friday, a holiday. a day to spend together. she woke up hours before her alarm because of the sun streaming through the curtains, because of him stirring in bed next to her. she pressed her back into his front for a few more moments before waking to bake a loaf studded with dark chocolate to slice for breakfast. she folded fresh laundry, she listened to mellow music, the noise of the stand mixer competing with the playlist and her soft voice filling the kitchen. and i have to speculate that god himself did make us into corresponding shapes like pieces from the clay. long before her alarm rang, she had already accomplished much and had reveled in the spring sunshine. she danced in the kitchen, feeling the music. i'm standing on the edge of me, i'm standing on the everything i've never been before, i'm on fire when you're near me. after slices of warm chocolate loaf, a hot shower and an armani scarf wrapped around her neck, they left for a japanese garden where he would breathe in the calm and where she would photograph a couple in love. amidst koi fish in the ponds, tall cherry blossom trees shimmering in the dappled sunlight, and grounds covered in moss, she captured the love of two long-time sweethearts. they wore white and cream and carried a japanese inspired parasol. she fell in love with them and their love story and yearned to capture them as best she could in images. the couple generously offered to take her and her love for sushi, to continue the japanese themed afternoon. they found a place where they would take off their shoes, sit on cushions barefoot, and sip miso soup out of bowls. the four shared stories of love, of weddings, of city life. she felt so blessed to work with clients that she would love to call friends. when they parted, she suggested that they walk home, hand in hand, along the ocean; that they take a few hours to soak in the city that they love and the sunshine that they had been craving. they walked past the fisherman selling their catch, past the granville island market, past the bridges to downtown, past the kites and the sailboats. once they arrived home a few hours later, she was ready to sit with a hot coffee and to be still. yet, he told her that in an hour she would have to be ready to go out again... he asked her to bathe, to put together an outfit with heels, to wait to be surprised. she wore a nude tulle tank covered in hand sewn silver sequins and piled her hair on her head. she drew black liquid liner in a thick sweep above her lashes. she filled a clutch with her lipstick. when it was time to leave, a taxi awaited her in front of their building. he opened the door for her and she wondered where they would go. when she heard the destination, 'the cultch' cultural centre, she knew they would be seeing a play. along the way, they picked up a chilled bottle of perrier to sip and soon, they were settled in plush seats in the front row of the theatre. she felt so pampered, so loved. over the next hundred minutes they watched a myriad of stories unfold before them, all linked to the concept of clothing, of fashion and the way they shape lives. after the play, they shared with one another how amazed they were that they could laugh so deeply and feel such heavy sorrow all at once. they marveled at the wonder, at the insight, at the talent of what they had watched, and became aware of the ways that the theme played itself out in their own life. she was inspired by one scene in particular, inspired to live her life with fearless abandon. to let go and to let be. still discussing the philosophies presented by the theater and not yet ready to go home, they stopped at a cuban restaurant & art gallery that was filled with hipsters and late night energy. the walls were textured with thousands of names carved into the plaster. they ordered two sangrias: one traditional red wine with citrus and one champagne with mint and strawberries. they shared a platter of skirt steak taquitos, impressively presented with fresh sour cream, vivid pink pickled cabbage, black bean puree and greens on warm tortillas. as they sat in the crowded cuban restaurant sipping sangria, savoring the cuban flavors, feeling gorgeous and discussing the play, she felt, this is life. they walked up commercial drive, took the train one stop to home and climbed into bed for a long, romantic massage in the dark.
