She's Worth It

Sometimes, it's just more difficult than other times. The legs are tight, the lungs are shrunken, it's too cold, the ears are clogged, the heart pounds, waaaah.

It's especially true after a vacation. Plottie took his bike out for a tune-up after he got back from Oaxaca, but this morning is Saturday and in Saint Plotniko that means a bike workout on the hills. Oh, Jeez. Oi, Mama. Too many tortillas. Too much mole.

He huffed and puffed his way back up 26th of October Street, sweating and stinking. He sat down on his stoop outside, heart racing and temples pounding. A Latina walked by, effortlessly pushing two fat toddlers up the hill in a stroller. Plot waited for the heart attack, but it didn't come.

So, like always, at least so far, he took his bike inside and then hit the shower, and made his latte, and is about to cheese up his bagel, and tomorrow is Duckie's birthday and he's in the clear because he already gave her her present (Guelaguetza tickets) and she LIKED it.

Have you noticed, though, that giving someone an early birthday present doesn't really get you off the hook? "Are we doing something for my birthday?" she'll ask, just to make sure.

"Let's go to Muir Woods," she'll say, and you're going to Muir Woods, Oaxaca or no steeeenking Oaxaca. (After basketball, of course.) But that's OK. She's worth it.