Cafe dialogue at Vendome this Wednesday July 17th and a breeze from the sea

“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation.”

- Herman Melville, Moby Dick

We’ll meet again at Vendome this Wednesday July 17 starting at 6 PM. Whatever you want to discuss is fine. If there’s time, I’ve finished another short story, “A Breeze from the Sea,” a 12-minute read, and I’ll entertain you with that if you’re interested. (I’ve appended the opening lines below this message.)

Last Wednesday, with quite a good crew, we heard the opening chapter of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. July 10 happened to be Marcel Proust’s birthday (also the birthday of John Calvin, Arthur Ashe, and James Whistler) and Rob suggested we use a Proust questionnaire for the check-in. And then we really levitated.

A Breeze from the Sea

Whether to stay put or to break away: It’s a question that will puzzle you with its many disguises, again and again in your lifetime. Each time you make the choice, you have the chance to change your life forever.

Maria sat at the telephone cradling her forehead in her left hand, holding the receiver in her right, her cup of coffee neglected on the table in front of her. She closed her eyes, trying to be patient.

“Mama, I can’t handle this right now. I just have too much going on.” Patience, patience. “Mama, you’re not listening to me. I can’t come to Toronto right now. Call Francesco and see if he can come up.”

A knock at the door to her apartment.

“Mama, one second, someone’s at the door.”

It was Rick.