waiting to exhale (ujjayi style)

miss bird arrived on friday morning and we made the detroit loop of some of my favorite places to show off to visitors. from the glorious guardian to project for public space's award-winning "public" space at campus martius. we made our way to heidelberg and met the elusive tim burke, the artist who quit drinkin and druggin to live among the polka dots and make "art." bird talked her -- i mean our way into his home. she was a little put-off with the displays of human teeth, but that's what you get for speaking to strangers. bird observed how i no longer engage strangers and how i seem to either go to simple city or pretend like i am translating a foreign language when asked a direct question by others. at least twice people asked eagerly and happily, "where are you two from? and i averted my eyes and turned to bird to handle the social exchange.

we went from the derelict east side to mies' lafayette park and then back across town through midtown and brush park and the cultural center to corktown for bbq at slow's and the abandoned train station.

then, to the north. past exit 69 big beaver road in troy. past the palace at auburn hills. past and through and around all manner of michigan. until we arrived on old mission peninsula for much r+r.
we observed the cross-walks, inspected the impressive assortment of retail (few chains), sampled cherry treats, scarfed plevalean burgers, and sized up traverse city's scene. last night, we had a gorgeous sunset meal at a restaurant that shelley and i stumbled across last summer when we went north with my old roommate.

today, after another very sound night's sleep, we returned via frankenmuth for chicken dinners. mike and lindsay: while there weren't bacon bits in the beans like we feared, the only things you could have eaten, l g-h were the cottage cheese (as a side-dish?) and the cranberry relish (frozen). i hadn't anticipated our visit coinciding with father's day. but still, we enjoyed ourselves and our all-u-can-eat chicken. we didn't take full-advantage of ordering more than we needed and then boxing it up to go...but live and learn.


we reminisced (sweetly and tartly).
we laughed (repeatedly and heartily)
we listened to each other (carefully and intently).
we asked questions (with concern and curiosity).
we offered advice.

miss bird reminds me of my once and future self and what i hope i can be.

a whole long time ago rennie suggested that partners are supposed to help make the other a better version of him or herself. he was talking about intimate couples. i am lucky that miss bird is a pal who is invested in helping me be a better version of myself.

it is really special to count such a fabulous woman as my dear pal. i am really really lucky to be able to laugh with you, miss bird. i am also lucky that you gave me a chance even after i so pressed your patience when we studied measured drawings in grad school. i am lucky that we have toured vineyards in the western cape and northern michigan. i am lucky that we can roll our eyes at each other and dig deep for memories of foolish escapades at high-end italian restaurants and adventures at low-end spots as well.