Beads

Halina and I made bracelets together at blue door beads on Piedmont Ave the other night. We also shopped at the used bookstore and ate burritos at the street-facing wndow counter at Baja. The pale pink buildings near the old library were a little rosier than usual from the sunset and the air was moist and coastal, with a touch of warmth beneath the chill. There wandered past our perch, on the other side of the glass. an endless parade of interesting people to watch, including a teenaged couple dressed for prom who settled on a bench across the street, beautiful and awkward. Time alone with Halina is easy and gentle and I treasure it. And the way she can see each thing, like each bead, with openness, looking outward with warm eyes from the special, comforting place of being connected. Since that night out, she's been sick for a few days -- low fever, lying on couches and beds, mostly comfortable, just sleepy and listless. We've been spending all day together. It's more sweet time, though I'm sorry that she's been sick. But It's nice to have her near, to have her home, to be quiet together.