Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
August 20, 5:11 p.m., Likelike Hwy, O'ahu, Hawaii
The woman ahead
of me in the airport security line is wearing a large hat and holding a small
dog. “What’s her name?” airport security asks. “Emily Rose.” She is wearing a
cardigan and bow. And maybe pearls. Or perhaps I have imagined that. “She loves to
travel.”
I linger in the
airport bookshop. I’ve struggled to immerse myself in a story for months. Nothing
takes. I don’t seem to be able to coax myself into spending time with any of
those people in any of their places. And then. I find Blue Nights. One winter, kneeling on the floor of a bookshop in
Boston, I read The Year of Magical
Thinking almost in its entirety, quite by accident. I started standing, but
slid to the floor as I slipped into the story. So perhaps it comes as no
surprise that, at least for the moment, Blue
Nights is doing the trick.
When I see
Kailua Beach for the first time, it is by moonlight. I hesitate to dip my toe
in because I won’t be able to see what I’m getting myself into. Then I realize how few
opportunities one has to wade in the Pacific under a full moon. Even in the
darkness, Kailua promises to be beautiful. I slip my shoes
off. The sand is soft and the water warm. I am looking forward to tomorrow.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
August 5, 5:52 p.m., College, between Miles & Keith, Oakland, CA
KR: My name's Kallie Rogers, and I'm 22 years old.
INSM: And what brings you to this place at this time?
KR: Um so I'm on my way home from work. I live in Berkeley, I went to UC Berkeley and now I work in the city and commute back and forth.
INSM: And what do you do?
KR: I actually remove head lice.
INSM: Really?!
KR: Yes.
INSM: How did you start that job?
KR: Um, it was on craigslist, and it paid $13 an hour. So it was like a last resort thing almost. I applied and really I just sit there and comb out head lice all day.
INSM: What do you like about your job?
KR: I get to work with kids a lot, which is really fun. They're always amusing and um I don't know. They're just they have interesting perspectives on things. Some of them will be like, "oh how many did I have? Did I beat my brother or sister?" It's kind of funny that they take that sort of spin on it.
INSM: What do you not like about your job?
KR: Um some kids can get really difficult, I guess. They squirm, or try and get themselves out of the chair, or, you know, stuff like that.
INSM: Had you ever had head lice before you started your job?
KR: I had never had head lice and I still have never gotten it. So, I know.
INSM: Amazing.
KR: Yeah.
INSM: And um, if you could give advice to yourself as a high schooler, what would it be?
KR: Oh, man. I'd probably say, don't take high school so seriously. I mean, getting in college is important, but you should also have fun in high school.
INSM: Is that your ride?
KR: It is.
INSM: If you could ask a stranger one question, what would it be?
KR: Oh my gosh. Um, what's your favorite thing about living in Berkeley? If they live in Berkeley. And if not, what's their favorite thing about where they live?
INSM: Awesome. Thanks so much.
KR: Yeah, no problem.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
August 2, 5:56 p.m., corner of Keith & College, Oakland, CA
K: Uh, my name's Karen, and I am 70 years old.
INSM: And what brings you to this place at this time?
K: I am waiting to meet a friend for dinner.
INSM: Um, what is your favorite smell?
K: My favorite smell?
INSM: Mmhm
K: Uh, I would say, it is probably maybe laundry that's been hanging on the line in the sun.
INSM: And, what is the best decision that you feel that you've made?
K: Uh, well I don't I'm not a person uh who regrets a lot. So I generally, once I make a decision, it's it's a good one.
INSM: Um, what's your favorite childhood memory?
K: My favorite childhood memory is I think I was uh 6 years old, and I got a pink and white Schwinn bicycle on Christmas morning. It's also my birthday. So, it was a double present. Christmas and birthday.
INSM: How do you figure out what to do with your life?
K: Uh, you know, I decide what I like to do, and um you know I think if you don't like doing something, you might have to do it for a while, but you shouldn't sink into it and do it forever.
INSM: What do you like to do?
K: Uh, I enjoy work. I enjoy gardening, I enjoy cooking, I enjoy my grandchildren immensely. Uh, those are mainly the things I like.
INSM: If you could give advice to yourself at age 30, what would it be?
K: Not to worry so much about how things are going to turn out. They're going to turn out how they turn out, and you really don't have the control you think you do.
INSM: And if you could ask a stranger 1 question, what would it be?
K: A stranger? Let's see. I would ask that stranger, uh, just uh who are you? Uh, so you won't be a stranger.
INSM: Thanks.
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