Sleep; Lunch and Rememberance

My sleeping last night was fitful. Tossing and turning, lots of contortions. I'd awake every hour or so feeling achy, congested and irritable. I've had a temperature that has come and gone over the last 24 hours, so whenever I awoke I would be either chilled or hot.

My day has consisted of doing very little and hoping the fever would not start in again. I did manage to go out for lunch to Chili's, around 11, before the onslaught of the post-church-going families. Chili's has become one of my favorite noonday haunts; I've found any number of items of their menu that I enjoy. Items that have a spicy taste but one that does not overwhelm the dish.

To my left was a group of eight: father, mother and assorted kids and/or girl/boy-friends. What I noticed was the easy, unaffected camaraderie. There seemed to be genuine respect for each other. A pat here or there; a touch; a nudge. They also listened to each other without interruption.

I've begun to notice such interactions of late more and more. And I've come to realize how absent such events were in my life. My father was always on edge, ready to explode at the least grievance. Certainly, I did not expect physical affection.

In yesterday's entry, I talked of Saudade - the presence of absence. Now I think I'm starting to understand why I found the concept so curious.

PAX!