melvina

there are ants in my chai.

i'm not sure where they came from. i mean. there ARE ants around the sink but i have killed them with terro or whatever. i love to watch them hover, feed. and die. it's a grand little ant farm but i really must protest about the being-in-the-tea-thing.

i woke up at 8am. after few hours of sleep. i have a great deal to do. i have to finish bodean's website in like- 4 hours. i have to see a navy recruiter. (YES, RHYS- I AM.) for the hell of it any way and make dee a strawberry pie for her birthday.

cigarettes and chai and pallu are my morning. keeping wu out of my books and other things. it's. hectic. i wish i had as much energy as she has.

so. any way. despite the ants in my chai, i feel all right. vaguely nauseous. but ok. yesterday, i visited pallu's breeder in the hospital because she has colon cancer. she looks remarkably well and i thought to help her escape. but could not, i am afraid.

i went to see vernon on market street- you know, that old antique shop where eula mae, his wife, worked until she died. vernon and i get along famously. i go there to chat with him about every thing and he tells me navy stories. i love him and wish i could carry him with me in my pocket always. he gives me little trinkets just for coming around and does not hate me the slightest bit for being different. his wife never did either and always loved jules.

i went to britthaven and visited sammie who can move his legs and arms now a bit. he nods and makes some vocal sounds. he is as cute as ever. his hair has grown out and apprently, he has become one of the two hospital babies. i am glad because he needs a lot of attention. he gave me a large, down syndrome, gummy smile when i walked in the door. and my heart melted, what little it can melt.

and so i went to find vernon's girlfriend who works on the 3rd floor. she says he talks a lot about me. i said the same of her. she was sweet and like the few of us who actually care about the people we take care of. she pointed me in the direction of herbie, who- let me tell you.

is SO.FUCKING.FANTASTIC.

he sits out on the sidewalk outside of britthaven almost every day in his automatic wheelchair with the american flag sticking out the back and a straw hat on. he wears old man shirts with those shiney buttons.

first time i met herbie, i saw him and went digging through my trunk and found my own straw hat with the "proud to be union" pin on the side. i walked over and plopped down next to him and smashed the hat down on my head and said "HI!" and he laughed and i told him my name. that day had been his birthday. it was instant love.

herbie has had a few strokes. has to be over 80. you have to concentrate on his speech but he is sharp as a tack and funny as hell. we stole down the elevator yesterday and went to the ground floor outside to smoke some cigarettes. we talked for a long time. many people passed and asked herbie how he had such a way with young, good-lookin women... hahaha.. he just laughed, like me- and i told him it wasn't me. it was completely all him. he was beautiful and he laughed and laughed some more.

i had to leave eventually. and herbie escorted me to my car in the parking lot in his chair. i got in my car, started the engine and heard him say some thing. so i rolled the window down. he was asking if i was going to come back. and i told herbie- 'why, yes of course, herbie! as long as i've got a purty thing like you around. i'll be back!" he grinned with his wisened-apple face and laughed as i pulled out.

needless to say. i'm a complete sucker for old people. and (affectionately referred to as, folks) tards. they are better company than most. and make me feel a bit better about being alive and breathing.