lunchtime strolling and gelato
Pounding, muggy heat today on my daily lunchtime stroll. I can probably count on one hand the days that I haven't left the office for lunch, whether it's to hastily buy some overpriced food court bowl-slop, or simply meander around downtown with an aluminum-wrapped sandwich in hand.
I've been appreciating the simplicity of the daily motions more lately, which seems like such a thoroughly redundant statement to make when almost every word I breathe into this blog is in praise of, in short, nothing. That is, the sweet nothing. Monotony makes time fly by, and I can't help but marvel at the fact that just about this time next month I'll be another year older. Just about this time next year, I may not even be in the same country, if I have it my way. Monotony makes the mind trail off.
These words are being put down on a Microsoft notepad shrunk into a little corner of one of my three screens, a sentence every now and then. It seems that pace is a new normal for me. Little by little, now and then, here and there, and I'm everywhere at once.
Where I was today is the question at hand, to continue my praise of sweet nothing. My meandering actually had a direction today, as I ran an errand for a friend of mine in anticipation of our hang out tonight: listening to my other friend's jazz quartet (I made the poster for this show, not to toot my own horn). The errand took much less time than I expected, leaving me with a sweet spot of about twenty minutes before I was due back at the office. I elected to journey further west, my tower looming behind my back. See no evil.
At my regular circle-back point, I noticed something, or rather the lack thereof: the corner that remains the bane of my existence to cross due to the classic Toronto lineup syndrome was uncharacteristically empty. The corner belongs to a gelateria that K and I have been dying to try for years, only neglecting to out of pure disdain for lineups. There it was. My golden opportunity, now or never, my lack of actual desire for gelato be damned.
I am honestly stunned to report that there was a reason for these ridiculous lineups. Talk about delicious gelato. I — despite my penchant for creating messes — opted for a sugar cone, and spoiled myself with two flavours: mixed berry and grapefruit. Who's ever heard of grapefruit gelato? Not I. I am now a ride or die grapefruit gelato supporter, and my life will never be the same. After getting my only mildly overpriced gelato, I sat outside and enjoyed the air for a bit. It took it only a minute to start dripping down my hand, and I charged into battle against the blazing sun and cold cream against my teeth. Nevertheless a delicious demise.
It's these little intermissions, the spontaneity that keeps the days bearable lately. Monotony can drive a person mad if left unchallenged.