Ick

It happened in Greece. There was a maggot in our greens! We had greens with lemons and M picked up a piece of lettuce and bam, there it was. Squiggling and inching its way off the smooth, white plate. How could you not see it? It was so clear you could see the insides. How frantic it swung its little head around – rising up on its little worm body less than a centimeter tall. Trying to find salvation – or a juicy piece of rotting flesh to breed in. We had already eaten the whole salad. We had probably digested some of his brothers.

When the waiter came back, I didn’t know how to explain that there was a maggot in the greens. I waved my hands around, I inched my finger along the table to mime a worm inching its way across our food. The waiter smiled and then he smiled wider. He shrugged his shoulders, looked around. He didn't understand. The word for maggot wasn’t in my Greek book and we had never covered it in class. In the midst of my explanation I pointed down to the plate – but the worm had disappeared. It was smart and was hiding underneath the few remaining pieces – I was sure of it! But the waiter, in a hurry, picked up the plate and disappeared in the kitchen. Our evidence was now gone. Maybe he really did understand? Maybe he was telling the other waiters as we waited, watching the waves churn and break against the cove?

They brought out the Calamari. They brought out the mussels. We ate in silence. They talked in the back. I could hear a few words but no one came out to apologize, and then I thought, maybe you don’t apologize in Greece. Maybe you just pretend it never happened.

And that’s exactly what we did.

(Shudder.)

The History of How We Came to Be

M is trying to convince me that English is the dominant travelling language in the world (at least for now). We are on a train from Budapest to Belgrade. We are almost to Belgrade. It makes me want to travel more. Talking to a married couple from Croatia and a Hungarian on the train. We are Americans, the American couple from Los Angeles. I should know more about Los Angeles. And New York - not how it is now, but the history of how it came to be. I should know more about my own culture. Greece. Italy. I want to go back and find my relatives in Italy. Everyone sort of knows something, but it's fading now and this...makes me sad. We must tackle these topics small at first and then larger. When I’m around people that don’t speak English well then I start to speak English like them. Slower. More thoughtful. In a way, I like how they speak English more than I speak the language. Their inflections and the rise and fall of their voices - it's all new and in hearing them speak it's like I'm looking at English in a new way - words have dimensions, they morph. I see them in a new light. The sounds of words - it's all not as familiar as my own voice. I like moving to the unfamiliar. I feel safer there, scared. Which is exciting - makes me more aware. Honestly, I'd rather hear what you have to say than talk about myself. It's always been like that though.

We shall see. We were on the train. It was hot. We were tired and thirsty and sweating. The train was late...we sat on the tracks for about three hours, maybe four.

Still. Hungarian is spoken by about 15 million people. Croatian about 6 million. We've also passed through Germany. I'm just one person and all these languages, how is it possible for one individual to know them all if they're not devoting all their time to studying them - if they're not using them on a day to day basis? It would be fanciful to study languages all the time, but how can I pay the rent this way? I guess I'm always asking myself the same question, except with writing. How can I still do what I love and pay the bills? There has to be a way to do it, people have done it before...so they say, so you hear...

I think I'm the most interested in learning Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Those are the languages that call to me (probably because of my heritage and also because I just like the way they sound and I want to know more about these cultures - superficial, I know). But if you're going to spend hours and hours and days and days and months and years learning a new code of communication, it should be one that you're passionate about, no?

Still. I do always feel a little guilty when I don't know the language. I try to memorize a few key words: Hello, excuse me, thank you, please. And smiling, that always helps too. :)

Munchen

Sing Sing Sing

We hit up all the Rockland eats I could think of. Classic ones. Okay, maybe. Well...not really actually. We did hit up Napoli's Pizza though and then we made cheese pasta and tomatoes and beans. But this made me think...where are fantastic places to eat in Rockland County? There isn't a lot online. And I haven't been back here enough to know.

I had recommendations to go to Velo Wine Bar and Spice of India in Nyack, which I remember being good places. When I used to live here I'd always get a bagel at David's and then probably head somewhere in Nyack. Sometimes we'd get take-out chinese at Mandarin Restaurant. There's a Thai and Sushi place in New City, but oh lord, they're expensive (!). Maybe I'm spoiled from cheap sushi and thai places in LA. Is there just more of an Asian influence there or what?

Hmm.

Anyway, today's a busy day. Packing up and doing laundry and deciding what to bring on the journey. I think I overpacked for the road trip. It's deceiving. I said I was going to be away for three months and then my mind was like, "YOU MUST BRING MANY CLOTHES!" And that was stupid. I'll probably leave most of what I brought in my New York home and then try to ship it back to LA later on (or cram it in the car on the journey back to la la land).

This morning I went running around the tennis court in my backyard. I remember doing that when I was in high school. I was psychotic about it. I'd just listen to music and run around in circles (Heck, it beats going on the treadmill). This year my parents didn't open the pool. I think it's better that way - It's not like they ever use it, you know?

The air is fresh out here. It was nice to have the balance. Head into the city and then come back here for a few days before we take out.

Oh, and the two cats are crazy. They're like two-year-olds. Just running around and jumping on things and giving you hugs (which I never thought cats could do, but these ones are very loving).

Whenever I'm in NY, I have the urge to sing to myself. Just sing, sing, sing. I sing in LA, too, but for some reason, the urge is stronger here. Why?

Why? Why? Why?

Maybe I'll figure it out someday. Or maybe my life has been just too crazy out West and now is the only time that I can finally just relax a bit. Take a deep breath.