Short Night

I couldn’t do it.

Really,

I didn’t want to do it,

not anymore. Not tonight.

Sit in front of a screen, at night, and look at what?

I wanted to get out and go out.

I wanted to walk - while we still can.

(My Mom used to talk about that. She did not always follow through, but at least she understood. She aimed for something. Something higher.)

Do - what you can do - while you can do it, because… the day will come.

I wanted to get out - go out. I was (for one night - this shortest night) determined.

C joined me.

>>>>>

There is one place that we like and don’t visit often, 0.6 miles (a bit of a slope) walk from our house -

we could drive -

but it’s so different -

to walk

(my dream - to be able - into our older years - to walk)

(to walk to places and do something - anything - after the walk - - - shop - eat - drink).

It’s hot here now. Dry heat here, but still… hot.

But sun down, it’s OK. Not too bad.

Walk.

>>>>>

We ordered some simple nice drinks.

Talked to a very pleasant young woman.

She was talking to a young man. We overheard conversation. They were talking about their studies - college - school.

He’s going to be an MD, Doctor. She is going to be a Nurse.

She was being nice, nice to us (I think), but real too. I think she liked us, talking to us. (Not JUST - - - being nice.)

We talked about her future. She asked about us. (What do we do?)

Open, deep exchange.

Talk

For a few moments - No Screens

>>>>>

We paid tab. Exchanged names and best wishes. (Hope to see you agains.)

We left and, across the street, just down the hill from our house; 0.6 miles,

There is this large, rather fancy, quite a large building that always seems to be bustling,

A fancy gym. A fancy place with lots of activity - a place to work out.

>>>>>

On the roof of this couple, few stories tall building, we’ve noticed (tonight we noticed again)

Colored lights and music and activity - a party space - on a raised roof - atop a gym, a fancy gym - in the desert night.

I’d have never thought much about it, but tonight, before we walked back home,

C wondered aloud, “can we go up there, check it out?”

We were both thinking - no, probably not, we’re not members, they probably won’t let us in.

But what the heck?

Why not ask?

And so, we walked into lobby, close to end of evening. Close to closing time.

We could feel the staff - winding down.

They said “yes - you can go up” - elevator - 3 flights in our little neighborhood, set on a sloped plane

3 stories don’t really present as totally 3 stories here, on a sloped desert plane

Cool space, they were wrapping up a “pride event”.

(Don’t be scared. No one grabbed me or C, by the - anything.)

Regular people, people like you - people like me - nice night - having a few drinks and some fun.

Music, lights, a warm night in the desert, so close to our home;

A place so close - to our home.

A place - so close - a world away.

C and I met in Key West.

Places where people do their own things. No apologies. People being who they are. (The way we like it. The world as we wish it was.)

Nice evenings. No screens.

So good to walk (while we can) - short trip.

Home to our own beds and still, we got away.

Happy Solstice everyone.

Be you. Don’t be sorry. Be your best - you.

Tonight, and every night.

Shortest Night of the year.