This Hy-Art consists of two Gauguins and a Waterhouse (the Narcissus.) I don't know how happy I am with it, but if I'm to get anything else done (like a long, wonderful conversation with the new paramour this morning, as he docked in San Francisco!) I have to put a limit on how much time I spend on each rendition. Certainly, if you search out the orginals, they're stunning, There's a blue to the Gauguin lady in the tree that reminds me of what you hear at wine-tastings: fruity, with an oaky bouquet, and the Waterhouse is clear, luscious, with no aftertaste.
I had a funny encounter this morning picking up trash. I'm walking up the street and I see a white pickup truck stop abruptly. I live in the Land of the Double Parked Cars, so the fact that he didn't stop at a sign isn't odd, plus it was one of those less-than-deluxe vehicles the Mexican garderners tool around in, held together by spit and wire.
The truck jerks forward and then stops again, and I hear a female voice in the passenger seat sounding very emphatic, to put it nicely. As the couple argues, I work my way up the street. I definitely hear the woman say: "9-1-1", at the end of a sentence that sounded like it went along the lines of: "That's right, you go ahead and call 9-1-1!" Then suddenly out from the passenger window flies a handful of business cards.
How appropriate, because as the Trash Whisperer, suddenly it is my business. I approach the car. The woman in the passenger seat turns to me, and I have to tell you, I immediately think: "Oh my God, it's Flip Wilson" as she looks so very much like Geraldine, with a wig that flips just so, and pursed lips that say: "Do NOT mess with me, SHUGAH."
I say, "Please don't do this" and scoop up the cards. They hadn't been torn in two, and I surmise they had been grabbed and tossed out of the car for dramatic effect by Miss Geraldine. The driver is on a cellphone, a hispanic man we'll call Hector, in painter's pants and a white tee-shirt. He leans over and I ask "do you need these?" He nods yes, and I hand them back to Geraldine who gives me fakey smile #1, and hands them backs to Hector, as he asks "Do you espeak eSpanish?' to me. Before I can answer "si," Geraldine demonstrates her disinterest in allowing any communication between us, laying down the law: "The man's only bid-ness is keeping his street clean." She acknowledges my service to the community--kindred spirits, we--with fakey smile #2 and an equally inauthentic "God Bless You." I don't know whether she does something with her left hand, but the truck lurches forward several feet and stops again.
I don't think I'm going out on a limb surmising that Geraldine felt she was owed some money and Hector disagreed, wanting her out of his truck. Whether the services had been rendered or this was a case of breach of promise, I know not. I got the distinct impression that Hector knew damn well he could press "2" for Spanish if he dialed the police, and was stalling by asking if I spoke it in hopes that the threat of his call with my translation would get her out of his truck. His eyes seem to be saying: "please I have to get to work, help me get this puta out of my car, I don't know what I was thinking when I picked her up!"
I ponder my moral dilemma as I continue up the street, and wouldn't you know as I reach them again, he repeats his question: "Do you espeak espanish?" Geraldine reasserts: "This is none of his bid-ness!" and in that moment, I agree with her. I shrug to Hector: "You're a big boy, you need to figure this out!" to which Geraldine chimes in: "He's got that right!"
I keep walking, and they eventually speed off. Anyone want to finish this story?
MCO 2008
After giving it some thought, I think that Geraldine and Hector are in a personal, not a business relationship. Geraldine's disregard for consequences in irritating Hector suggests that she is accustomed to engaging in disputes with Hector, who threatens but never carries through on the threats.
No doubt, Geraldine needed funds to buy a few necessities--cinammon red lipstick and matching nail polish, and a new pair of sandals to wear with her new jeans and rhinestone decorated halter top that she purchased yesterday, so she slipped a few dollars out of Hector's wallet while he was in the shower. Hector discovered the theft shortly before you encountered the pair, and demaded that Geraldine return his cash.
Geraldine informed Hector in no uncertain terms, "I didn't take your damn money and even if I did what are you going to do about it?"
Hector threatened to call 911 to report the theft and you arrived in time to hear Geraldine verbally challenge his threat to call 911.
Resigned that he was not going to get any help from you, Hector drove away, muttering under his breath. Geraldine reached over, rubbed his thigh a few times , leaned over and whispered in his ear, "You know you love me baby. Now drop me off at the mall."