I Wear My Sunglasses At Night
When I woke up on Friday morning, there was no air left in my tire. Not exactly an auspicious beginning to the day. We were supposed to head out to a bluegrass festival in Ramah, but Big O Tires at Central and San Mateo became the first order of business. I have spent enough of my life in auto shops, so I opted to wait next door in Castle Superstore, the Walmart of sex emporiums. I entertained myself by perusing the dvd section. I absolutely love the titles. The only other customer was some guy wearing black Dickies and no shirt. He had a giant Virgin Mary of Guadalupe tattoo on his back. Seriously, dickies and virgins. Sometimes life is my favorite joke. By the way, this little episode was the most normal thing that happened to me yesterday.
Hours later but back on track, I set out for the mountains with Chelsea, Henry and Elizabeth. I am sometimes taken aback by what an awesomely beautiful place New Mexico is. If you have never been to Ramah, please go. It’s near El Morro and El Malpais on Highway 53. The evening was brimming with good weather, good friends, good food, and good music. Toward the end of the night, someone near our tents started playing Appalachian Civil War tunes on his fiddle. There is something about the fiddle that just breaks my heart. The songs were so breathtaking, they mitigated what happened next (audio only until 2:12, highlights at 0:07, 2:20, and 6:23):
It might seem like a remarkable coincidence that I happened to record the exact moment of my fall, but I fell because I was recording. I would have noticed that dastardly log had I not been looking at my camera instead. I was after footage of a drunk guy who was smashing his way through a group of tents. It’s called karma, folks.
I drove home alone on Saturday, an early departure. I decided to stop at the El Malpais Information Center. It didn’t occur to me that it was probably an odd decision until I walked in. Adults tried not to look at me, alone in the badlands with a black eye. Children stared in open astonishment. I bought this book about riparian areas because I was taken by the lovely shade of blue on the cover. And the beavers. The Park Ranger was very kind to me. I think he thought I was a battered woman.
What else… I went to Urgent Care. The wound was irrigated and glued and taped. Too late for stitches. I got a Tetanus shot. Then, Myles and Angela took me to dinner at Nob Hill Bar & Grill. I started spontaneously bleeding at the table and had to walk through the crowded bar to get to the bathroom. BUT! I plan to wear a navy blue eye patch to my cousin’s beach wedding next week. I am wearing this pretty sailor dress and intend to go as a pirate.
I love my eyeball. I couldn’t be happier that it is still in my face.
The End.
