Monday, December 9, 2024

Old White Man and the Sea

 Sat -- The day after the Luau we decided to take a day relaxing in the B n B to enjoy the house, the lanai the and the back yard. I took off my shoes and walked around on the grass. Thhere were chickens that come the patio in the morning, and a friendly dog that belongs to the house. An Indian couple was staying one patio over. On Thanksgiving they had a zoom call with relatives. Indians are slowly taking over the American family-travel landscape, as white people stop having children. I noticed this in Arizona at the Meteor Crater last summer. Indians travel the way Americans used to travel in station wagons in the 1970, crossing states to give memorable experiences to their kids.

There was also an engaged couple staying at another patio. Over breakfast, Jessica overheard the bride talking about completing her YTT in Costa Rica. What's that? Yoga Teacher Training. I myself heard her talk about gettting her chakras aligned for her wedding. By her facial features, her demeanor, and her talk about eastern religion, I took her for a Jewess. Also there is something in my ancient memory from living in New York, and learning a lot about American Jewish culture up front (due to my ex-wife's best friend being Jewish), that having a wedding in Hawaii is a Jewish trope. Perhaps I'm imaging that. 

In the afternoon Jessica arranged with the proprietor for us to have massages. She went first, walking around to a secluded patio on the other side of the house, and returned ninety minutes later in bliss to take a nap. Then it was my turn. The masseuse was a lovely Mexican woman with a solid frame and strong arms. I could tell she was Mexican because her accent was almost the same as a well-known Mexican woman with a cooking show on PBS (who is also Jewish) .

The massage was indeed fantastic. She was cheerful and professional, and very effective without being too aggressive.  It made me think getting a massage once a month is probably everyone should do for good health. Jessica had me tip her well.

When the masseuse left temporarily to left me emerge from out under the sheet and put my clothes on, I found myself a naked white man on the lawn in the sun and pleasant tropical air looking out to the vast ocean beyond. It was a moment of some kind of purity. Old man and the sea.

Later, with my clothes on, I found another book to read, from a second box of books in the main room which I hadn't noticed previously. Vanderbilt: the Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. I read the first half ("Rise") before leaving and the proprietor gifted me the book so I could finish it.



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