VirusHead - Mutating bits of contagious discourse, because language is a virus.

Oh - it was terrific to meet up with Nicolette. I picked her up at her house, and her next-door neighbor was kind enough to take a few photos of us (more here).

We went to Borders as planned, and talked together for quite some time.

I had forgotten how beautiful her eyes are - although actually I think they are prettier now than ever. There is a steadiness and wisdom in their depths that wasn’t there before.

That’s another thing I noticed. All my friends have found a center, a place from which they beam. It probably sounds strange to say it. Maybe it just takes wide experiences, a kind of building of confidence over time. Women in their forties totally rock. I wish I had been able to squeeze in a couple of other visits - especially with Jennifer R., who I just reconnected with before leaving. I simply ran out of time to see anyone else. It was pretty packed as it was.

I felt so enveloped by love and caring on this trip.

Well. I did pick up a book, but it wasn’t a novel. “Revenge of the Quahog” is a book of collected comics by regional cartoonist Don Bousquet. An example: A kid with a gift-wrapped box for a head, carrying books. The title is “Gifted Child” and his tee-shirt says “Wickit Smott.” You get the general idea…. lol. I managed to get steamers butter on it later…

Roy and Patty had a barbecue at their house in North Providence - and my cousin Allen M. was kind enough to drive from his place so that we could see each other. He is recently divorced (about the most civil divorce I’ve ever seen) and he seemed happy and more relaxed. I’m hoping that we’ll be able to do another Utah trip before too long.

Next day, I headed to Salem.