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Sep 14

Weekly Worthy List #21: Bird among thorns

Memories: a great catalyst for inspiration!

Autumn dew hanging from the rose bush
Chirping birds make rhythmic counterpoints
Unpredictable and perfect
Sun both master and servant in this cool morn
Burning like an Aztec god
Devouring and raising the dead
From unformed ceramic graves
Where worm and root bask in the light of darkness
Bird among the thorns
Hops carelessly…so light that he is never pierced
The eyeless worm is seen
Robins egg blue…he is reincarnated

coffee shop

Sunday evening at Mr Toots, October 19th, 1990. The coffee house is pretty empty, but the smells are all there. Muffins, coffee, and some pumpkin pie drink…a chai I think. Grabbing my coffee from the counter I realize that I am running a little behind schedule, I was supposed to meet Katherine over by the Capitola theater at 6:30, we were going to see The Baron Munchausen for $2.00, better get a move on, I know girls like the whole on time thing. I grab my coffee and the one I bought for Kath and take it over to the creamer station and doctor up the super joe in our cups.

After stirring in the cream, I put the lids back on and head down the stairs. It’s a nice evening, about 65 degrees, a little ocean breeze. Walking past Pizza My Heart…I smell the pepperoni slices in their oven…oh lawdy…I am a little hungry! As soon as I escaped the pepperoni ether I was smack dab in the middle of the butter, wine, and garlic smells emanating from Zelda’s.

zelda restaurant

Damn, I am going to eat the HELL out of some popcorn at the theater!!! Funny, Kath and I always put our hands in the bucket at the same time, what’s up with that? A little grin is always there, the grin that secretly says, “Keep your paws on your side of the bucket.” Getting past Zelda’s patio I look down toward Aptos…the sun is going down on the Pacific, something I have never gotten tired of seeing, so glorious it won’t let you take it for granted! People are sitting on the sidewalk benches taking it in, and the fog bank is lurking out there…a gray-purple shawl that cools, beckons, and inspires leaves to glisten, returning from a seaborne exile that never lasts.

Capitola

Youth and love
Chasing the words and feelings
Always new and always followed by the butterflies of color
Style and meaning are mingled
Like they never will be again
The children adorned in elaborate garments
The paint is on their faces
Their hair combed into intentional plumes…shining and fragrant
How much decoration goes on in hopes to be removed…
To adorn the floors of young love

Tonight I am wearing my black Chi Pants, black beatle boots, a white t-shirt, and my thin-wool green army jacket. Nothing fancy, but I think Kath will like it. From a distance I spot her, oh wow, Madelyne is with her! Her little sister, super cute and a great artist. These two girls…parents DREAM about having kids like these. Me, on the other hand. Hey, my Mom loves me!!! Katherine is wearing a short and snug paisley skirt, with green and gold paisley print and a really cool long sleeved thin ribbed sweater in burgundy with a black coat akin to a p-coat, she looks sharp. Her strawberry blonde hair always looks cool when it lays on black clothes…stark…exciting. As I approach we smile at each other, she speaks first, “You got me coffee? How sweet…” A big wave crashes, I hand her her coffee, and we all stroll towards the theater…there’s a small line and I can smell the popcorn.

Capitola Theater





When he’s not enjoying fishing, road testing cables, or fielding musical or instrument cable questions over the phone/e-mail, Michael handles operations and purchasing and is simply loving life.