I can see, from the window of my room on the edge of de Nile, that the end of October is upon us. With the coming of the end of October comes the mass exodus of Katr and my furniture, which our friends Dapo, Jusm, Kism, Xath and Jeba paid for and then kindly and patiently let us keep until now so that a) we could "stage" our condo properly for sale and b) I had somewhere to sit, somewhere to sleep and something to watch this month while I was living here.
Jeba, who bought our TV, made arrangements to pick the TV up on Wednesday, which meant that the TV would be the first to go. This in itself is no big deal - I can watch DVDs on my laptop. But I have greatly enjoyed having the TV, for while we no longer have cable, I often had it on to keep me company at night, because I am a pussy and get scared when I am alone.
Because Jeba was coming for the TV on Wednesday, I made a date with the TV for Tuesday night. I bought Smartfood and Dr. Pepper. I had a good knitting project to work on - very conducive to TV watching. I promised the TV that I would go and rent something fun for our last night together; a goofy romance, perhaps, or something with Gina Torres in it. I canceled other social engagements. I picked out a nice outfit.
Then, late on Monday night, as we were watching the TV she already has at her house, Jeba informed me that her friend Da(no last name) couldn't get the truck for Wednesday night.
So they would have to come for the TV early.
They would have to come on TUESDAY. The night of TV and my last date.
I have to say, I didn't react very well. "I had a DATE planned," I said pleadingly, "tomorrow night, that's . . . that's NOT ENOUGH TIME!"
"Well, I paid you for it in August," Jeba said, reasonably, "so who's really getting the bum's rush here?"
"MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" I wailed unattractively, "MEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow night," she said and then she smoked in my face 'til the cab came.
Okay, she didn't really smoke in my face. But if she HAD, that would have explained the tears.
And now, a brief photo essay of my last day with the TV.
The dawn dawned partly cloudy, which is good. As you can see, our living room is very bright, which makes it impossible to watch TV on sunny days. It's like the clouds KNEW. In the photo above, the TV is in repose. As you can see, it had a couple of DVD options to consider.
Firefly, with Gina Torres, was a very strong contender for the Last Day of TV festivities. Hi Gina. Call me.
But in the end, Season Two of Buffy won out. Can you see Angel on the DVD cover there? You might thing he's having a good look at Buffy's ta-ta's, but the reality is that his loving look is directed at . . . the TV. "Let me work my taciturn magic on you one more time," he is saying. The TV trembled with desire as I popped the disc in. I cracked the Smartfood.
Here on the DVD menu, Willow, like Angel, too seemed to be gazing out of the TV with warm affection and her inimitable charm. The TV admired her sass and brains. By this time (Disc 2) I'd gotten into the scotch.
This is the couch where I sat during my Last Day of TV. Note the scarf I was knitting. It's the very first item I've ever knit for myself and I'm so glad the TV was there to see it. God, I don't even remember the Miss Vickie's. It was that emotional. Good thing I had that Kleenex.
The scarf couldn't take it anymore.
I heard it whispering its final goodbyes to the TV under the strident tones of the Buffy DVD menu "music". I let them have their moment. You know, except for the part where I photographed them without their knowledge.
It was an intense day. But for all my fussing, I'd have to say that I let the TV go with dignity and did not embarrass it in front of its new owner or its new owner's gay friend with a truck. And once the TV was gone, with a shudder and a sigh, all there was was this.
The end. Or perhaps . . . the beginning? History will decide.
