I sit looking out at the pristine blue water as I sip Jasmine tea and ruminate on A Moveable Feast. It's my first Hemingway experience and I'm devouring every bit. A friend said “I feel as if I’m rolling around in butter when I read Hemingway.” I agree with her completely. His writing is so rich and moving.
She walks in and sits at the small table next to me. She’s
dressed in a smart designer skirt, matching jacket and leather belt at her
small waist. I guess she’s around 32 years old. Big sunglasses and conservative
diamonds on her ears and fingers. I’m thinking she’s in PR.
A few minutes later her friend arrives. Brassy, blonde,
large sunglasses on her tightened face, enhanced lips shining with gloss and
hands dripping with diamonds as she clutches a large designer bag on her
shoulder. “Oh my god. I haven’t seen you in so long. Love your glasses. They’re
the same as mine. Isn’t D&G just the best?” She leans over and presses her
large lips in an air kiss on each cheek of PR girl. “How ARE you?”
Big sigh from PR. “I’m not doing well. Scott won’t let me
have the house cleaner more than once a week, and the nanny just can’t do all
that extra cleaning. And we have a dog, so the house is a mess. I’m trying to
plan Scotts party at the wine bar and don’t know what to give as gift bags to
everyone. And not sure if I should go with a full cake from Susie Cakes or just
have them make the cupcake tower. What do you think? I’m also trying to find
someone’s nanny who will watch kids at the park next door so that people can come
even if they do have kids.” (She takes a small breath….) “It’s all just
stressing me out. I’m having pains in my chest. The doctor is testing me for
asthma and bronchitis. And also for some allergies. Maybe I’m allergic to
gluten. I don’t know. And the dentist is concerned about my TMJ. I have that
bite guard thing that I wear at night and don’t know if it’s helping. But I
can’t sleep without it. What about you?”
“Oh honey,” Ms. Busty Blonde says. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure
the doctors will figure out what’s wrong with you. You are seeing Doctor
Yugishito in the city, right? I hear he’s the best.” Big inhale as her triple D
chest rises and falls. “I’m trying to plan this wedding for next year but
Jeffery just won’t sit down with me and look at the photos and the quotes. He
says I should plan it and he’ll show up. I want him to go to Italy with me
in July because you know I have that place rented on Lake Como, but he just
won’t commit. So I’m gonna grab one of my girlfriends and go. Can’t wait
for all the shopping in Italy. I can get a lot of things for the wedding.” She
takes a bite of salmon and a sip of Chardonnay. “Maybe you can get Lisa’s nanny
to help at the party. You know that one from Guatemala? She’s sweet.”
Wearing my invisible ninja suit, I watch out of the corner
of my eye as they nibble on chocolate lava cake and sip an after lunch
espresso. I think about how large and real these problems are for the two
friends. And feel glad that they live in Marin and not in Calcutta….
