Yesterday
was sweet, indeed. Although to
many this weekend is a holiday weekend riddled with meticulous plans and high
expectations of fun and frolicking, for me, it’s just another weekend. Now, don’t get me wrong … I’m very
thankful for those who have risked much so that I might experience the freedoms
that I do. It is not my intention
to belittle the significance of Memorial Day. I just mean to iterate that I have an unconventional work
schedule, and, therefore, the fact that Monday is a “bank holiday” does not
affect my schedule the way it affects the majority of Americans.
Now
that my disclaimers are out of the way, I’ll get back to my sweet
Saturday.
Yesterday
was only a casually planned event.
And that’s using the word ‘planned’ in the loosest of definitions. It started out with a trip to the farmers’ market with
Sister. As usual, we had mentioned
a proposed meeting time the night before.
Also as usual, we ended up meeting about an hour after that originally
proposed time. So, I got to her
house around 9am, and we strolled through town toward the market. Once there, we were enveloped with the
telltale signs of the impending arrival of summer on the farm: the brilliant greens, yellows and reds
of the vegetables on every table; the mouth-wateringly heady aromas of freshly
baked breads and pastries; gorgeous bouquets of flowers; the promise of pie
reflected in the rows and rows of strawberries, blueberries and peaches; and,
of course, the throngs of people emerging from hibernation to celebrate the
return of this hot-headed southern sun that lords over us as summer comes to
call. 
We were blessed to run into our good friends Chris, JD, Theresa, Lula and Shady. Isn’t it always nice to share unexpected encounters with the people we love? I think so. We strolled the market together for a few moments, made plans to have lunch soon, and parted ways feeling even warmer than we already had in the early morning heat.
The
market and the surrounding areas were even more bustling than usual
yesterday. Apparently there was
some kind of road race (or, possibly, a triathlon?) happening downtown. It generated a good crowd of jolly
townsfolk and athletes and even a very stylish gentleman with the most delicious
hat I think I’ve ever seen.
After
filling my bag with some of Durham’s finest and freshest produce, Sister and I
proceeded to Parker + Otis
to share a drink and some conversation.
She had a soda. I had tea.
We both ogled the fine wares of the shop longingly. We enjoyed sitting for a spell in the
fun atmosphere and the good company, before parting ways around noontime. 
After
coming home to unload my market loot, I headed back into town and to The Carolina Theatre. This weekend marks the last days of the
Alfred Hitchcock retrospective. I treated myself to a double feature of
Strangers on a Train
and Notorious. (Isn’t Cary Grant just the dreamiest?) I had never seen either film, and
enjoyed them both a bunch! (Today
I’ll be seeing Spellbound
… Gregory Peck,
anyone?) Then it was back into the
sunlight of the early evening for a lovely promenade home.
I had
made no plans for my evening, but after practicing my Spanish during all my walking trips, I
decided to lie back on the couch and watch the Spanish-language film, La Misma Luna
(Under the Same Moon). I’ve wanted
to watch it for ages, and I wasn’t disappointed. It is such a beautiful story of the bond between a mother
and her son. It also portrays the
plight of illegal immigrants in a very poignant way without being overly
sentimental about it. It broke my
heart over and over again, but also gave me hope and some valuable insights
into a growing group of people who are finding themselves in a sort of
purgatory between two cultural identities. I totally recommend this film.
As I
was getting ready to turn in early (yes, on a Saturday night), the phone
rang. As if my day wasn’t already
wonderful enough, my parents were calling. We managed a relative glitch-free trans-world skype video call. It was great catching up with them and
hearing all about their adventures and upcoming birthday plans! Mom and Dad, if you’re reading, I’m so
glad we got to talk last night!
Then
it was to bed to read a little before succumbing to the comforting embrace of
Sleep. Aaah. What a sweet Saturday!
How
was your Saturday? What did you
do? I hope it was sweet, as well!
xoxo,
Melanie
Those athletes were participating in Doughman, an eating and mini-triathlon adventure! Here's an article about it: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/05/27/2091734/durhams-doughman-competition-is.html
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