I'm glad James and I decided to get a sitter and go to the party. The birthday girl is our neighbor and one of James' softball teammates. Many of the guests were from the Clean and Sober Softball League. There's nothing quite like hanging out with a bunch of recovering alcholics. They know how to have fun like no one else I know.
I spent most of the day getting Christian moved back into his room. The furniture arrived today, and it looks great! He's still not moved entirely in; we'll be back to work at that in the morning. Tomorrow my friend Cindy is coming down for lunch; and then there's the Superbowl, which we'll be watching now that we know it's on NBC not ABC (we're switching TV providers anyway).
Today, too, my friend, Marlene, was on my mind a lot. That's because three years ago today she took her own life.
In his inaugural address, President Obama quoted George Washington when he described the struggles our nation faced 230 years ago and the troubles we face today as occurring "...in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive..."
That phrase stuck with me: Nothing but hope and virtue.
I believe that life, like the seasons, is circular. That the darkness of winter is bearable only because we can count on the light of summer coming around again. The Celts recognized Feb. 2 as the day that the snowdrops, the first flowers of the new year, bloom in the cold and frost. They signify the promise that spring is close by.
On Feb. 2, 2006, I pointed out our blooming snowdrops to Christian on our way to the bus stop. Thirty minutes later I learned that my dear friend Marlene had given up on hope and virtue.
Marlene was quixotic, unpredictable, wickedly funny, fearless and fiercely loyal. We met in January 2002 and became fast friends. She traveled through life like a tumbleweed, and I knew she'd move on again. She did, indeed, leave Seattle in December 2005.
Marlene lived passionately. She cared deeply. And she reached out and seized experiences. She dragged me to piano concerts, plays, book readings and movies. Once we cut work to see a foreign film in the middle of the afternoon. It turned out to be soft-porn! Neither of us had been prepared for that. We we were horrified--but we giggled through the entire thing, slumped down in our seats, afraid of getting caught like kids. It was bad enough to sneak out of the office to see a movie, but to do it to see a dirty one?
I have a photo that I took of Marlene on Jan. 31, 2004. She and Denise and I were in Palm Springs. It was a fabulous trip. On that day in the depth of winter, we lounged in the warmth of sun and laughter.That's how I like to remember her.
The shortbread was well worth the wait! Firm, yet buttery and light. Wonderful texture and classic taste. I'm glad I live only 15 minutes away, because I pretty much ate what I could the whole way home. Not good for the body I plan to expose to the Palm Springs sun next week.
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