Back from Vacation

Spend lovely week in Taos with Sigrid, Baby Elizabeth, & Sigrid's husband at house of uncle of Sigrid's husband. Uncle apparently extremely rich as house is charming adobe outside of town and is extremely large with indoor pool, view of mountains, and walled garden. On morning of second day when am sitting with Sigrid, Elizabeth and Dave in patio having coffee and melon, Dave announces that We are Not Going Back to New York. Immediately join into fantasy that have Come Into Money and time is spent hiking, and sampling red enchiladas, guacamole, and fry bread. (Thankfully there are no scales in house and all mirrors are on the small side, none showing the middle of the body.) All is pleasant except for tense moment during a foosball game when Dave and Sigrid accuse each other of cheating. Unfortunately, am on Sigrid's team when the accusations fly find self backing Sigrid to the hilt. Gesture and speak in terse voice. Dave rolls his eyes and says Fine, we can havethe point. This does not make me calmer. Rather the contrary. But once game is ove, all competitive antipathy is dissolved by visit to the hot tub. Trip back to New York uneventful except for interesting incident in which woman in front of us in security line refuses to part with her $300 face cream. Feel that rule against cosmetics is silly, and would normally applaud woman's principled stand, but do not care for her high-handed tone and way that she refuses to look at TSA employee and instead looks at her diamonds. (Am sorry to report that have very cruel thought about efficacy of cream.) Imagine exciting scenario in which she is taken away in handcuffs. Instead, she is defeated when TSA manager comes over and says in impressively stern voice, Ma'am, put your lotion in this bag, right now. In New York, weather unexpectedly pleasant. In Taxi on way home open window to breathe air of city, breathe in dazed way for several minutes before a car drives past and a sheet of water comes into backseat, drenching face and hair. Dave asks Are You OK? Tell him Yes of course, but this shock rather than bravery. Inwardly, can only think of taking a shower. This morning, feel unexpected optimism on way into work and feel that the Fall Won't Be Bad. On entering, Libby informs me that one teacher has decided not to teach in the fall, another has threatened to file a grievance because of the schedule we gave her; also my computer broke and had to be take away, the copy machine is broken (naturally). She rounds out list by noting that The Chair is unreachable. The way she says it makes it sound as though he might be found half-eaten by cats. Am alarmed and ask, Did anybody call his house? She replies, He isn't in New York, is At his Place in Vermont and will be out of reach until the week after next, which -- as feel muscles between neck and shoudlers tighten -- can only admire.