DAY 13

My tenant S, who lives in my two bedroom condo in Bellingham, gave notice a few weeks ago. He is engaged to a Canadian women and spends most weekends in Vancouver. And, he is tired of sharing a wall with M, the permanently disabled curmudgeon neighbor.

Find a new tenant during a pandemic?

D and I emptied out his subaru, strapped on my Surly, overpacked lunch and snacks then drove north. The plan was to photograph the condo inside and out (tenant S is currently stuck in Vancouver) and collect a rent check from his son. I hadn't been inside the condo in nearly a year and was struck by how lovely it is - and well kept. I had also forgotten how much of my own furniture was still there - vintage lockers, lamps, bookshelf, artwork, several tables and teak chairs, even an old Bianchi road bike! I packed up some art, a couple chairs, a random stool.

Afterwards, D and I headed to Trader Joe's to do a week's worth of shopping up here in Whatcom county, where there are only 111 cases instead 2161 - seems like better odds. There was a line outside, green tape neatly marking 6 foot intervals. I immediately thought of Cuba, the lines, the lines for everything. Wondering, of course, it being 4pm already, would the shelves be empty like Cuba too? The store was completely stocked (except toilet paper!) and it was actually quite pleasant to be two of only 30 shoppers allowed in the store at once. I bought a lot of chocolate - it's what I'm hoarding. I fear running out of chocolate, not toilet paper.

I'm a not a fan of cycling in damp overcast conditions - wait, I mean I wasn't. Until now. Now I seem to love riding in 48 degree drizzle. I just want to be as active as possible for as long as possible! Today I headed south along Chuckanut Drive, dropping into the flats, cruising through beloved Bow and it's bakery (already closed for the day) and into the birdland, white clouds swirling and calling, dropping and swooping, settling back into their marshy rest. I continued to Bayview State Park and kept pedaling, had almost reached Highway 20 when D cruised by in the car and picked me up. 

Roasted red pepper chicken with olives and prunes, wild rice, butternut squash. A few more episodes of -Big Little Lies- while sipping on whiskey. Cozy snuggles and laughter. 

Today almost felt like a normal day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmUXntGlqFI