Equinox

My boss invited me out to his farm in Nanjemoy, Maryland to join him and his friends for a Spring Equinox party today, so I traveled into Washington, DC yesterday afternoon to meet him and his girlfriend Danielle for the drive back to their place.

They share their home with another couple, George and Krishna, who have a son, Theo. Theo is three years old. I've never spent a day in the company of a three-year-old before.

The property seems to be rather large, running down to the banks of Nanjemoy Creek. We hiked down to the creek this afternoon just so I could see it. Robyn's mother, Carol, joined us, and some other friends arrived at the house and caught up with us at the creek.

Carol had brought along her binoculars. Apparently, she's an avid bird watcher with a special fondness for eagles. We spotted a couple of eagles, Canadian geese and some blue herons in flight. Carol loaned me her binoculars and returned to the house. After she left, I saw four eagles in view at the same time and a couple of red-tailed hawks.

Robyn's brother, Phelan and his wife, Sasha, showed up with their daughter, Valerie. Valerie and Theo really enjoyed the creek, and Valerie's parents had a hard time keeping her from inadvertently falling into the water. :-)

The household did put me to work a little today. Robyn and I drained the water pressure tank and George put me to work in the kitchen, preparing a Savory Mediterranean Strudel (ingredients included carrots, cream cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese and currants) which was very tasty. Carol brought blueberry cobbler and there was lots of other food.

An old friend of Danielle's, Doc, showed up with his girlfriend, Mia. They caught up with our group at the creek. The two of them, me and Danielle hiked through the forest back to the house, so I got another hike today. The creek was very broad and calm at the little dock and it was just beautiful, with just a hint of fog in the air.

Later, Doc and Mia announced that they were leaving to go home in DC. Well, Mia lives in DC; Doc teaches in a little town in New York State. Anyway, they agreed to carry me into DC so I could catch a train back to Baltimore.

By the way, Doc is cute and has a very nice ass. He and Danielle walked together during our hike with Mia trailing after him, leaving me to bring up the rear. I spent the time appreciating his rear. I've decided that I need new pants to show off my own. The things I'm wearing are all too large; I'm not sure how that happened. :-\

When I get home, I'm planning to start cleaning my apartment. Doug M. is coming to visit next weekend. We have tickets to see David Sedaris at the Myerhoff in Baltimore next Sunday, so he'll be driving up on Saturday and spending the night. I want to make a good impression! I hope a week is enough time!

Things I want to write about

• My coming out
• Books that influenced me after I learned I had HIV

Reflections on the spotless mind

As I left Robyn's farm, I asked if I could borrow one of the DVDs that were on the shelves in the guest room, which also serves as their television room. Robyn readily agreed, so I selected Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Sitting in the train station, groping in my bag for Rise of Endymion, I found the DVD and realized that I had my computer with me. My computer plays DVDs! So I started watching it while waiting for the train and continued watching it during the trip to Baltimore. When I arrived at home, I zapped some microwave popcorn and sat down to finish it.

Joel is having his memories of Clementine erased, but realizes that he doesn't want to lose them. He flees throughout a mental landscape, pulling his memory of her with him, trying to escape the relentless dissolution of their time together, but there is no escape. Finally, they're in the final memory to be erased -- their first meeting.

The memory plays out for a bit, then she breaks out of it to say, "this is it, Joel. It's going to be gone soon."

"I know," he replies.

"What do we do?"

He smiles sadly and says, "Enjoy it."

This is it -- this moment in our lives. It's going to be gone soon. Enjoy it.

More movie wisdom. :-P