Not Today…

I knew where I was going today: to the Shamrock Bar and Restaurant, with a good description, a few choice anecdotes and stories of the friends I found there. Not today.

I have plotted out these “location” posts well in advance. After the little detour through the Shamrock, there is the Stone House, Corner #16, Johnson Mill Road, and back to the Farmhouse. It helps to be able to sort out my memories of an address, remember the layout and revisit the emotions that set a place apart. Sometimes I start writing about a place, to expand on it later. I pull out photos that coordinate with different locations; sometimes I even put them where I can find them, without going through the whole stash of snapshots yet again!

Not today. I can’t find the photo of the Shamrock, when its vertical wood siding was pale green and the shrubs – constantly full of empty beer cans and cigarette butts – stood in front of the building.

I took a long walk last evening. Taking advantage of longer days and warmer temperatures, I let the little dog explore all the smells revealed under the melting snow while I enjoyed the views.

I did a load of laundry, washed the winter’s dust and film from the front windows, made dinner. I did some necessary writing for other endeavors, rather than starting this post. I went to bed early.

Now, this morning, that photograph eludes me. I don’t have time (I’m already late for work!) to find it, or to give the Shamrock its due. I thought of waiting for later, but I don’t want another obligation waiting for me when I get done working. For today, this is it.