Paint and Butterflies
Below is my "About Me" update from late in August 2005, after my sublet expired and I was offered a place to live in a house my friend and former boss, was trying to sell. I helped to paint it and make it look habitable.
On my tongue there is plaster dust and on my fingers, white latex.
Beside me, a stereo is playing a recording of an exposition on
celestial mechanics as interpreted by an Arp and Moog synthesizer. I’m
sweating in a room full of wood and watching two butterflies battle
through a perfectly square window above a lush garden in Arlington. One
butterfly is yellow, the other is black. Who has ever seen such a
thing? Are they fighting or mating? I lose track of them. My sweat
falls over my brow and burns my eyes. The yellow butterfly flutters
past in victory.Above me is a room full of paint canisters. I have emptied most of
them. Above that room is another one, an attic. I’m taking a break just
now from painting it. This house is empty except for my stuff and
possibly a squirrel or raccoon. One day the squirrel or raccoon
meandered in here and became trapped. Now I live here, but I’ll be
leaving soon. I hope the squirrel or raccoon made it back outside ok.Some days I take the train into DC. I like to see free films and
performances at the Freer Gallery. I like to read a book in the
National Building Museum. I like to bicycle at night. I like to pretend
the underground Metrorail stations are the giant rooms of an enormous
spaceship. On cloudy days, I take the train to Dupont Circle and sit by
the fountain and drink ginger beer.I used to live in Philadelphia. Sometimes I visit friends there. I have
two cats from Philly: Dot and Ivan. I have one cat from Israel -
Katziel. You can see pictures of them. I have no cat from DC. I am full
enough with cats from other places.I am Jewish. I have to say this in case someone is looking through
Friendster for Jews hanging around DC. Do you want to know something
more about me? I am an environmentalist, I love animals, I’m a
vegetarian, and work to save natural open spaces. I am a panentheist,
skeptical, and romantic. I like nothing more than to share things I
learn and find with friends. aharon AT simpletone.com
