Copyright © 1999, Janet I. Egan
Lechmere was supposed to call me last night to give me a 4 hour window in which they would deliver the refrigerator. They didn't. I'm sitting here waiting with no clue when they're coming. I haven't been able to make myself eat my Cheerios dry. I need milk or soy moo or rice dream or something, none of which I have on account of the fridge meltdown. Poor planning on my part. Eventually I will get hungry enough to eat the Cheerios dry.
Today's sky is still gray. The landscapers are at work on the condo grounds and the sound of lawnmower engines carries really well in the heavy air.
The mockingbird has not been seen ( by me) in at least 3 days now. I thought I heard him imitating Pepe last night but it turned out to be the actual Pepe. Some nights between the mockingbird running through his entire repertoire, Pepe barking at imaginary intruders, girls screaming about forgetting their eye shadow, boys singing the praises of Budweiser, and the ever irritating car alarm the noise doesn't stop until the wee hours. You'd think I lived in the city!
Pepe is the worst noise pollution. He barks constantly. That high yelping bark of those tiny dogs smaller than the average cat. Pepe looks a little like a squirrel or a rat. Definite rodent-like quality. Wilbur could best him in a cat vs dog fight anytime. Wilbur outweighs him by maybe 5 pounds. The second worst noise pollution is Pepe's owners constantly calling him to come home. At midnight.
My head is swirling with plans for starting about 7 different co-ops. The coffeeshop/bookstore/internet access/kitchen sink co-op would not even show up as a blip on Starbucks' radar screen. Brain melting down. Must've left it on defrost. Resume narrative later.
I don't believe this. I called Lechmere and waited on hold for 15 minutes. When someone finally took my call, she told me the fridge I ordered is out of stock and they'll call me when they are ready to deliver it. So I waited for nothing this morning. Now me go look for Unitarians at Starbucks then figure out how to survive fridgelessness for another week or 2 or 3 or ....
So, who needs a fridge. I've got my Russian visa at last! Now I am finally starting to believe I am actually going. I'm even starting to feel excited about it. Tidepooling in Peter the Great Bay. Maybe some species of birds I've never seen. The chance to work on research that might actually benefit the planet.
I could forget the fridge except for the fact that Joan is coming to stay here next weekend. Hope she doesn't mind dry cheerios and takeout food. Forget the fridge. Who needs it. I'm going to Russia. Yippee!
Copyright © 1999, Janet I. Egan