Settling into something damp yet comfy

Now… onto the new. I’ve been in Washington one week, and by all preliminary estimates, I kinda like it. First of all, people here are really nice. They smile and give you detailed directions and ask where you came from and why you left, and they tell you about the tie-dyed shirts their grandkids make for Christmas presents. These things don’t happen much in Michigan. They happen all the time here. Just today a bus driver (James, I thought I might as well introduce myself since I’ll see him every Wednesday and Thursday after work) told me I was a good person, not just a nice, decent person, but a really good one, and there aren’t many of those in the world. I’ve spoken to this man a total of maybe twenty minutes. So by nice, that’s what I mean.

Also, it is grey. And chilly. But not in an unpleasant way. It’s hard to explain. I can’t say I won’t get tired of it later, but I went for a walk a few days ago at a park where they had this boardwalk running over a marsh. The sky was silver with furrows of cloud and the wind was calm, even coming off the lake into the marsh like it was. Where the vegetation wasn’t dense, you could hold the railing and lean way over and just search. I hoped to spot some tadpoles or maybe a newt, but mostly it was just dark, deep brown-black soil and leaves and stems like some ancient black lace frozen in glass. Everything calm, maybe a bubble rising and breaking the surface, sending out rings, but no water walkers, no gnats. I smelled all the wet stuff decomposing or just soaking, smelling different in water than not, and liked it in the same way I like the smell of fallen leaves in rain puddles on a fall day. Everything settled and folded against itself like a bird that is restful and safe, hiding, somewhere. It kind of feels like that.

The new apartment is still a mess, and I anticipate it being that way for a while since I won’t have large chunks of time to work with since starting work. But I like work, or at least the two days I’ve been there. Again, everyone’s very kind and helpful, and already some of the employees have complimented me on my good attitude—boy do I have them fooled! Ha ha! And I’ve been hanging, hefting, and moving some of the largest, fanciest, most expensive gowns I’ve ever touched in my life. And at the end of the day, trying to get all these things to fit on a rack, yes, we totally kick the bottoms into place. There’s so much fabric, so much to tuck and smooth, sometimes a few swift kicks feels good. At this point I’m mostly following other employees around the store, learning procedures and such, but the next two weekends I’ll be attending bridal trade shows in Seattle and Tacoma, which should bring me up to speed on sale procedures quickly. And might also kill me, according to my boss. But I’m still excited. I promise pictures.

Today I left work in a very good mood, mostly because it was a relaxing day since my boss wasn’t around, but also because I had a lot of fun yakking with my co-workers, and I also felt like I learned some new things today. I don’t care that on Wednesdays and Thursdays I can’t leave until 9 or later and have to come home in the dark. I like taking the bus home at night. It reminds me of the Knight Bus in Harry Potter, a bus more empty and exclusive than the buses that run during the day. In fact, sometimes the way we whip around corners and the light flashes off the windows makes it look like the little cafes and florists and pet shops really are jumping out of the way for us as we speed along.

Tomorrow I can look forward to shopping for professional yet comfortable shoes—wearing my pointy-toe pumps for eight hours of standing was a MONUMENTAL MISTAKE. Huge.

By the way, I’ve set up the blog so anyone can leave comments. If you’re not a member of photoblog, you can just leave comments as a guest. Just be sure to include your name somewhere so I know it’s you and not a stalker. Weeeee stalkers!!!!!!

Also I bought a wicker plant stand from Michael’s for $3.99 on sale. Beat that. I dare you.