Dream Pillow #12
July 25, 2009
This pillow is no longer available for purchase…
The Love story continues… The hazard of sleeping in random places is waking up and not remembering where you are. I had slept in a half a dozen places in the last two weeks so when I woke up on Joel’s couch, it took me a moment to remember where I was. Teddy had ended up on the floor facing me with his cute little perma-smile. Joel and I had worked hard over the last few weeks and this was the first morning we were able to sleep in.
I looked at my phone to see what time it was and noticed that there was a voicemail waiting for me from a number that I did not recognize. I needed coffee before I could even think about checking my voicemails. Up and alone, I got dressed and left in search of Java.
Pulverized bits of roasted bean goodness strangled through filters is an important part of my morning ritual. My being is always a bit brighter when I start my day with it. I found a Starbucks down the street from Joel’s on Ventura Blvd. It was 10am and the place was buzzing. The people were just as unique as their coffee orders. The tall, non-fat, Splenda latte was ordered by Angel a 20 something blonde, dressed to impress at 10am, in her shinny red stilettos, short ripped daisy dukes and fishnet stockings. The double shot espresso went to Kayeesha a “man” dressed in a skirt with hairy legs and long painted toe nails, and the mocha frap went to the only man dressed in a business suit. I was definitely not in Kansas or Chicago anymore.
I walked up to the counter and ordered a tall, decaf, vanilla latte. I always get decaf because I don’t like that jittery felling of the high octane stuff. I am addicted to the taste, but not to the feeling. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I took a few sips from my newly minted cardboard clad cup of blackness and savored the way it felt all the way down. The frothy milk and vanilla just made me want to smile. It doesn’t take much…
I sat down outside and checked my messages. The Publicist from Body Worlds called to see if I was interested in coming back to work for them to do PR for the exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston. I loved working for Body Worlds in Chicago and the thought of going to Boston intrigued me. My trip to California was definitely the start of something and a new journey to Boston might be more of what the shaman in the corner would have ordered for me if life was as easy as coffee.
I called the head of PR at Body Worlds who I started to call my “Fairy Godmother” because she made me an offer I just could not refuse. I was expected to be in Boston within a week which meant I would have to leave LA, fly back to Chicago, get my life in order there and be on a plane to Boston all in less than five days. It is amazing what life can bring when you’re not expecting it.
I went back to Joel’s and told him about Boston and we talked about the pros and cons. He felt that going to Boston would be a blessing because it would give me a chance to get over my ex-boyfriend, continue to heal from my brother’s death and allow me yet another opportunity to grow. The cons would be that my mom, sister-in-law and my nephews would have to adjust to being without me for the longest time I had ever spent away from them: Six months. I would support them, but could not be there for the day to day responsibilities of taking care of three boys and an elderly & sick grandmother. It would be a challenge.
As the day unfolded I booked my ticket to fly home to Chicago, called my mother to discuss the next steps and at about 6pm it finally hit me. OMG! I am going to Boston. It was easy to just say yes, but I have never lived outside of Chicago and have never been away from my family for more than a few weeks. I was going to be gone for at least five months and I didn’t know anyone in Boston. What was I thinking?
John Who?
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