12.3.97

Cris sent me this today: A true friend is the most precious of all posessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring. La Rochefoucald (1613-1680)

On the trail last night it was just me and about five other hardy women wrapped in warm layers of winter clothing. I thought it amazing that I could live in a city of 11 million (give or take a few million) and find a space to myself outdoors. This is not possible in the other three seasons. The cord connecting me to my CD player froze, becoming wire-like. The little speaker in the left ear wouldn’t stay put because the cord refused to stay bent over my collar. Next time I’ll run it down the inside and out the bottom of the jacket. No volume control that way, but it’s infinitely better than mono. Walking out to the trail, I passed streams of white collar workers rushing off to the subway. Most people were only wearing light jackets with no scarves, hats, or gloves in sight. They pulled their appendages tight against themselves trying to keep the warmth close, but I suspect they only succeeded in looking like animated popsicle sticks. At least that’s what they looked like to me. It was strange because I’ve seen people sporting scarves and heavy coats for weeks when it was unseasonably warm. Now it’s colder than cold and people aren’t being smart about taking care of their bodies. Idiocy. Dave says his co-workers teased him about his big down jacket. They said that a person can show how tough they are by how long they can go without wearing heavy winter clothing. That just sounds stupid. Our windows are poorly set and as I sit here and write, I can see the hanja (Chinese character) chart on the wall flex a bit as it responds to the breeze gliding in from between the panes of glass. It’s only 10 degrees Fahrenheit today.

future past index