Friday Flash 55 — Road to Solitude

He couldn't explain it to them, so he slipped away into the night leaving behind all he did not want, taking the solitude he needed. He wore solitude under his slicker, inside his mind, overwhelming his senses. It gently pierced his polished, silvered aura in a marine wash of quiet rain. Solitude muted sound, matted glare, was all that mattered to him. He breathed it as his feet pedaled the only bike on the empty streets — until cobblestones changed to gravel, then to sod, to mud, to meadow — and night changed to dawn, into new days soothed by gloaming, followed by darkness. He sent smiles to its essence, many smiles he sent welcoming solitude in. He chanted Oms and gave simple alms in thanks for solitude which, years later, he would realize was no longer something sought after but something seeking him.

~ ~ ~

Solitude, like rain,
muted sound, matted glare,
mattered to him.
He wore solitude
under his slicker,
inside his mind,
overwhelming him
as he pedaled.

Cobblestones became gravel,
then sod, mud, meadow —
Night became dawn,
then new days,
gloaming, darkness.

Years later,
he realized that
solitude
was no longer
something sought after
but something seeking him.

Written for Friday Flash 55 - My post in exactly 55 words - for the G-Man. 

Well, this week that is not altogether true, since I had an unusual struggle to pare down my original to 55 words. It evolved into such an effort that I decided to include the original along with my 55, not sure why.

I will be away on a short trip beginning Sunday. Will miss next Friday 55, and will endeavor to catch up reading and commenting that weekend. Take care everyone, and I am thinking especially of those affected by the horrible forest fires throughout the western U.S.

___________________

Note: Image via Facebook, where, unfortunately, it was not credited. I will gladly note the photographer if anyone knows who that wonderfully talented person is. 
.

MeetingTheBar: Dining Alone

Dining Alone

The fine art of dining alone
is no art at all if you
like the company, and if you
wear a favorite color and
bring along a good book --
and if the hostess knowingly
meets your eye when you say
"One"
then sashays in a black
draping garb over tights,
leading you to a corner nook
with candlelight dancing on
two smart sketches: one crab,
one dozen sea anemones.

When you dine alone smelling of
sea air and French verbena soap,
taking in the scent of culinary
promise surrounding you,
your solitude is as sweet
as the romantic love shared
at the next table, and the family
joviality ringing by the window.
There is no envy; all is well.

If you treat yourself to chef's
special entree, straying
from the beautiful confines of
the menu (and of home), a dish
so perfect arrives that — you
cannot help yourself — you
must have a picture. But the
flash is not unnoticed.

Then the waiter asks again and
again about your dining pleasure
and even the hostess stops
at your table for good measure.
You realize that they suspect
you are no ordinary diner.
So you quell all the interest,
pull back into your shell.

Returning to the fine art
of dining alone, you
break bread with yourself.
You close your eyes,
and savor the moment
when salmon and gnocchi unite,
and Jazz Sketches on Sondheim
drift beyond the warm room
into the autumn fog.
 

Written for MeetingTheBar: Beautiful Solitude— at dVerse Poets. 

Claudia's prompt is about one of my favorite things, and, 

where I could have written about times spent 

in absolute solitude, a dinner alone 

at the Oregon coast came to mind. 

.

talking is often a torment for me*

Silence is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living. Talking is often a torment for me, and I need many days of silence to recover from the futility of words.

-Carl Gustav Jung

*this was Jung describing me also.......perhaps you as well?


art: Solitude - Charles Sprague Pearce, 1889

.

Beach time, day one: hazy, lazy and delicious

I've returned from two days and nights at the Oregon coast and feel refreshed. What a sweet thing for Mike to hold down the fort while I stepped away from the same-o, same-o routine here at the house. He enjoyed finishing up his week's vacation right here at home puttering and relaxing.

Here, then, is what my short trip entailed (in two installments: Monday and Tuesday). I arrived on Friday night in time to have a late dinner then checked into the motel in Lincoln City. The room was nice, but the people next door partied until 3:00 a.m. so I slept in on Saturday morning. When I woke up I was surprised to see how foggy it was, and it stayed that way all day in spite of a strong wind. Outside my window one seagull stood against authority.




After breakfast I parked the car at the 26th Street Access and took the steps down to the beach for a long walk. I love the beach when it's hazy-foggy but bright, and not cold. The weather on Saturday fit my mood perfectly.






I liked this sand teepee, complete with feathers, pebbles, shell, and petroglyph marking.



By the time I was headed back from my walk down the beach, waves had stolen the teepee's shell adornment. Sand sculptures are lovely, and fleeting -- reminding me to enjoy the moment now.









I walked down to the driving beach. There aren't many of them along the Oregon coast, thankfully. This one, however, served a special purpose for us in 2000, when Mike and I were able to get my mother down on the sand for a final time. Her wheelchair was really difficult to push in the sand, but we got her down to the shoreline.




The strong wind and waves masked all other sounds, except one buzzing-whirring sound that led to a fun discovery.






Back at my starting point I thought the remnants of the original 26th Street access steps were picturesque, but I wonder why they haven't been removed.





After some minimal shopping at the factory outlet shopping mall for basics (The Gap and Hanes got my business) I spotted a restaurant that I decided I'd try later on. I returned to the motel room to read and relax before dinnertime. I brought along the four books that I have on my next-to-read list, not knowing which one would appeal once I was at the beach. I curled up in a chair and started reading Free Play - Improvisation in Life and Art, by Stephen Nachmanovitch and it totally won my attention the rest of the trip.



I brought it with me to dinner and read while I waited for my meal, then tucked it away to enjoy this beautiful and superb repast. Yellow curry with tofu, ordered medium-plus spicy (4 of 5 on the hot scale, said the waiter). White sticky rice shaped like a star, topped with roasted seeds. Thai cucumber salad (rice vinegar was the secret). Green tea infused with herbs and flower petals (individual black iron teapot is between tea cup and timer-that indicated when my tea was steeped to perfection).



I recommend Andaman Thai Cuisine in Lincoln City, Oregon, to anyone living in the area or planning on visiting. There was a highly favorable restaurant review from The Oregonian near the front waiting area that called it one of the best Thai restaurants in the Pacific Northwest ("For better Thai food, go to Bankok"). The owner is originally from Thailand and has a Masters degree in food science. She's a master alright!

Next installment, day two at the beach: What a difference a day makes in the weather, or, my sunburned arms really hurt!


(I'm anxious to catch up on reading your blogs and will hopefully have use of the computer sometime Monday afternoon once the window installers complete the windows here in the office.)

Unplugged

Mike has just given me the gift of two nights alone at the Oregon coast. I just ran him through all the animal feeding chores and he has a list, so I know all will be well here. I have reservations at a place I've never stayed before, and it's right next door to one of my favorite restaurants. I'll be getting over there too late this evening to take advantage of their early dinner specials, but will be sure to do that tomorrow night.

I've packed four books that have been sitting on my desk untouched. No computer. I need this.

I posted this video when my blog was quite new but I'm sharing it again because I took the video at Lincoln City where I'm heading. right. now...