Nostalgia Ain't What It Used To Be

Yesterday I picked up one of the shells that I have in my bathroom and cupped it in my hand and marveled. One of my favorites, I plucked it off a Pacific beach in Mexico many moons ago. It's small, about the size of a half-dollar, and has a variety of muted colors varigating its shell: orange, green, purple. We were in Mexico to celebrate my sister's birthday and it was about one of the most perfect trips I've ever taken. As I was thinking about how glad I was that I saved this small souvenir and how sad I would be if I ever lost it, a largish tan spider crawled out of it onto my hand. Without hesitation I screamed and dashed the shell to the tile floor to save myself. And I'd do it again.

I also had a bout of nostalgia when I was flying into O'Hare the other day. The day was clear as we flew in over Lake Michigan and you could see for miles and miles. The snow blanketing the city made all the buildings and houses uniform so you could see the black and white of the city grid below, and as we got lower you could see kids sledding in parks and houses all dolled up for the holiday. I was remembering how much I loved this city, how wonderful it can be. I thought, you know, maybe some day we'll move back here, find some great apartment or maybe even a bungalow. It could be really great. About an hour later when I got off the El and the 7-degree weather greeted me by sending a hearty blast off the lake right into my face, I dragged my wheelie behind me muttering "No f*cking way. No f*cking way in hell I will ever f*cking move back to this godforsaken place ever again. Hell f*cking no..."

I am ready for Fed Ex to invent time travel. If anyone is able to do it, it will be them. I am ready for  "Priority LastWeek®" shipping. Willing to pay through the nose. They'll be offering that aaany day now right? Please?

Comments

[dawn]

i don't think i own anything that would be safe from a smashing if a spider crawled out onto me. where there are spiders, there is no self-control.

[5penny]

Priority last week: We're taking foot out of mouth, one jerk at a time.

(I found a spider on my knitting and he was like, just put it on the bed; he's been hanging out around the bed for a couple weeks. Ahhhhh. Thought about ditching it all and buying new yarn...)