The Lone-Star State

Today I am grateful for the most delicious apricot spread from le Pain Quotidienne. Yum, Yum, Yum!! As I type, I have a "hair mask" of conditioner on my head and "Interview with a Vampire" is on TV. I used to love this movie; now it is hopelessly hokey.

Anyway, I had a great time in Texas. My first night there, (after a brief trip to an enormous supermarket!) Liu took me out for Tex Mex, which she insisted was different from any Mexican food to be found in New York City. She is very particular about her tortillas. We went out with a friend of hers from work and a bunch of his friends. They took us around to some of the gay bars in Houston. We met a strange guy named Peter (a straight guy who just happens to spend his time on the gay circuit). He told us all about his forays into ultimate fighting. Liu's friend Matthew became very confessional to me. A lot of interesting things happened. Suffice it to say, it was a strange night overall, but good to be back out on the town with Liu just like the old days!

On Thursday, Liu's friend D came over and the three of us sang for a few hours. D is one of Liu's oldest friends. I've heard a lot about her over the years, but had never had the chance to meet her. We did our best to sightread some strangely arranged SSA trios before it was time to go out for the evening. Whereas we had gone into the city on Wednesday night, on Thursday is was time for the country bars!

Our first destination was "Big Texas," a dance hall and saloon. I was very happy to be able to smoke inside and quickly commenced to chain smoke for the rest of the evening. (Again-- just like the old days!). The place was pretty empty. There were a few bands playing. I liked one of the singers. (He pointed to me from the stage and later gave me a free t-shirt). At one point, some cowboy came up to the three of us, hoping for a dance. We all three insisted that we didn't know how to two-step, but he kept saying that he could teach us. Finally, due to the fact that this was basically a one-time experience for me, I agreed. The dance floor was circular-- like a running track and we made our way around it a few times. When we tired of that place, we headed over to "Tumbleweeds," a much more happening saloon. There, the dance floor was jam packed and we didn't dare try to break in to all that. Instead, we parked ourselves at a little table near to the dance floor to watch everything that was going on. It was a dangerous spot to be in-- three girls with no men. We had to fend off the suitors who viciously and persistently were upon us. Most of them couldn't take "no" for an answer. There were beer bottles and cowboy hats everywhere. Finally, we moved to a more remote part of the bar, hoping to stay out of the line of fire. Despite the pestering men, I had a great time. One of them told me that I looked like a "yankee." I doubt it though-- he only said that after I told him I was from NY.

On Friday it was off to Galveston. It was a really interesting town. In some ways it felt like the Jersey shore. But there was a whole other side to it-- a historic district with gorgeous old mansions. We parked and got ice cream and poked around a store called "the Golden Mermaid." Then we headed over to tour some of the big houses-- first "Bishop's Palace," built by the Greshem family and then "Ashton Villa" built by the Browns. It was eerily fascinating to hear about the lives of these people and to imagine their social world and their time-- all before the big hurricane of 1900-- a hurricane that killed 8,000 people and ended Galveston's day in the sun. After that, the town basically went into decline. One of the most interesting characters we encountered was "Bettie Brown." Liu had a few more details about her, as she had taken those tours before. I definitely want to learn more about it all.

After touring the houses, we got a bite to eat at a little seafood joint near the seawall and then we headed over to East Beach to lounge around on the gulf. Pelicans swooped down into the sea and jumping fish hopped up over the quiet waves. I've started reading Ulysses and made my way through a few more pages. All three of us waded out in the water, as far as we dare go.

On Saturday Liu and I lounged around, chatted all day and watched Nights of Cabiria. I loved it and can still hear Cabiria crying "Wanda!" in my head. That night, she got tickets for us, her friend Joey and her boyfriend (the Cowboy, in case you forgot!) to go see Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors Tour." It was a great show, including not only Cyndi, but Joan Jett and the B-52's and Andy Bell from Erasure. We sat outside on a huge lawn overlooking an amphitheater.

On Sunday, Liu and I just hung out some more, watching dvd's of Madonna's "Drowned" tour, and excerpts from the Zeferelli Traviata and parts of Aida. I got to make my amends to her and we had a really good chat about the way things were and the way things have changed. Then she took me to the airport.

I have more to say about what's been happening on the Narc front, but I think I'll leave that for a separate post. There were also some difficult things that happened-- my sponsee had a little emotional crisis while I was gone and Bro-in-Law's cousin passed away from cancer. But, I don't want to get overly analytical-- not even about the trip to Texas. This post will stay about friendship and getting out of the city and experiencing new things.

I have to say-- going anywhere else always reminds me that I am indelibly a New Yorker right through to the bone!

love,
h

PS: I have an interview in the morning for a teaching job at a great school for Spring 2009. Wish me luck!!