last night at vsc

From an email to Becca…

[L]ast night we had a special dinner—these happen about twice a week—mussels, shrimp, squid, scallops, etc etc in a curry broth, with white rice, edamame, and fresh baked bread. Even wine was served, Barrel Monkeys, but I didn’t drink it; I had ginger ale. There was superrich chocolate cake for dessert, crunchy on the outside, warm and chewy on the inside—exactly like the Far Side cartoon about the polar bear eating the igloo. I served myself what looked like a modest portion, but it turned out to be more than I could handle. Afterward I emailed you, ran to the residents’ reading, ran back and emailed you again, and then went to the Long Trail with Chad Hammett and some other artists and writers. I was the designated driver. Watching the others drink alcohol was like watching bowling, in slow motion—the big ball approached, and one by one the pins fell, each in its own particular way, some toppling immediately, some teetering briefly before finally falling over. Anyway, I drove one of the cars home, and all was well.