under a big tree

four.26.13

A clear fresh morning and whoa! A wedding invite to the cousins ceremony in three days.  Here try this jacket on.  I’ve never worn a gray suit, it could look sharp. 

Business has dropped like a car going off a cliff.  It does afford one to take care of business off the mountain and so be it, or sleep.  I will remain here, showing rooms, making tea, serving beer, don’t ask for any food the chefs are out. 

It is time for a haircut what to do.  Pokhara, it’s two bits with Laxman, in Lakeside, five bucks.  I could take the scissors meself and do it if necessary, I got two.5 days.

It has rained every day for a week or so but in the last three days only briefly.  An hour before sunset yesterday, skies darkened so I put the cushions inside, took my dry clothes from the line and put the pile in the room, returned to the line and began removing sheets and pillowcases when without any advance droppings, BAM! it came down hard and fast.  Thirty minutes later the cloudburst drifted east and that was that for the day.

These intense and short storms are good enough to provide everyone who’s got a bucket to catch their own, thus reducing traffic at the taps and reducing the number of times we climb.

12:17pm—At the helm in the dining room, the village rests, gusty winds, hazy cloudy.  Prem Maya’s shop is closed again, her husband’s younger brother ‘s marriage is taking her away for whatever in the world she’s got to do. I should learn to say kudos in Nepalese. 

And the plan to return hasn’t changed much, I get the feeling not having a plan is better, you think? No, not really, it’s the chicken or some kind of egg thing, can you get a job without an address, not really.  Ok, then, maybe LA has better resources, SD surely helped and by godly, the weather was nice. And there’s no reason to rush.

Voices from below on their way to the top, finish your cigarette, bring in the cushions rain spits, stack the chairs, leave a few out, rain stops.  Hungry for anything?  I think a couple of eggs are my speed.   An omelet with toast?  That would do it.  The internet isn’t fast enough to watch anything, we’re buffering long, far too long.

The rain falls harder, thunder rumbling, the dining room darkens.  Hard boiled eggs anyone?

4:42pm—Darkness descends on the mountain, chickens and children go on with Friday afternoon, louder rumbling cascades through and over the valley’s confluence.  Kem came by for a black tea and smoke, Baba stopped in, no Maya, no Suraksha! I remember Family Circle and the paths Jeffrey took, how different are they going up hill?  More like a zig zag, a lot of lateral switch-backing.  The rain picks up.  Close the shutters?

4.27.13

I should be afraid of what isn’t planned.  Going to America like an immigrant, hoping for a better life, no, hoping to survive. 

A 59 year old Korean checked in after seven last night, I guessed he was 45, ‘oh I dye my hair’, well it works, an accountant who worked somewhere in New York, a Baptist?  ‘I want to learn more about Buddhism’.  Say you should.

It’s Saturday but it doesn’t feel like it at all.  I suspect many will venture to the top meanwhile tranquility reigns except for the crazy dog.

I’m seeing more summer jobs in San Diego, how could I make it work, oh sorry, how can God make it work?  How can a spirit who may or may not be around anymore make it work?  You doubt ‘Job’ is around, I don’t know really.  Manifestations are rare, coincidences don’t say anything, they only confuse and leave me drifting in thought, which isn’t a good thing when you’re trying to cut tomatoes, onions, garlic and cabbage.

I’m not returning to the states to visit, it’s about work, it’s about establishing residency to get a driver’s license, it’s about finding a place to sleep.  I told Baba yesterday I’ll sleep under a big tree and we laughed and then he sees my eye and knows I’m not joking, if there are no ants, and it’s grassy….  I don’t know what he’s thinking, ‘why is he joking about sleeping under a tree, he’s American, no family, no house, problem, but you’re American.’

Before six thirty the Himalayas have disappeared, the accountant in room one headed up at five thirty seven, he was told it takes only three minutes to the top, a full two minutes faster than last month.  We need to time it.

10:26am—The accountant returned from the top carrying two large cameras.  ‘Thees too much, too difficult.’  How could anyone find sympathy in their heart for such suffering.  And don’t show me your pictures, anyone can take a good photo with a year’s salary around their bloody neck.

It is unfortunate after nine months I cannot follow conversations amongst these 30 year olds.  It surely is important, animated, low whisphers, inside jokes, sarcasm, endearing thoughts, reading a face, and hearing intonation amounts to nothing more than a few comprehensive percentage ponts.

3:59pm—Sun brings people and with 15 in the garden for lunch or a drink.  The ticket is in hand, a well in my stomach, o Lord.  I checked in a Chinese couple in room 3, sure I’ll give ya a dollar discount.  Is this your daughter?  Very nice, anything to eat, ok, let me go find the cook.  And a phone booking, we’ll see if a single lady with a guide arrive.  Thirty bucks for a deluxe, no bargaining, we are good customers.

8:49pm—dark bloody orange moon rising, stars and crickets are in sync.  The Chinese are out.  What a presence resting on the city’s aura, oh to have a camera, how can I describe it here with any justice…flashes go off from the veranda…a busy day and how long does it take to get into working shape after three days of no work.  Last thought before lights out and I lost the thought that fast!! Oh right I remember, working in a restaurant on a beach, oh it’s so hippy dude, but really?  A beach bum without a cause.