Just an Ordinary Day

Just an Ordinary Day

A perfect day for an ordinary day

But not so good for something special

Like a birthday or a celebration.

I waited but no one came.

I sat alone in my sofa drinking my champagne

That was then soaking in the water-filled bucket

That should be chilling in cubes of ice.

I lighted my own candle and ate my birthday cake.

What a fun day for an ordinary day

But not so good for a birthday!

Some well-wishers came in the morning

But no one stayed long enough

To have a slice of cake.

With head still spinning from the day before,

I went to the mall to have a breath of fresh air where I met a clown

With a red rubber nose and a turned-down smile.

He smiled with the face he wore and the painted lines on

His forehead. I knew that he was smiling. I was close enough to

See the sparkle in his eyes as he juggled balls

When he saw me put a few paper bills in his can.

I walked the windy streets of San Francisco

Chilling in the cold October morning

Looking for something to do.

I passed by a store that sells used cameras

And linger a while and wonder

Who used to own those zoom lens

And complicated pieces of accessories

Before. Wouldn't it be grand

If I found something that used to belong

To some famous photographer? But who would know?

I walked past the store and came upon

A Chinese restaurant that served noodles

For just a dollar a bowl. The taste of cilantro still

Lingered long after the black tea they served

For free. I went back to the tracks of the tram

Hopeful that I would find my way back to

The Fairmont Hotel, a landmark where

The BART let passengers off.

Back at Fremont where my car sits

Waiting for the pilot to steer her back to home.

I met Eduardo, my Portuguese landlord

And said “Hello” to Manny, the Manager

On my way to the apartment I rent.

I heard the sound of a siren--another

Ambulance on its way to retrieve another

Corpse who probably died in his sleep.

Tomorrow, the flag will again fly half-mast

For another veteran gone.

Tonight, I resolve to write a letter to Manny.

I have a whole month to dispose of the

Junk I collected over the years, pack my bags,

Leave the place of the dying, and move

To somewhere where there is still life.

I am not quite ready to repose and meet the folks

On the other side. But when the time comes

You'll be sure to see a smile on my face--

Happy to go.

Oct. 2, 2009 Aida Alhambra