mrcamtastic

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 - Eight - The Dinner

It was 7:15pm on a relatively mild Atlanta evening when I found my way into the eatery to meet my dear friend. It had been weeks since we'd last spoken. It was our unspoken covenant to pick up right where we'd left off. This time however, was different. There was a haze that was overshadowing our weekly dinner, something that precluded us from engaging in the lively banter that would often fill our Friday evenings after a week fraught with the responsibilities of adulthood. He would recall the latest episodes involving his wife and children, and I would dish on the eccentricities of my coworkers, clients and random encounters of the week. It was a good arrangement. It was our time, when we could shroud the armor we'd clad ourselves with so as to be all that was required of us by ourselves and others and lay bare our misgivings, wishes, regrets, fears, hopes and dreams. Tonight was different. The air that filled the restaurant was not the sweet smell of the chef's latest creation, but a stale lackluster substitute. The lively banter found itself replaced with a stoic silence that would be deafening were it not for the barrenness where a tender relationship once abode. Although we'd resolved ourselves to the pecan crusted trout that evening, we undoubtedly and most assuredly had beef.

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 - Seven - The Anniversary

Momentous occasions for celebration weren't few and far in between growing up, but none were as joyous as an anniversary. I vividly remember the parties for my parents tenth and fifteenth anniversaries. They were both at clubhouses and I, my eldest younger brother and my cousin performed the greatest in 90s love songs. (For the record, I was the first lead vocalist.) Of all the anniversary parties, I remember their 25th because it was the one of the first where I was at the precipice of adulthood. I'd been out of school for a few years, had started my career, and knew that I had to take the helm. My aunts had moved back west. They left a void in the party planning space and I intended to fill it. Like the others, it was at a clubhouse, a tearjerking PowerPoint slide presentation had been prepared and family had flown in (all without the knowledge of the parental units). Food was plentiful, music & tears flowed while memories were made. More parties like that one are necessary.

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30  - Six  - The Day’s Work

Wednesday socked it to me, no Missy. Overall the day proved productive, but darn if taking care of business doesn’t take it out of you sometimes. Mental exhaustion is definitely a thing. There is nothing quite like that feeling at the end of the day, when you’ve accomplished what you’ve set out to do. While admittedly this doesn’t happen every day for me, I am minimally able to take comfort in knowing that I accomplished what I could and will get right back at it tomorrow. 

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 - Five - A Toast

There is something to be said for a nice handyman. They come in, access the situation, and Olivia Pope the task at hand. In the ongoing saga of adulting, I’ve come into situations where a good handyman proved indispensable. Here’s to the people that are out here making things happen on a daily basis and getting the job done. 

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 -  Four -  The Phone Call

I keep my phone on silent. Some refer to this as ‘heaux’ mode. I like to think that it is really more a symptom of me wanting to be discreet when I am being messaged or phoned but I am not even going to sit up here and lie like I haven’t engaged in heaux activity as a youth, my dearest iPhone a willing enabler. That’s enough about my time in the Philippines though, the phone call that I am speaking of is wholly domestic. I had to call a plumber today because my water meter had a leak.

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 – Three – The Moment of Introspection

Taking time for self care is important. As I grow older I am beginning to understand its centrality in my ongoing development. Moments of reflection, inward to who I am and outward to the mark I leave on casual encounters, friends and family, insist on candor and accounting. During these times, I ponder my impact, how I can amplify it and where I should direct my time and energy to allow it to be appropriately harnessed. Looking back on decisions made during those seemingly brief and fleeting moments betrays a consistent theme: ponder, assess, adjust, act. These moments fill my spirit so that I can fill others in kind. 

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 – Two – The Function (Part 1)

I type this having just woke up from a morning/ afternoon of struggle. I was giving that Kermit shower fetal position today and it wasn’t cute. Honestly I’m just glad to be here at this point.

Friday is typically a fairly light day. A friend has characterized Atlanta as shutting down at 2pm on Fridays. (There wasn’t anything light about those gin and tonics that I threw back last night, but I digress.) It was the first Friday and my friend invited me out to The Eagle for Onyx night. Always eager to engage in some people watching and as lover of fine leather goods, I obliged.

