That I could have sworn was you...

I went to a tiny bar last night called the Rear View Mirror with Wes & Michelle to check out some musicians/songwriters. We saw a neat little ensemble that Michelle described as "gifted, drunken children with instruments", a fellow with a piano (I think he needed to be a part of his jazz trio to be understood) and then saw a guy in a dark corner with a familiar smile and eyes, and a guitar, so I was completely won over.

I woke up this morning with some verse running in my head because he reminds me of someone I spent several years very close to, and in fact, loved very much.

(Be kind, this is my first poetry in YEARS!)

Untitled - January 9th

I was sitting in a small bar when you walked in,
or at least I could have sworn it was you -
you who I have not seen in a year or two.

Your shy eyes and open smile
made me take pause and stay a while.

Your strumming fingers -
or his, anyway,
made me linger
long after it might be appropriate to do so, but I did, and I do, and I knew,
the longer I sat there watching who I could have sworn was you -
you who I have not seen in a year or two,
the more I knew -
you would be in my dreams in a day or two.

And so you were -
found your way in right away,
let yourself in and sat for a spell,
sparking all kinds
of feelings I thought I had left behind.

The memories of late nights spent dancing and then watching those same shy eyes
open every bar or two to seek approval.
Agile fingers moving over frets and strings -
like it was the most natural of things.

Just like the most natural of things for me to do is remember you -
you who I have not seen in a year or two,
and remember that I forgot to fall in love with you.

We are creep-magnets!

So I have been here in TO with S since Friday morning and we've been having a ton of fun... we've traipsed all over the city and seen and done and EATEN a lot (man, how can anyone live in this city and not eat out EVERY DAY?!).

I like the city and the area S lives in but don't think I could live in a city... too claustrophobic!

Anyways, one thing we have discovered is that between the two of us, we are huge magnets for creepies and weirdos. Saturday, in the subway station, we somehow got pulled into the crazy ranting of a lady who obviously was not in her right mind. We've tried to avoid eye contact but as S says, "You can't take the Maritimer out of the girl!". The lady at the subway was pretty harmless as there were lots of people around, but it isn't always so!

We traipsed to Cabbagetown today to go to the Riverdale farm (I think that's what it's called), mostly to stretch our legs, and because it's free and also so we could try out a streetcar and make my TTC pass pay off... we were the only people crazy enough to be tramping around a stinky barn in the cold, wet, icky weather we have today... or so we thought. We were coming up a path and a guy told us to be careful...

We thanked him for his concern, but then we were trapped, and man he talked about anything under the sun, and everything, too! He wanted to know if we were Canadian, and I kind of shirked him by telling him I didn't live in the area (I figured he was looking for a wife since he told us about the pottery class he takes at the farm that has "lots of Canadian women" in it)... then proceeded to (accidentally) throw S under the bus by saying she lived in the area and I was visiting her. Then he wanted to know if she was married, when she said no, he wanted to know about a boyfriend... she hesitated, so I said "Sort of", and I think he got the point. But before he left us, he complimented how long S's neck was (he kept telling us to look at things up on the cieling and at cobwebs and stuff). No one else was around, I was completely sure he was going to try and follow us home... and was trying to think of how I would have to be mean and tell him off if he didn't leave us alone.

Geeze louise, I think we just have signs above our heads "If you don't have anything appropriate to talk about, talk to us!". This city, I am telling you!

At the same time, though, I don't like that people's craziness is out on display of everyone. I don't think it's the crush of people that bothers me so about the city, I think it is the fact that all of your weaknesses are on vast display for everyone else.