Lluvia y Claridad

The rain pitterpatters outside the bookshop as we, well I, conclude an afternoon of shop hopping in Palermo, the boutiquey part of BA where I'm staying.  It's also cheaper housing for people that want to rent someone's apartment for days/weeks/months at a time, and therefore why my cheap ass finds its way into a rather bouge neighborhood.  Well, I could find my way into these places other ways as well, of course.

With my spiffy shoes on, I hobble after my friend slowly on the streets as it has no padding and no shock absorption, my knees taking in the micro-vibrations sucking the jelly outta my knee caps.  The price of trying to look nicer.  Cobblestone streets don't make this any better for me, but we strive forward, checking out that knickknacks and kitchy items in stores.  The price of items in this area are just as expensive as any other major metropolitan city, obviously with the local breaks and hidden gems, but on the whole, well plugged in to the global capital network.

In the evening after dinner, a couple from Austin buddied up with us to take in some ice cream and some light company.  The gelato/cream was delicious, the taste of bitter chocolate melting dreamily into the tramontana, laced with dulce de leche and other flavors that teased the palate.  We parted after light chatter and headed home in the rainy evening, drops splattering my left arm and my friend's right arm.  After a few days of bar-hopping, meat/wine debauchery, and soldier style moving through our lists, we finished a day of mostly leisurely strolling.

Tomorrow, the weather promises to continue it's incessant drizzle, and I will partake in a day of self-care.  By self-care, I'm trying to align myself with an article I read today about reframing the concept of self-care.  When I care about you, it's because I care about myself too, and how we are connected together.  It's the greater love, and I hope I can continue to learn about spreading this feeling outwards.  When you're stronger, so am I.