novembre ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- butter and love this is the first thanksgiving i've spent away from my family. today i ate a proper southern thanksgiving spread in the heart of the tenderloin district, three flights up, in a one room studio with three friends, a sixty year old retired boxing champion who lives next door, and a six year old boy who would not get off the internet. in the tenderloin the buildings loom so tall that they seem to lean out over the sidewalks. everything is dirty and homeless women try to sell you bags of coffee they swiped from someone's groceries for two dollars. look up at the corner of ellis and hyde, and you'll see nk, blond roots peeking out of black curly hair tied back in a ponytail, squatting in a jean skirt on the wrought-iron fire exit, a parliment pursed between her lips as she asks her boyfriend to check on the sweet potatoes, to see if they're done. the smoke from whatever burned (we never could figure out what did) has finally left the apartment, but hours later when i leave for oakland i notice it has simply moved into the hallway and taken up residence there, nk's buttered down meal floating up against the battered yellow carpet and nicked white moldings. this was the first time i've gotten to see her in seven months. she went on a cross-country road trip and ended up in louisiana for most of the summer, organizing a tent giveaway for flood victims, tending to her boyfriend's family. 10:10 pm - 11.24.05 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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