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A drug is neither moral nor immoral -- it's a chemical compound. The compound itself is not a menace to society until a human being treats it as if consumption bestowed a temporary license to act like an asshole. |
Saturday, September 23, 2000
One year ago: Space Needle
Two years ago: A Day at Home
Three years ago: Internal Tools
All day Friday I was waiting to hear from Jack -- if his daughter H---- was coming up to visit for the weekend, it would make sense for me to bring her. But when was she coming? Jack told me towards the end of the day that he hadn't heard from his ex-wife, so didn't know yet. And that he was feeling so crappy and tired from his business trip (sore throat, too) that he'd stayed home from work.
I drove home (traffic was already bad) and waited patiently. Finally it was determined that H---- would rather come up next weekend. And yes, I still wanted to see Jack, even if he wasn't feeling perky, thankyouverymuch.
By leaving at seven I avoided the worst of the road blockages. I still don't know why Everett is such a bottleneck! I also had a good chance to listen to This American Life. The episode's theme: Get Over It.
Jack was fairly tired when I got there. I wondered if he had the same bug that Chip had earlier this week?
* * * * * * * *
We slept late this morning. Jack's throat still hurt. I offered to help him on whatever stuff he wanted to get done, but tried not to sound all too chipper and nagging. The only thing I did that was above and beyond the call of duty was to take the trash out -- but the trash can in the kitchen is too small, and the recycle is in two plastic grocery bags that hang from cabinet door knobs, so this can't be let go too long.
We opted for a movie in the afternoon, Almost Famous. I enjoyed this a lot, and Jack did too. The period feel was dead-on accurate, and the boy Patrick Fugit was so sweet. The music was fun, also -- Nancy Wilson of Heart (as opposed to the pop singer of the sixties) did the original tunes. I think Dazed and Confused would be a good pairing for a double feature.
After the movie, we wandered over to the video store. Jack bought anime DVDs, and I offered to pay half for a DVD of American Movie. I'd heard good things and remembered the trailer, but I just hadn't gotten to it when it was playing in the theaters. We split a cinnabon and decided to drive back home. Jack was fading fast.
But we couldn't go home without stopping at the grocery store! We bought stuff for bobolli pizza for dinner.
* * * * * * * *
We took it easy for the rest of the afternoon. (Do you see a theme here?) I'd been to a used bookstore a few days ago that specializes in romance novels, trading in a bunch that I didn't want for some that I did. I was especially pleased that some authors whom I like, and whose older books are hard to find, were available. I'd even paid cash for two by Mary Balogh and one by Mary Jo Putney. The Putney novel is one she recently rewrote as a full-blown thick historical novel which I've already read, so I was looking forward to making the comparison of both versions. I dove into one of these books while Jack reposed himself for a bit, until dinnertime.
I put the pizza together and put it in the oven for ten minutes or so. It was good, but too salty overall. I don't know if this effect came from the crust, the tomato sauce, or where.
Jack wanted to play his new DVD, Cowboy Bebop. This is an anime that started on Japanese TV, so the disc contained five episodes, each less than half an hour long. They were fun, and good looking, easy to take. The main character is a bounty hunter in some future time, but he's not tough and mean.
I don't know what I ate today that didn't agree with me, but there must have been something. After dinner I was in and out of the bathroom.
* * * * * * * *
Just as we were sitting there, debating on whether to watch any more TV, the phone beeped. It was A----, Jack's older daughter, who's been on the run since last January or so. (We'd met her on the street a few weeks ago.) She wanted to come home, she said. And get off drugs and straighten her life out. Jack agreed to drive to Seattle and bring her back with him. He made a call to the Bellingham police (A---- broke parole by leaving town, so there is a warrant out for her) and left a message for his ex-wife. He left around nine thirty. I stayed behind because of not feeling well.
Of course, fate would have it that I felt better almost as soon as he left! I guiltily curled up in the recliner and read my novels, then lay down on the futon and went to sleep, after doing some rearranging in A-----'s former room so that the bed was clear for her to sleep on.
Jack and A---- returned in about three hours, which was very good time! They were both asleep very fast.
* * * * * * * *
So, A---- is back (for now). Whether she understands her part in her own problems and has the grace and will to change is unknown. Does she want to be home, truly? Has the outside world given her any self-mastery, any self-control? I hope so, for all our sakes!
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