"At the movie—Death by Number—she bought strands of red licorice to tug and chew. She took a seat off to one side in the theater. She felt strangely self-conscious sitting alone and hoped for the place to darken fast. When it did, and the coming attractions came on, she reached inside her purse for her glasses. They were in a Baggie. Her Kleenex was also in a Baggie. So were her pen and her aspirin and her mints. Everything was in Baggies. This was she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie."—"You're Ugly, Too", Lorrie Moore

//

The mother-in-law is away for the day with her sister and brother-in-law. As she was leaving, I said "Have a good time!" and she looked at me like I was crazy. Writing about our encounter, I think, this is what I'd become: a woman living with a grumpy mother-in-law, writing this entry while defrosting in front of a space heater.

Anyways, I'm off for lunch with a friend. Wine will be involved, of course.

<<