Ode to SF, Bianca and Michelle Tea
by shoshanna
I was reading Valencia by Michelle Tea tonight and the parts about living in the Gay Area in the 90s and being part of this unspecific progressive, creative subculture, and acting dumb and young, it reminded me of days and years of my life that I never ever think about, had forgotten I had lived, that seem like lifetimes ago. I forget that there are all these experiences and intentions that have been part of me that happened before I moved to Portland. I didn't do anything super crazy, just high school, but still. Those were heady times, as they say. Fucked up and lame and unfulfilled, but still intense in the way that adolescence is.
I think maybe I've been thinking about the past too because it's fall, and grey, and muted and cozy and melancholy, and it reminds me of every other September of my entire life. The one when I started sixth grade and liked the Beatles and thought I was finally going to fall in love. The one when I hung out with Reed girls who were younger than me and broke my collarbone and made zines. The one with the burning buildings when I dug myself into a hole and worked at Meier & Frank. The one last year when I wore cheap perfume and looked out the window of my shoddy studio at the Portland skyline and went out in my motorcycle boots. The one when I was in France. The one when I was in high school and trying to be goth yet also thinking it was hilarious, creeping around with my best friend Bianca (who made a way better goth) and getting candy from the 7-11. Or the one when I took a life drawing class and worked at this stupid bakery cafe with crazy stoners who drove me insane. It's not like I'm all, "Oh, Let's See, 1996, What Was I Doing," and search for it. I just feel the air and see the light when it's like this and everything washes over me.
Posted on September 17, 2007 | Comments (1)
Sunday
by shoshanna
I had a great moment today. I stopped at Beulahland and got a particularly tasty coffee with whole milk and honey. Since I am unable to multitask while riding my bike, I was walking my bike down Sandy drinking the coffee, and the coffee was extra delicious, and I was wearing my most favorite green t-shirt ever, and the afternoon was especially grey and fall-like, yet still warm enough to be comfortable, and I had that cliche but awesome feeling you get when you're drinking a good cup of coffee, that everything in the world is just great. Then I met my friends and got a pedicure.
Posted on September 16, 2007 | Comments (0)
$300 bike
by shoshanna
I love my $300 bike. I have a sweet aluminium road bike that is light and fun to climb hills with, but I still secretly prefer my old, beater, hardtail steel Stumpjumper. It was my commuter bike for hell of years, and was fun but so heavy. This summer I got drop bars and cross tires and had the gears taken off, and now it is still fun and way zippier. I wish my road bike handled this way. It's burly and fun to scramble around corners on, and you sort of have to muscle it around. I am like the clumsiest, chickenest person on a bike, but riding the Stumpjumper is the closest I get to the grace, confidence and balance that seem to come naturally to other, less clumsy, less bookish people. It is especially good for riding in the park and getting lost accidentally-on-purpose in Ladd's Addition.
Posted on September 16, 2007 | Comments (0)
Pale sky, heavy weather
by shoshanna
September is a time of transitions. Moving to new apartments, starting new schools, making new friends. Going from hot to cool, short sleeves to scarves. Trading going out and dallying on outdoor patios for staying home, getting down to work, and gathering acorns. It's a time of surprises. I found a bunch of cool clothes in a free-box today. That never happens. I hate free-boxes. One was a corduroy skirt. September is definitely time for corduroy. But I don't know if it's time for me to transition from pants to skirts. I like wearing the pants.
Posted on September 13, 2007 | Comments (0)