Laura started her latest email,
aloha beauties, . .
I've known Laura since we shared an English course in college, and I lived with her when I first moved to New York. We lived in the same apartment building with Jennifer Connelly and Monica Lewinsky. I've had the pleasure of smiling at / with both of them.
Laura and I like to dance, and sometimes she emails me when there's a party I might like. Recently, I met her at the "Black & Light Ball". Lots of black lights, glowing costumes and electronic music.
Laura and her rainbow specs
Over the years, she's become very spiritual and hippie-fied. And she's never been happier. She calls her friends "goddesses", and I've heard her called "an angel" more than once. I told her that she seems to have found some things that really work for her - things that really make her happy. I asked what those were, and she said meditation is a big part of it. I told her I was interested.
Daniel Ancis is a Holistic Therapist from Uruguay - sort of a spiritual guru to Laura. He recently came to town and Laura hosted a meditation at her house for any friends who wanted to come. We sat in a circle and talked, ate rice chips and fruit, and I had my first date. It tasted good. The meditation was a little strange for me - I kept catching myself right as I started to nod off, but I think it's because I gave blood that day. We started the night with some exercises on the roof, and I almost fainted during that. But overall, it was a nice feeling that I ended with - a peaceful feeling.
So the next week, when she sent another invite ("aloha beauties . ."), I decided to go.
Again, we sat in a circle . . . we did exercises inside as rain streaked against the window. Then we closed our eyes and meditated.
We were very relaxed when Daniel brought us back to take a break. We sat and talked and ate again. I picked up a piece of fruit and bit into it, extracting the pit inside with my fingers.
"You know, last time I was here," I said to Laura, "I had my first date. And tonight I'm having my first peach."
"That's an apricot," everyone said.
"Oh," I laughed, looking at the fruit.
Drew said, "And you still have a peach to look forward to!"
Update: according to Wikipedia, the apricot "appears similar to a peach or nectarine, with a colour ranging from yellow to orange and sometimes a red cast; its surface is smooth and nearly hairless." Also, "Peaches, along with cherries, plums and apricots, are stone fruits (drupes)."
