Eugene/Same, Same, Same

Thursday....blew off writing group (James led) for a last minute dinner invitation from friend Carol. In town were grade school friends of hers so she arranged a quick get together and thought to include me which was so nice. Ended up being one of those evenings you don't want to end. We arrived at about six and didn't leave until after midnight! One fellow Eugene in from California and another (Jimmy) a professor from Iowa who found himself with no Christmas plans so grabbed a ride to Chicago for some holiday diversion. Some highlights:

• Eugene - oh, my - what to say about Eugene. He's been on my radar for a long time - Carol talks about him a lot and has forwarded me clips from interviews he's given. He cuts a larger than life figure when he walks into a room - tall and handsome, Chinese/Mongolian with high cheekbones.  And then there are his clothes. He is a student of nature and that translates into all of his creative endeavors - the houses he designs (he's an architect), his drawings, the art he makes, the jewelry he designs and the clothes he wears. For ten plus years he's taken his designs to a tailor/creator in China - they work together to make him outfits that are visually stunning and also extremely practical and wearable - ingeniously incorporating elements from nature, adding functional elements. Last night he wore wide wale orange corduroy pants and a matching jacket with hinges of black silk that added structural integrity. The jacket was constructed to provide layers of warmth for his upper body with exaggerated shoulders that gave him the look of a Mongolian warrior or a super-hero. And then there are the capes - he wore a white one last night that was intricately sewn with beautiful design elements, zippers for ventilation, a hood conceived to capture the wind - I snuggled with it all evening. Here is a picture of Eugene wearing some of his amazing clothing. And here is a link to his website: http://www.eugenetsui.com/abouteugenetsui.html

• He and Jimmy (one of the other guests) were fast friends in grade and high school. Different though. Jimmy is low key to Eugene's flamboyant - we enjoyed hearing him tell us of the research he's doing for his PhD - a study of black family values and how families of railroad employees were affected by their fathers' regular absences.
• Carol's kids - so interesting and accomplished. Vil, deciding to major in physics and a really fun discussion about quantum physics and my recent fascination with reality. Daughter Julia an academic at Berkley, majoring in social anthropology, making academic films about mental illness in remote parts of the world. 
• And Carol's husband - telling us about the upheaval in his life when he and his mother escaped the Communists who marched into Hungary. What it was like to land in the U.S. in the '50's - what it's been like to be a hard-working immigrant and what that experience has brought to his family. 
• Fabulous meal - a quickly put together soup that can't be replicated because Carol crafted it from bits and pieces from her frig and vegetable bin. In keeping with the no wheat/no dairy I passed on the bread and cheese. Yay for eating well!

Keeping it short today 'cuz Josh is headed over for a visit. Carol is coming for a lesson on the iPod I just gave her and we're sure to sit around and have even more great conversation. Your challenge today could be saying yes when opportunity knocks. Yesterday when I got the call from Carol, I changed my plans - knew the writing group was in good hands with James. It's novelty - experiences outside our routines, meeting new people, being inspired by others' stories, that invigorates. It's so ironic...familiarity and routine are cozy and comforting - going to the same restaurant and ordering the same wonderful dish, your local movie theater where you have a favorite seat. Your grocery cart full of the same satisfying foods. Your predictable bed time, your favorite chair. Over time, though, same, same, same has a dulling effect. Our brains don't fire up with a steady dose of same. 

How about between now and January 1st you do something totally out of character? Tom, you could take Michelle to the opera. Carol, you could take the family bowling. Dorothy, how about you and Mike find a spot to sing Karaoke  Victor come to Schaller's with me and mingle with the Southside Irish folk. Josh, you and I will go to one of those places where you paint your own ceramics followed by line dancing in a Suburban bar. Sis, you and Mom at Chippendales followed by time floating in a water isolation tank (I actually want to do that).  Judy, you and Bernie could rent porn - ha ha! Una how about Rocky Horror Picture show with me!!!!!!!??  I could go on and on - I have so many friends.

Peace - love you all!

Sarah