sitting in Friends....

Library now, soon will take over my shift, but enough time to browse the web ad infinitum.
Began the morning in Bushwick at Cobra, wanted to say goodbye to Joanna, who is going to be with
her boyfriend soon in Australia. So I did, long trip out there, though L Train moves fast. She was glad to see me, spoke a while, during a quiet period at the bar, but then the throng came in, and I became a watcher of people. Interesting to see who arrived and asked for coffee. Left around 11.
Yesterday evening, did explore a new bar, a very nice one called Richlane, kind of mellow, a great place for a date, since there are a lot of small tables that are far from the small bar. Bartender Dave really very nice, welcoming then had an interesting conversation with Mike, a cook who lives nearbye, and is helping to organize a restaurant opening in (where else?) Bed-Stuy, Nostrand Avenue to be exact. We went through the litany of bars and neighborhoods, and coffee shops that we knew or did not know, I left, expecting to end up at South fourth in time for karaoke, but stopped at the Bean for a sandwich. As I was finishing it, felt myself collapse from tiredness, knew I could not make it to South Fourth, could just get to the L train. Arrived home tired, but okay. Felt good this morning, feel strong now.
Rediscovered google maps just now, looked at a couple of images of around the Concourse in the Bronx, and also in what was called in 1960 "Northwest Baltimore". Of course that was the Jewish section, rapidly ready for change a few years later..but then...Took the map to Clarinth Road, home of my one date with a girl named Ellen, two years younger than me, got too fussy afterwards, she never saw me again, lost again in Baltimore, March 1961. How is it possible that I remember it so completely. what does it mean...? Now, she is in her late sixties, what has that to do with anything, would I even recognize her...or her friend....? Left to ponder these images one tries to...what....?

Interesting weekend ahead, visits from a high school friend and a college friend. Both now live in the DC area---interesting to see how I negotiate these visits. Both are staying about a block away from each other on the west side (double irony). Tonight, not sure...anyway....