than a small handful of people and definitely not a band. The music is great but I need a cigarette and venture to the great outdoors. I make an ignored phone call to a friend I'm concerned with, finish my cigarette and attempt to go back indoors but am caught by a friendly smoking face. An unusually friendly greeting and extraordinarily brief conversation, all too strange for this place. "I'll see you in there" he says and I happily return inside to finish my glass of wine. There's a boy at the table and I don't know him. It is revealed that he is in the band that just played, just what I want to talk to right now, another musician. The hour progresses and somewhere in that short time I feel compelled to offer to drive this guy up to Prescott the next day to meet his band for their next show if he would just stay and hang out for the night. What's the worst that can happen? Taking a stranger home I've known for less than a couple hours, so I could wind up killed so I'm half joking and in the spirit of absurdity when I say this and then surprised to get a response of "Are you really serious?" I tell him if he will pay for gas and cigarettes it's a done deal. Moments later and he has his things and the van is driving away outside. Guess I'm going to Prescott tomorrow, what a complete prick I would be if I didn't.
Back to the house, glass of wine and straight into the pool. We get drunk, Melinda brings out her guitar, I've played for people for the first time in I don't know how long. She goes up to bed and we swim and talk. The worst deja vu I've had in a very long time. Things are happening to me in this moment that came to me when I was probably just a small child. Something big is about to happen. This is the hint from the Universe to start paying attention. I am lost in amazing conversation, I am accomodated, I am satisfied. Work the next morning flies by abnormally fast as if I wasn't even supposed to be there and the day is done in 2 hours.
I'm on the road again. A drive through Arcosanti and I feel alive again. Mile marker 45 and I'm afraid for my newfound life as a huge bug invades the car. Ready to tuck and roll, we pull over, cop stops and asks why we're dancing. BUG IN THE CAR! The boy announces he got it out and jumps in and rolls up the window, Melinda follows, I hesitate and jump in the car while thanking the cop for what, I'm not really sure, but thank you.
Prescott. Houses. Views. Cigarettes. Couch. Drinking out of cups. Drive to the venue, we've been invited to stay. Cigarettes. Dancing. Smoking. Stairs. Blur, blur, blur but not really at all. Back to the house with amazing music and smoking until the sky is blurry. I laugh so hard I think I've damaged something inside. It's the best hurt I've felt. An owl comes and watches us and we silently watch back, the beacon of wisdom of the night. Then the sun begins to rise and panic swells. Our time is drawing near. A bed is made a hug is given and that is that and that is the end.
I slip away in the morning, I have to be at work soon. On the drive home everything is illuminated and I am overwhelmed. A decision is made, I am moving to New York with Melinda, just like that. Plans are already in motion. 48 hours can be an entire lifetime and everything that follows can be completely different and will be. Some things are better left unsaid and just done, the only thing that brings change is action.
"I listen to the wind
To the wind of my soul
Where Ill end up well I think,
Only God really knows
Ive sat upon the setting sun
But never, never never never
I never wanted water once
No, never, never, never
I listen to my words but
They fall far below
I let my music take me where
My heart wants to go
I swam upon the devils lake
But never, never never never
Ill never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never"
-Cat Stevens
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