AS THE SPIRITS MOVE ME

Spitting Meteors

AS THE SPIRITS MOVE ME

Ah, last night, good friends, and indulgences in the spirits at Saint Rossi's place where I marvelled at the efficiency of the attractive waitress in serving and at the same time generously spreading winning smiles into the crowd, like releasing doves of peace among the rabunctious revellers. The atmosphere was filled with the collective wisdom of the patrons, and became ever so more poignant and insightful in tact with the emptying glasses that begged for refills. I could swear the entity that hounds my liqueur cabinet at home, leaving only empty bottles while I am supposedly fast asleep, had somehow followed me here and did the same to my glass. But never mind, lets have another one!

Well into the night, and copious libations later, I decided to make my way home. As usually the case, the metro left just as I got to the station, and I had to wait for the next one, 15 minutes later. Just as I loudly lamented the fact that after 15 minutes the overhead display still showed 6 minutes left, the train arrived and the noise of squealing brakes drowned out my complaints. Nobody had listened to it anyway.  At this time of the night, other riders are usually in the same shape as I, so I did not attract undue attention talking to myself, since they were all busy doing the same or singing merry tunes, interrupted only by the hissing of the doors at every stop, people getting on and off and the occasional swoosh and sparkle of falling stars whenever my head banged against the window. What seemed like an eternity of clickedy-clack, stops and starts, hisses and squeals, the angelic voice of the canned announcer intoned "last stop, please leave the train" - which I obediently did.

I found myself walking the rest of the way, since there were no more buses from the metro station. What normally is a automatic activity requiring little thought input other than steering into the right direction, became under these circumstances a mental exercise of iron willpower over the conflicting actions of some of my appendages that seemingly rebelled against me and annoyingly did exactly the opposite of what I intended them to do. 

So just setting one foot in front of the other, alternating left and right, and not stepping forward simultaniously with both, became a task requiring full concentration. It did not help any that my right leg at some point decided to go to sleep and refused to move, and my left marched unerringly forward, which put me into a round-about spin that only a passing lamp post halted. Clamping onto it with both arms, the post ignored my exclamations of thanks and acted like he would sooner I'd leave him alone and be on my merry way. From the opposite side of the street, my better self that had detached from me  and watched all this in puzzled amusement, finally told me to get on with it and threatened to go home without me if I didn't get my act together.

Somehow I did manage to carry on and even find the keyhole to my apartment door, in spite that it misschieveously moved around whenever I tried to insert my key and only a stern warning to stop that nonsense made it hold still long enough for me to open the door. I don't remember getting undressed, which I managed only partially, because since I did not remove my shoes, my pants just went no further than my ankles - thats where they stayed as I flopped onto my bed. 

Rummaging through my library of dreams, I selected one pleasant enough to not give me any additional headaches. 

It is afternoon now, the next day (or so I hope.... must check the calendar....) but after a shower and a hearty afternoon breakfast I feel like .... well, like: 

I am still alive! 
Hallelujah! 

READING CORNER