As is customary, we engaged in the necessary pregaming activities. Little did I know that tea would be steeped, stirred, and spilled in the hours leading up to our foray into the low lit rooms of the Eagle. We arrived at The Eagle, appropriately lubricated and ready to enjoy the evening’s festivities. I suspect it was due to the previous holiday weekend, but The Eagle was noticeably vacant. We weren’t deterred, and wondered into the many rooms like children meandering through a haunted house. Overall, it wasn’t a more memorable function. In all fairness, that’s at least partially attributable to me living la vida loca ahead of going out for the evening.

Happy Pride Month y'all!

[mrcamtastic]

#XD30 – One – The Dinner Party

Today (or rather yesterday; I am already behind on this writing challenge) was like most Thursdays. I woke, rolled out of bed, brewed some coffee in my french press, and started work. After several hours of feverishly typing at the computer, I dressed and trotted over to my dear friend’s new place. She and I recently forayed into adulthood and purchased homes and tonight was a celebration of sorts. We weren’t only celebrating the making the first of our respective 360 mortgage payments, but also the many other assorted joyful happenings in life, the foremost of which was making it through another week (albeit short). 

I arrived about 30 minutes late to dinner, with beverage fixings in tow, ready for merriment and good conversation. We’d decided to have a Taco Thursday, which necessitated a daiquiri/ margarita accompaniment. The guests of the evening filled the home shortly after my arrival, their respective flairs in tote.

After a few shots of tequila to prime our palates, we sat down for a dinner of pulled pork tacos, elotes, and dacquiris. Spirited conversation ensued. I’d honestly forgotten how much I enjoy good conversation. Entertaining varying viewpoints on issues related to religion, politics, the economy, environmental issues and our musical faves was fun and uplifting. I even broke out into an impromptu sing along with my British expat friend to Spice Girl’s “Wannabe”. 

As quickly as we convened, the evening was over and we all returned to our various parts of Atlanta to conclude our evenings. In all likelihood, we won’t convene again for a few weeks as we are flung about the country (and the world for that matter), tending to our various commitments but the simple act of getting together over a meal was invigorating and overall a good start to the month. 

[mrcamtastic]

In thinking about expressing gratitude for the things that provide me with comfort, a number of items came to mind. What provides me the most comfort though, as I have realized as a result of this challenge, is being able to express myself in a written medium. It gives me a way to take a glimpse into where my head is at a given moment, and allows me to think in an unrestricted fashion. In a world full of expectation of what I should be, say, and do, it is nice to be able to do something as simple as grabbing a cup of tea and a moleskin and just unleashing what I am feeling onto paper. It’s cathartic for me in the same way that singing the lyrics of my favorites artists is. It allows me to be unencumbered by expectation and simply just be. I think that is where true comfort lies.

[mrcamtastic]

Seasons.

There is something about the changing of seasons that always reminds me of fleeting impermanence. This summer was especially eventful and busy for me.  As summer continues to wane and small pieces of fall peak through, I can’t help but be grateful for this amazing summer and all that it has brought.  I have been able to travel the world, meet amazing people and make new friends. I have had wonderful time to myself to reflect and ponder and build myself up.  I’ve spent time with family, seeing my brother graduate from high school and taking a nice fishing trip with my dad.  One of my closest friends saw the birth of a healthy baby boy.  I am grateful for all of what this summer has been. It has been so packed that I actually find myself a bit exhausted and ready for the slower pace that fall portends.  That is one of the wonderful things about seasons.  They are only for a time until eclipsed by another, different but just as beautiful.

[mrcamtastic]

Art.

When I think about art, my mind almost immediately rushed to the enclosed picture.  As a child, this picture hung in my father’s office.  When I moved out of my parent’s home, it was one of the things that my father gifted me as I moved into the world.  Despite having travelled the world and enjoying its art, I can’t help but always be enamored and grateful for what I perceive to be the crowning glory of my personal collection. 

[mrcamtastic]

Kindness.

While this probably doesn’t qualify as a picture, I felt that it epitomized kindness.  I am grateful for the kindness of others but also realize the importance of being kind to myself. There was once a time when self-kindness was not something I found especially important.  As I have grown older, I have realized that self-kindness is a crux to being kind to others. Once I understood the importance of self-kindness, it became easier to be kind to others. This was because I simply began to treat others how I would want and expect to be treated. I am grateful for this realization.  I am grateful for this understanding as it guides my path and frames my interactions with others.

[mrcamtastic]

Home.

[mrcamtastic]

Friends.

[mrcamtastic]

Attire.

[mrcamtastic]

Details.

[mrcamtastic]

Inspiration.