there is no rhyme or reason to this post but life is like that too.

i usually like to take a long walk at lunch through the lovely houses and gardens of north berkeley. and on a day like to day when the sun is shining, the birdies are singing and my supervisor is in a meeting until 1:30, i like to take my sweet-ass time. except this glorious afternoon i had to pee something fierce.

still sunshine and time-wasting was to be had. lots of open-houses and ladies wearing strings of pearls and kerchiefs knotted around their necks standing by doorways, getting out of sedans. ready to make that sale.



would the real estate agent over yonder in the pumps and pleated pants mind if i relieved myself in an upstairs bathroom next to an expertly staged bedroom, I wondered.

probably a negative there. hold it for starbucks.


the light and the warmth and the smell of jasmine is intoxicating. up euclid to cedar, or is it virginia. i have no idea even tho i've been doing this walk for three years. linda would not be suprised.

i head down rose past the cute brick seat built into the wall. there's a piece of folded paper with handwriting. i'm intrigued by handwritten notes on the street. little glimpses into other lives.


i pick it up and unfold it. "Plan for Susan for the week of 3/19" is what it says in very neat print:

1) no TV after 8pm
2) no coffee after 12:00
3) in bed by 9pm
4) one melatonin (1.5 mg)...it goes on.

a prescription for a boring, well rested life. and now i must hold this piece of paper until I find a garbage can, not a green one for organic, but a dark blue of which there are NONE within sight.

on the side of the curb someone has written in green ink, "joy is delish" and so i meander on with my scrap of garbage.