The City & the Country no.24 – September 4 2014

Ah, September. When I was an activist in South Africa many years ago (a book about us, called The London Recruits, was recently published, and a documentary may be on the way – it was a dangerous business – two of us were killed), when Mandela was still in prison, I was in touch with a township resident who sported the unforgettable name of Goodbye September Suitcase. Many such wonderful names in the townships. I couldn’t fully grasp this one till I realized that his first name was not Goodbye, but Goodbye September. Last name Suitcase; born at the end of September. Here in Woodstock, final days before the start of the fall teaching semester in the city. Glorious sunshine in the closing days of August. Coffee with friends – Shiv, Alan – outside Bread Alone. Inside, another Nataka work of flower art.

Then back to the office – via the 2 line with its usual cargo of Hasidim, Hispanic and African Americans – past my favorite bench, well loaded with grateful ladies in the shade, to my corridor, with a solitary student waiting.

Wednesday, to Linda for breakfast as always, then back on the 2 line, up to Jimmy’s for work on our musical – today via a lady on the Columbus Circle subway platform, good voice, wearing angel wings, singing Voi Che Sapete, and then Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. En route to Jimmy’s, met a nice liver-(brown)-spotted dalmatian, and sighed for Pop, my liver-spotted dalmatian of so many years ago.