January 26, 2005

• No, I didn’t write my 1,000 words yet, and the night’s not young.  But I am so thrilled with some things that happened today that I wanted to share them while I’m still pumped.

  
  

  The best thing that happened to me tonight was tofu.  I took a class at the local high school which was exciting for several reasons:  it was cheap, it was close, and it’s a wonderful facility.  The teacher said, “You just don’t find ‘em like this any more.”  The real excitement though is that I can make mayonnaise that has almost no calories.  I can make fried rice with tofu that tastes and looks like scrambled eggs.  And I can make French toast and deserts using tofu.  The teacher sold us the book he wrote so, if there’s anything you want to know how to make, just ask.  I’m thinking about cheesecake.

  
  

  What was almost as exciting was that I stopped by the library, my new favorite place.  It’s just down the street, like everything else around here.  I don’t have a printer any more so I go there.  So I was sitting there, making copies of all my different resumes, when the guy next to me, a very cute guy — And I had to take a second look because even though he was the wrong age I can count on one hand the number of reasonable-looking guys, of any age, I have come across over here — said,

  
  

  “I see you’re working on your resume.”

  
  

  Startled by his normal looks I stare, briefly.

  
  

  “Yeah, I made a couple different ones.”

  
  

  “I used to work for a company that did resumes for people.”

  
  

  “You’re kidding.  I know my resume sucks because nobody’s responding.  That’s why I decided to rewrite them to be specific to the job.”

  
  

  “Do you want me to take a look at it?  I see one thing already.”

  
  

  “Would you?  I feel so lucky that you sat down here.  It’s like God brought you.”  He didn’t flinch.

  
  

  “Yeah, what a coincidence.  I just got laid off from teaching a class on how to write resumes and I really miss it.”

  
  

  So I left there on cloud nine and got ready for the tofu class but what I am remembering now is E.  She was the 88-year-old patient I saw today, at the hospital.  She really made an impression on me.  Somehow, somewhere in the middle of the conversation, we switched places.  I think it was when I started asking her about her eating habits.  I probably told you about that little quiz I give older people who look great.  Sure enough she drinks lots of water, no booze, is quite active and eats lots of vegetables.  She thought the most important thing, though, was her positive attitude.  God, she was sharp.  But we were talking about how she was going home alone and that’s when I told her I lived alone.  I guess it was around then that I started identifying with her.  I could see myself looking and acting a lot like her when I’m that age, if I’m lucky enough to live that long. 

  
  

  Most older women….I don’t know, she just was not like most older women I see.  She wasn’t cantankerous, but she was very proud.  She was capable and independent, and I swear there was something sexual about her.  A lot of women, even by the time they are in their ’70s seem very removed, sheltered.  This woman was definitely in charge of her life, but not in the way my mother is, coming from a place of …like it’s her against the world. 

  
  

  I met three new people today who changed my thinking. 

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 1:38 am
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