Hair aflame

January 16, 2013

The wheelchair sported a thick chain and heavy padlock around the left main wheel making it improbable Dono would arrive at the gate without pitching sideways. Sure makes it difficult to imagine who would prove to be low enough to steal a wheelchair from the Florianopolis airport yet desperate people are known to do desperate things!

Nine pounds overweight forced me to extract items from Dono’s bag to include in her carry-on. Shuffling through her winter season clothes to find the most weighed goods while Dono’s concerned teary eyes looked on drew empathetic stares. Worn flat overstretched sensible shoes, various tins of milk chocolate bars embraced by gift bows, cosmetic bags (doubt the agents will stop her at the x-ray unit since Brasil does not have the same security issues, evidently, where 2 oz or more bottles of liquid are not a safety hazard) and a bulky shawl to use on the plane lightened the unlawful load. I do believe the bag was still significantly over the limit yet the slender and sympathetic bowl cut hair, straight clipped nails and pristine uniformed agent was kind enough to wave the culprit through.  

Theo lent Panda to Dono to hold and caress while waiting for the youthful and exuberant TAM agent to accompany her thru security and onto the designated gate, up the unsteady narrow staircase (promised they would carry her if need be) and coax her into her assigned seat. Dono was rattling on in her usual low tone when no one can make out a word she is whispering while Joao and Theo nodded like the bobblehead in the back window of the car. After leaving in closer I could feel her breath but failed to understand a single word. And off she went!

The bed is dismantled, sheets in the washer, floor swept, remnants of clothes, toys and notes put in their place as though Dono never existed. Six months to a year in Canada could be the best choice for everyone, time will tell.

Shika was out on the sandy road as I popped by to feed her again this morning. She is using her back fractured leg so it must be healing itself. Dishes piled in the kitchen sink, flies buzzing around the bits of food and plate ware. Plastic bags, crumpled gift wrap, various plastic toys, shoes of all sizes, clothing that I refused to get close enough to identify, cushions, bedding and crumpled socks strewn about the house next door. Elena will arrive this afternoon to wash up, pick up and put everything back in its proper place until the boys decide to stave off the hunger pangs once again. When mom’s away…Cookie was indignant when she discovered her ex was sleeping in her bed versus in one of the guest rooms. What can I say?

Despite Joao’s best efforts, the pool continues to look like an algae experiment gone bad. Luckily the neighbor to the left bought an identical unit and the boys are romping in the cold tap water this afternoon in the steamy heat of the day. They race in one house after another, traipsing wet prints and a dripping suit across the floor to grab a bottle of soda or packet of cookies before one of the adults yell in anguished protest.

Instead of hanging out and glaring at the passerby vehicles while waiting for my box(es) from the Post Office I will head to the beach. One was sent Dec 17^th, the other Dec 26^th so I continue to discourage my friends from sending anything else.

Joao just pulled out his deck of spiritual medicine cards to toss a few around while we sit and have our afternoon coffee. Unfortunately I can hear the espresso machine bubbling, yes bubbling…burnt smell wafts around the house…yuck!

What is fear..or is that feeling in my gut excitement? Or perhaps guilt, faith, trust…how do I determine the exact sensation without immediately defining it as ____________, I tend to jump into life as though my hair is on fire and maybe, just maybe, it is time to throw water on it and let the steam dissipate before accepting a definitive definition. Reconfiguring the furniture and shifting personal belongings around makes for an empty space in the middle to contemplate and accept the new surroundings with promise. What will happen next?