The Kindness of Strangers

Went to the library to return two books, and picked up two more. A novel by Edmund White based on the life of Stephen Crane, and Joan Didion's memoir of her husband's passing. Then went to the pharmacy to fill some scripts. When I drove away, I head a weird clunking noise, got out and checked and found my right front tire flat. Fortunately, I was right next to a Mobil station, and even tho there were no mechanics working, the owner was there and put a plug in it and more air, at no charge, which got me to Town Fair Tire. I had already called the Geico road service people, but they told me it would be an hour to an hour and a half before someone would come.

Town Fair Tire's door was open but they has just closed. I said "What should I do?" They said PepBoys was open, and since it was right across the street I went there. They took me right away, and were unbelievably nice. I needed a new tire. I needed an oil change too, so they did that and the mechanic pointed out the oil leak in the engine block. He noticed my weatherstripping under my hood was hanging down by the fan and would mess up the fan belt so he fixed that too. And put in a new dome light bulb, all for about a hundred bucks, with a ten dollar rebate. And it didn't take very long at all. I had a long talk with one of the service guys about how Toyotas compare with Hyundais, and he had lots of good information. Bottom line is: if buying used, get a Toyota. If buying new, they are comparable now. My friend who I am visiting in Florida next week works at a Hyundai dealer, and I thought I could buy a car from him, if there was someway of getting it back up to CT without my having to drive it. Anybody got any ideas on the virtues of Toyotas vs. Hyundais?

Then I decided to go next door and have dinner at T.G.I. Fridays. A decent dinner, good service, and I started reading the Edmund White book. I kept noticing this guy who was circulating the dining room, some kind of worker there. I finally called him over and said, "Do people tell you that you look like Tom Cruise?" He was very humble and said, yes, and then proceded to ask me how my dinner was. I said the fish was a little oily, and he said he would tell the kitchen, so I guess he was a manager or something. I told him he was very pretty. He was quite gracious.

Then I drove home and as I got into the driveway I realized I had forgotten to return the copy of Ocean's Thirteen I had rented from the Stop and Shop (for a buck a night in one of those vending machines!). So I turned around and went back from where I had just been, and returned the cd. As long as I was there, I bought myself some red and yellow tulips.

Having brunch with Frances and Rachel tomorrow at 11am.

More nightmares last night. Driving off a cliff into an abyss, cats killed under the wheels of the car, getting lost while driving. A dying puppy. My dreams/nightmares are so transparent.