November 10, 2005

F Breath

So a woman breathed on me today. I mean, like a full on exhale with audible sigh. It happened on the F train, of course, where all of these things seem to happen.

I was reading my book and pushed up against the opposite side door when we stopped at Jay Street. One stop before I get off on my way home, Jay Street always means a sudden crush of people transferring from the A or C. This time it seemed we spent a little extra time there to pack in even more people than usual. This woman got on at Jay and threaded her way to stand right beside me. I was conscious only of another human form next to me and my strong desire to get home and drink something alcoholic. Then, just as the doors closed, she just exhales on me. I think my hair blew to the side a bit and a few pages of my book turned back with the sudden gust. At least her breath was cinnamony fresh; and although it reminded me of Big Red gum (and I despise Big Red gum) I suppose I should be thankful for that.

What else? I have decided to take drum lessons again. It has been 25 years since the last time I took any sort of drum instruction, so I guess it's something like an anniversary. I can't really adequately explain 'why now' - only that I felt the need for some sort of structured learning environment and I have a deep-seated suspicion that 15 years of sitting in front of a computer may have seriously impaired my rhythm.

I'll be going on Tuesdays which actually coincides with my first structured lessons so many years ago. In fact, I remember the first class I was to take when I was 12 or so was going to be on Ringo's birthday. This I immediately accepted as some sort of fortuitous sign. Obviously I was meant for percussion greatness if my very first lesson fell adventitiously on Ringo's birthday. Unfortunately, due to car trouble I was unable to make it on time for that first lesson - another sign I imagine. Crushed and humiliated, my first drum lesson turned out to be on Gerald Ford's birthday instead.