Home Again...Home

NOB HILL, NEW MEXICO--What a time! But glad to be back.

Sitting in the plane...a couple boarded during a stopover in L.A. They sat down directly in front of MaryAnn and me. He was big, stocky, mid-30's, well-dressed in a suit. She was dressed more casually, but had a big diamond ring. Married, I guessed. Across from them was a Casper Milktoast type of guy sitting by himself. His posture and air gave the look of someone who is beset...beset by any number of things.

Mrs. Big Diamond moved away from her husband and sat with an empty seat between them. He looked at her plaintively at first, then brushed her away with a gesture. He turned towards her, and started explaining a business deal that had apparently gone sour. She questioned him. He said, "...But I didn't know that yesterday." Mr. Milktoast took out a book and started reading. I didn't catch the title.

The Suit and Mrs. Suit are heading for a divorce. He disgusts her. The attendant comes for drink orders. He orders a water. She orders a whiskey sour. I bet they met in a bar. He was a lot of fun. His friends were a lot of fun. His friends' wives were a lot of fun. He was athletic and wore nice clothes. Now he folds his suit jacket and asks her to put it in the overhead. She argues with him about it before doing it.

Milktoast has reached Chapter VII entitled, "AM I NORMAL?" It was a short one...all of two pages. The next chapter had the heading, "LET'S GO SHOPPING!" Another short one. Casper took time out to scan the "About the author" notes on the back of the book. Next chapter: "PUMP UP THE VOLUME!" What the heck? I wonder what that book is...

Here comes Albuquerque. CM glances at one more chapter...#14..."WHERE DO YOU LIVE?" Ms. Whiskeysour gets up and leaves the plane without looking back. Mr. Water gets his coat and reaches back under the seat to retrieve a wine box...pretty special wine I would imagine. Mr. AMINORMAL tucks his book under his arm. I could only make out the words "Real Estate." Albuquerque: a land of dreams...missed, real, imagined. MaryAnn touches me, and we leave.