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June 2019

It is impossible to extoll the benefits and wonders of a proper afternoon siesta. I don’t know why this country hasn’t gotten on board with such a thing, but then again I don’t know why this country is doing much of what it’s doing right now. Following our morning walk and shopping adventures, Kira and I returned to the condo at my favorite hour – just as the sun was pouring into the bedroom bay window. We dozed for about an hour, recharging our batteries for a late dinner and the fun that would form a pre-cursor to all of that.

The fun began with an impromptu fashion show, the kind of thing we typically do after a bout of shopping. For once Kira had something to wear too! She found the perfect pair of shoes to go with her new dress, and a steal on a pair of chandelierious earrings.

Speaking of perfect pairs, I served up a tart grapefruit gin cocktail for Kira (in the pink) and a loose Last Word for myself (in the green). A wise woman once said that pink goes good with green, so who are we to argue?

Filling in the sunny shade of yellow we needed was The Dress. It was the embodiment of a spring day, a virtual sundrop – the jaunty shade of a jonquil in frilly, ruffled form.

Sipping a cocktail and wearing this dress heightened the afternoon. We sat by the open windows looking out onto Braddock Park. The fountain was running – sweet music that would soothe until well after the first whispers of fall arrived. Dogs and their walkers strode by, as did a few neighborhood children. This was usually a magical hour, especially if you wanted to take a glass and sit on the stoop watching the world pass by.

I slipped on a new jacket as the light slowly and reluctantly slipped from the sky. We made our way to my favorite new haunt, Nahita, for one more drink before dinner at Strip.

Andy and I just had an anniversary meal at Nahita, which we instantly adored for its lush tropical feel and peppy bartenders, so I shared it with Kira to bring back a little of that magic. When a happy experience drops into the pool of life, it expands into ever-widening circles. Sometimes they end up bouncing back, criss-crossing upon themselves in happy repetition. At such times memories are shared and revived, and they go to live on in the memories of others, criss-crossing other circles of friends and family until we are all, in one way or another, connected.

Kira and I have been making these memories for over twenty years, looping in and out of each other’s lives sometimes regularly and sometimes quite sporadically, but we always seem to return to these times in Boston, where nothing more than a fancy dress and a blue moon are needed to make it special. The only thing that changes is our hair – hers is shorter, mine is grayer.

Until next time…

How long had it been since I’d seen the sun in Boston? Too long. After a rainy trip along the Mass Turnpike, and a rainy entry into the city, at which point I promptly took a nap while the skies sprinkled, Kira and I were in dire need of some sun. It arrived to greet us the next morning, and we were so thrilled we immediately went outside and spent the morning walking.

Cafe Madeleine provided a welcome croissant for breakfast-to-go, and we messily ate the buttery flakiness as we wound our way through the South End. (I’d have found us a bench, but they would be wet from all the rain the day before. Besides, it’s easier to pretend you’re not making a croissant mess if you stay in motion.)

I paused at this potted Rosa rugosa – the first rose of the season – and I leaned down to inhale its seaside-conjuring scent. It reminded me of Ogunquit, and Cape Cod, and all the summery goodness that this world, at its best, is capable of producing. There in the midst of bricks and cement, the perfume of escape tickled the nose, recalling the beach, the grass, the sand and the salty sea. Summer was suddenly on the tip of my tongue.

Everything around us seemed to show off in the sunlight, such as these purple pansies and fluttering lavender blooms. These were found along Massachusetts Ave, which we followed to Newbury Street. Spring weather, and the need for summer garb, put us in the mood for shopping. Not that it ever takes all that much…

We had reservations for a very late dinner at Strip by Strega, and I wanted us to be extra fancy, so I convinced Kira to buy a new dress at Forever 21. She’s the size of a twig, so those items fit her, and if I can find a robe or wrap in XL, some can even fit me. We ended up with some pool wear and a bright yellow Beyonce dress that was only missing a baseball bat. We crossed over to Boylston and found a couple of coupe glasses at Crate and Barrel, and then it was time for a break. We sidled up to the bar at Earl’s, even though the outside action upstairs seemed to be where all the fun was at on such a perfectly sunny day. Sometimes it’s good to be quiet and away from the crowd.

A lobster tostada and some truffle fries made for a lovely lunch, providing just enough fuel to make is through the second half of our shopping expedition. Through Lord & Taylor, H&M, and Nordstrom Rack we sought out a cheap jacket for me, eventually finding one in light blue that would set off Kira’s dress impeccably.

Shopping feels more draining when there is a goal and objective – I much prefer casual browsing without pressure or intent. Tired-out and ready for a Saturday siesta, we made our way back through Copley, and Southwest Corridor Park – so fresh and bright and verdant in these early days – turned out its prettiest self. It was time for rejuvenation and refreshment…