6/7/00 8:11 pm
The last day was a bummer. Hardly
anyone came to the Backstage Bar to say good-bye or hello, and I drank a good
deal more than was good for me. I didn't make it to Cannstatt to look
through my things and pick out something to carry home. But ----- did
take the afternoon off for me to do anything I wanted, which was very nice of
her, and we had a great few hours in Tübingen.
----- was one of the few who showed - good to see him again; especially since his entire musical approach made a major U-turn directly after he came to visit me in New York last year. ----- is really a great guy when he's not totally drunk. ----- was pretty stressed out, you could see it in his face, skin pasty and blotchy. ----- didn't show, ----- didn't show...
Early rise and taxi to the airport this morning. ----- happened by, who now lives in Reinsb. 101 in -----'s old apartment. "Ein schönes Leben" he wished me as we parted ways. The cab driver repeated that to me as I entered the airport hall. A nice thing to wish someone, I'd say.
I stocked up on cheeses and bought one bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Veuve Cliquot vintage 85, and 2 liters of Ricard, all total about $100 owing to a strong dollar against the Franc. I'm just now getting over the hangover (inevitable after 7 Becks and 4 flying kangaroos) as we near NYC. I am quite impressed with Air France... videos in every seat back here in the economy sump, and the service has been quite exceptional. Food very good. I've been lucky on this trip to have always had an empty seat next to me.
This little vacation has changed my perspective in a positive way - about myself, Stuttgart, my whole time in Germany, friendships, aging, life in general, and has bought me the impression that Europe is really not far away at all; one can travel there just about any time easily and inexpensively. Friendship holds, I think, more value for me now than it ever did, and I appreciate the long-term friendships shown to me by the people in Stuttgart very much. I vow to keep more closely in touch per telephone, which really doesn't cost all that much and should never have been an issue.