Never mind what I do (did) for work or what I look (looked) like, details which have become irrelevant since The Day It All Happened.
Monday:
Forget Monday. I love work and Monday was an all work day and nothing noteworthy happened.
Tuesday:
Wedding invite reminder for this weekend is on my calendar. Perfect as I am starting to become a little unhinged from the relentless pace I've been flogging myself at. I have many ways to blow off a little steam and a drunk-fest with everyone looking for a little sexy time is near the top of that list.
Wednesday:
This is where things got weird. A black cat crossed my path while I was warming up for an early morning run. I'm not superstitious but I noted it in particular as it came at the same time as a deep chill. My fight or flight reflex kicked in and I actually ran forward a few steps while looking behind me while all my muscles tightened and prepared to react.
Nothing behind me, but just for a moment I felt caught in time. Not a breath of wind, not a hint of motion; it was dead silent and still. The moment passed. Bird song returned, I could hear a TV inside a home, a garage door opened. I had tons of nervous energy now and started my run early and fast. Soon the pace and intensity captured most of my attention, but a little unsettled chuckle remained with me over being spooked like that.
Today was healthy day which included a cool shower after the run to really make the body tingle followed by a tomato omelette with a slice of rye toast. A reflection to round out the health positive focus. Dress and leave for work. Usually. That is the usual, normal healthy day routine.
Today I walked in the house still breathing very hard from the intensity of the run, and still dissecting the whole cat sudden death like stillness experience, threw my keys on the entry table while swinging the door shut and after two steps further stopped. Suddenly.
I was a longtime holdout of the home phone, but finally gave it up a month ago. I'm pretty sure it hadn't rung in over a year beyond a telemarketer. So phone gone. Being a lover of these older technologies ( I still have a VCR for instance ) I also had the separate voicemail machine. It was blinking.
I stood stock still and considered these things. First, the telephone isn't on that stand. In fact the telephone is gone. It wasn't a cool looking one and didn't make much of a decoration. That voicemail machine on the other hand often received comments when people stopped over. Not the point but in moments of stress the brain thinks odd things. Second, the flipping voicemail machine is flashing! As if it is holding a new message. Third, if I keep walking straight I can just go right out the back door, grab the second set of keys as I go by the dish on the kitchen counter where I keep them, use the gym shower and clothes I keep in a bag in the car to get ready for work today. And most importantly forget all about this morning.
I feel very strongly that is the smartest option to take. So I do it. I keep walking, grab the car keys and out the door into the car. I've broken into a sweat. I feel that nervous chuckle coming back with a sudden feeling of nausea. The car is started and I am backing out of the driveway when I pump the brakes. What am I doing!?
I'm stopped. I put the car in park and look around. Button a window down. The sun is shining. It's a completely gorgeous day and my neighborhood looks completely normal. 'Get a grip!' I think. And in this case I seem to equate that with courage which equals going back into that house and continuing along the previous healthy day checklist, obviously sans reflection at this point because peaceful meditation is absolutely not happening. Courage is often indistinguishable from foolishness, so fine, let's see how this turns out.
Deep breath and I enter through the back door like swat teams on TV every day. I don't actually kick the door down, but you get the idea. Honestly I'm starting to feel ridiculous finally. The house feels normal.
And the voicemail light is flashing. "Hi D, it's your favorite naughty aunt Leah. I'm having a package dropped off for you later. It's very special and will continue where I left off all those years ago!" All in aunt Leah's beautiful voice. Sounding happy and I certainly noticed a huskiness at the end. My aunt Leah had left off from a thrilling education into my adulthood. The family was slightly unclear where she got her money, but all agreed she was the very definition of an adventuress. She flew in and out of our lives when I was growing up and each time our bond grew and became it's own unique thing. She eclipsed the sun with her charisma. When I turned 18, she swooped in and took me on a whirlwind trip that introduced me to so many things. We started in Vancouver BC and partied, then a trip through Ecuador and some serious sweating and bug bites while we trekked through jungle. Australia, Thailand, Morocco, Italy, Amsterdam, Paris and home. It seemed everywhere we went she was welcomed as a longtime friend. And of course she introduced me to the universe of sex. She joked about how 'ripe' I was, she touched me in ways I had never experienced before, but most importantly she opened my eyes. It wasn't just a journey of her teasing me and copulating with me non-stop. We were in fact rarely alone. But she not only treated me as an adult, she took me to very adult places and put me in incredibly titillating situations. She made becoming an adult a moment in my life. I focus on that because I never saw her again after that trip. She returned me home a changed person, kissed me on my lips and said "I'm off." She was declared dead three years later. That was ten years ago.
In fact today is just two days shy of that goodbye kiss thirteen years ago. Friday is the day. This year it's Friday the 13th.
I showered, skipped breakfast, and went to work. I worked super late. Stopped for a drink on the way home, considered a little appetizer for the weekend. Ultimately decided against. Went home, left the lights off and showered and slept.
Thursday:
My calendar let's me know it's an insanely busy day. So quick shower, dress and head to the kitchen for a bigger breakfast. And there is a package on the small table I typically eat at when alone. Looks about like an 8 x 8 cube in plain brown paper. My name and address in block. It's a little creepy, but I figure after yesterday's mystery, this is tame by comparison.
Since I don't owe the mafia money and a random bomb or anthrax seems just so-oo-o blasΓ©, I just go for it. My aunt taught me to grab life and hold on and this seems like one of those moments. I ( carefully) unwrap the brown paper, grab a knife and open the box. I remove a couple of pieces of foam and voila! Another box. This one beautifully wrapped in some vermillion almost cloth like paper. As I pull this box out one side flares out into golden origami wings! The wings slowly flex open as they unfold and it's absolutely mesmerizing the way they catch the light and seem to be ready for flight. Mesmerizing right up until my cell rings.
Oh-no! I have been somehow staring at this thing for an hour and my calendar is letting me know my first appointment is 5 minutes from now! Thursday turned into an all-hands on deck affair overnight at work.
Friday:
I'm still at work! We worked until 9am closing one of the largest accounts to date. The boss had a champagne brunch delivered and told everyone thanks and to show up ready to go Monday.