Simple Pleasure

Last night was a perfect night in my life. As I left work it began to rain. It was dark and a tinge on the gloomy side. I was listening to the Ron Reagan show on am 1150 and driving home with my thoughts. Hollywood looks so much nicer in the rain. The layer of grime is almost removed and the dull light helps to filter out that which you don't always need to see.
I Don't recall what the show was about and it doesn't really matter. I was thinking about the piece of writing I started during the day, as if under a spell.
I adore having projects in my head. So many of them stay that way entirely, but they are just as important to me as the ones that come out. To be able to turn an idea over and over in my head is magic and meditation at the same time. I get myself so carried away sometimes. With this going on my drive home was over before I realized it.
There was princess parking in front of our building when I pulled up. Angela was home waiting when I got in, just finishing up her chores and projects of her own. We hugged and compared notes about our days.
At 6:30 Angela had a house call to make, one block over on Ogden. I changed into my running clothes and walked her to her appointment. There was no rain at this point, just the smell of wet and wonder.
As Angela and I said goodbye out front of her house call I started my run. I was a tiny bit sore from the run the day before so I started very slowly. Often when I run concentrate on deep full breathing and muscle relaxation. I did this for the first mile or so as I ran down Santa Monica Blvd, letting go of another day at work, getting the kinks out of my body and mind.
My mind again began to drift towards my novel project. I was thinking about the summer in which it's set and about all the people that drifted in and out of my life during that time.
Soon structured thought crumbled away. I was left with the lights around me and the rhythm of my body at run. At Peace. The rain threatened to return, and I hoped it would.
At home I shower and dressed. I was awaiting Angela's text so that I could walk her home from her house call. I tried on first a pin striped shirt, white tie and Armani sweater. Something about it was too much. I tried on a new blue and black sweater, it also didn't fit my mood. It's an amazing feeling to love ones wardrobe. I went through many years of hating my clothes. It's now a priority in my life to enjoy the clothes I have to wear. I finally settled on a nice black long sleeve undershirt and a shirt which says "Arms are for Hugging the Dandy Warhols". I put a hat and scarf on top of this and walked on block over to meet Angela.
It had rained while I was in the shower, so again everything was wet.
As we walked home I asked her how work had been. She smiled and told me.
Angela had decided earlier in the day that she would treat us to a nice dinner out with the money she made from her house call. She usually cooks wonderful perfectly flavored meals at home. This would be a nice treat, but the bar was very high for the meal out to live up to.
We decided that we should walk to dinner and enjoy the lovely weather, and also feel free to have a drink and not have to drive or pay for a cab. We chose Cheebo on Sunset, a restaurant that neither of us had ever been to. It's the closest eatery north of our house.
The walk through the light drizzle to Cheebo was wonderful. We talked of many things and had our usual fun.
Inside Cheebo was crisp, cozy and warm. We poured over the menu and ordered two beers. We settled on Rigatoni w/ Sausage and Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce, and a Pepperoni Pizza. The Pasta was to D.I.E.! We had a very pleasant candle lit dinner.
While we were in the establishment it began to rain hard. This excited us. Our walk home was wet but not to the point of annoyance. As Angela pointed out, "How often do you get to walk in the rain when you don't have to go any where but home?"

Indeed.