parts unknown

as I watched Anthony Bourdain about my home with David and my sister-in-law, Meryl, I tried to see the place  through their eyes or even the eyes of someone who had never even heard of it. it was exotic, beautiful, old, heroic, full of really scary fatty food you should try once... and sad sad people. parts of the city I know so well and love kept appearing and looking prettier than I had ever seen. it also looked alien, like a movie of a long gone place I will never see.

and then the memories came flooding back. recent past, old past, stories i can't tell and stories told to me long ago. i didn't cry, but Meryl kept petting me on the head in a sympathetic way, like somehow all that history and sadness was my invisible burden suddenly in plain sight.

to be cont.