Our Third Place

I'm sure someone has already mentioned it, but this blog makes for a fine "third place" except for the fact that it is a little bit home and a little bit work (school). Hi Autumn, Jase, Houston, Cindy, Erin and all you other guys not sitting in the front row. How was your day. I got ANOTHER snow day Wednesday and besides snuggling in bed with my two puggles and doing a few errands, it was pretty non-descript. I did to out to eat with another teacher, as is our custom on all snow days (it helps to have a behemoth of a gas hog SUV that sits in the garage until such occasions.) As we entered Cosmo’s two things happened. The owner, a handsome Greek man, came over and greeted us with, “Hey you two, snow day again? How’ve you been?” Was this the neighborhood meeting place I forgot to mention? We always see friends and acquaintances here, and the wait staff and owner knows us…so? And then the usual scenario for me. No joke. At least once a month. Someone (a perfect stranger usually) comes over with, “You look familiar to me. Don’t I know you?” Now, I am WAY beyond the old bar pick-up stage, and these people seem to be truly querying about our “past” relationship. But we can never figure it out. I go through my name, occupation and as much personal history has I feel comfortable with but to no avail. I usually end with, “I have that kind of face. The Everyman face. Don’t worry, it happens all the time.” In fact, it is a family joke. People think they know me. I postulate that it is because I talk to anyone. I make eye contact and they assume I a friend. And maybe I am.

Other details for my first unfettered blog entry….details about me. I love movies. I love movie quotes and often find myself saying them when the occasion demands it. It is just too sad that most people don’t understand what I mean, or they think I am terribly clever as I quote some of the most famous lines written by professional screenwriters. This is a great time of the year for me. Besides all the extra time off, there are a couple of movie channels that show nothing but Academy Award nominees for the month and what more does a film lover need, but a cup of tea and a blanket on a snowy morning?

Not to say that I don’t read. I do. I read all the same stuff as you guys do. But about 16 years ago, some friends and I thought we weren’t reading enough, so we formed a book club. We read and discuss one book a month. The meetings are in each other’s homes and includes food and wine—but we still discuss the book. It is kind a faux paus to show up without finishing that month’s selection, and pretty embarrassing. These women are smart—a librarian, a school principal, a computer programmer, a few others and me. This month we are reading The Book Thief, a young adult book proposed by the librarian. It is pretty thick, and the big buzz book in the YA world. Narrated by Death. Try that on for size.

Until next week, have a good one.