Here I sit, inexplicably awakened at 2 a.m., having gone to bed at 10a.m., now surfacing, full of plans and memories of plans, thinking it to be morning. I’ve no clock, so I am fully awake before I think to ask the time. quell surprise.

All this after an evening of searching, with Jonathan, for a restaurant that was open Now, instead of some other time, or some other day. Debra sent us out here on purpose, each assigned to take care of the other, and keep each other alive and out of trouble.

Fat chance. We’ve each already lost our passport once, and, in my case, arrived without a watch or denture adhesive, after nearly missing a plane.

Jonathan’s no better, having left his camera on the floor in a restaurant and returning to find it several hours later, but not on purpose. He was looking for his room key, which was in his room. Jet lag madness.

We arrived back at the hotel safely, secure in the knowledge that as hopelessly befuddled as we can be, there are people who know us well, and love us anyway.

A further note on befuddlement, some hours later.
It’s not, with us, a function of ignorance, lack of intelligence or mental miasma. We think too much, and take in all we see, and read everything we can get, and always seem starved for more. We are in desperate need of meditation — or ADD meds, or both.

Still, here, by mad chance, we are in Turin, down the street from the shroud, if shroud it be, and too — too — happy to sleep. Certainly there much to see here, even if we just stick to movies. But more, there’s so much to eat, to see, and walk, and talk about — and this marvelous distance from the pulls and tugs of relationship.

Don’t take that personally, It’s not personal, it’s every relation, the electric bill, the student papers, the dog. Distance is for far-seeing, and I, for one, am in desperate need of it.

It’s 5 a.m., when all but the paper carrier should be in bed. And there go I.  More later. Tonight it’s Winter’s Bone, already stuffed full of applause, and up for some more.

Note to Sarah: Check out dusty’s Facebook post on the Independent Spirit award nominations. Also last night’s Gotham Awards, where we won big. I’ll be commenting more as the week goes on about all these. Hope all’s well at home.

-m