A Mind Run Amok On Second Street

After a sad trip to Idaho, it was a pleasure Monday morning to walk on Second Street from the marina to in Solano Square. I’ve been doing this for years. It involves cutting through the . Now, I don’t have a record, a speeding ticket or two that’s about it, but, still, I’m always a bit anxious passing the police cars. I’m very careful not to touch anything. Something in my rogue mind thinks: touch that car, an alarm will go off, I’ll be surrounded by Benicia’s finest. I’ll throw my arms skyward.

“Is she on the terrorist watch list?” One will ask, with visions of Arsenic and Old Lace playing lightly at the back of his mind.

“Dunno,” is the answer.

“Run in and look on my desk. It’s in the “asap” pile. (That’s the pile on my desk that I never get to.)

After what seems like an eternity, the guy comes back, nods his head up and down. I don’t know if he is exercising his head and just happens to get caught in the “yes” position, but in no time I’m on a plane bound for a country not-of-my origin, where I will be questioned in a very unpleasant manner.

By this time, I’ve reached Second and Military. This reality slowly replaces the mind-run-amok as I wait for the interminably slow light change. Does it help to push the “walk” button a dozen times? Does some one/thing somewhere think—“there’s ten people waiting on that corner” to cross the street?

I’ve been staying awake watching the Olympics. By the time the coverage finishes at midnight, I’m wide awake. You can see what Voena is doing in London and beyond. That is an inspiring story.

I haven’t mentioned it before but another place to get coffee on First Street is the . Nice place to shop as well.

The arts and culture community seems to be planning one event after another. I heard the buzz at breakfast at . A new brochure called, “Experience the Arts and Culture of Benicia” is out and it’s classy. I’m eager to make sure the literary arts and poetry are part of all that’s going on. Speaking of that, the is Sunday at the park on the corner of First Street and Military. We’ll be there from noon to 3 p.m. with the reading starting at 1 p.m. Bring some food—we provide watermelon and lemonade—and hear some of the poet laureates from around California read in a very casual atmosphere.