Love, love, love me some Garbage! And such a fitting song for this day.
I’m only happy when it rains
I’m only happy when it’s complicated
And though I know you can’t appreciate it
I’m only happy when it rains
You know I love it when the news is bad
Why it feels so good to feel so sad?
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
I don’t write much anymore with this blabbermouth to tell you all about the day.
Distance remains my friend (sorry for the close ups).
By the time you actually read this, what I am about to say will be moot. This day, Akron Pride, was held August 22, 2026 and will have been the last time this old girl stretched her legs in public until well into September. This is the result of just not much to do, as you have and will see many photoshoots instead of outings here and life. I am gearing up for my probable last marathon (which will have happened a week or so before you are reading this), playing a ton of pickleball and walking endless miles, working two jobs and going to see our beloved grandson. I can feel myself sliding into another evolution of who and what Kandi is, how she lives her life and what things make her happy. She is moving away from a few standards, toward some new things. But we’ll continue the evolution, which you can see here.
This day it rained…and rained…and rained. It poured as I drove to meet a friend. And it poured as we had a delightful time! I met someone at the recent Solstice event at the art museum. He is gay, lives about a mile or so from me, is also a volunteer at the art museum and we both have a tremendous love of music. Our ability to just talk was immediate and we had the best time. Thank you, Jim!
Then it rained some more, basically dampening Akron Pride significantly. But I had the great, great fortune to spend some time with my amazing friend Chynna! We walked around and then had dinner and talked, and talked, and talked and again, I am blessed beyond words to have these friends. She got to stretch her wings afterward and I got home, driving through, you guessed it, the rain to get home at a decent hour. One great day, two great friendships!
A Letter from a Friend
Okay, it was an e-mail and I edited out her name for privacy purposes.
Hello Kandi (that’s me!),
Like Gwen (referencing a recent post of hers) and the incident of being verbally abused from a passing carload of ignorance, I have had the opposite reaction from a few lovely people.
Yesterday evening I visited the theatre to watch the ELVIS movie. These are now a weekly thing and like many other theatre goers I have a particular seat which I believe is the ‘sweet spot’ for watching a movie. My friend Helen and I had booked the tickets and seats, unfortunately she was unable to attend so I went on my own.
The movie was showing on one of the smaller screens in the multiplex and it was very busy, but with Helen’s seat vacant I would have nobody sitting to my right. The usual selection of previews for upcoming movies seemed longer than usual and it was in this time of boredom that I noticed a couple searching for seats together, much to the hushed tut tutting of a few of the other patrons. It was then that in the semi darkness I gingerly left my seat and walked down the aisle towards them. If they were concerned by the vision of me walking towards them they did not show it on their faces 😁
I explained that I was willing to move from my seat and that a friend had not been able to go and there were two seats together. If they read me then they were polite enough not to show it and the transaction was done and I took a vacant seat nearby.
The movie ended. I left with the general crowd and outside I decided to visit my regular bar nearby. Maureen, my favourite waitress greeted me with a hug and I seated myself away from the jostling patrons at the main bar.
Sitting there in a world of my own I heard ” Hello, are you the lady who gave up the seats for us?” I replied that I had indeed and I looked into the eyes of a handsome young man of around 25 years old, he then beckoned to someone and a very pretty young woman of the same age appeared by his side.
They explained that it was their first evening out together since the birth of their baby three months ago and if not for my kindness the evening for them would have been ruined. The woman and I complimented each other on our dresses and they bought me another drink. After a bit of conversation they returned to their table and Maureen returned to chat.
My Uber arrived and I could see the new parents in conversation, as I passed their table she paused the conversation and rose to her feet and gave me a lovely hug, whispering that they had had a wonderful evening and that I looked amazing.
If only others were as kind and not judgemental.
I apologise Kandi for my rambling, but I wished to share this with you.
