Happy Dinner, Taylor.

I’m so excited right now. I had a wonderful day yesterday and I’m still feeling good about it today. I didn’t think it would be so good, because things didn’t open early, and I had to leave early. But it was the best day yet.

I began the day running off to the library. They opened up way later than I hoped, and even then I got there a little earlier than I expected. I just waited outside until the doors opened. While I was waiting, I noticed more and more people showing up and waiting. It looks like the library is really busy here. The doors opened, and I went to look for the book that was being held for me. I wasn’t happy because I had to use Ragdoll’s name to look up the book, but after some poking around I found it. “Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found there.”

Ragdoll had suggested I read the book, and I did after I found it on my phone. After it was done, she told me there was a second book. But you told me to read the book. Not online. It took a while, but I got the book in my hand now.

From the library, I was planning to get coffee at a place close to where I got coffee before. But while I was waiting in front of the library, I noticed a coffee place across the street from the library. And I decided to try coffee there. It was pretty crowded, but the best part was they were also a bakery, and you could see them making bread and pastries. I didn’t know what to get, but I found something called a “Tomato Slate” which looked really good so I picked up that and then went to order coffee.

They asked for my name.

THEY ASKED FOR MY NAME.

I had money in my wallet, so I didn’t have to use Ragdoll’s card. And I finally got to tell someone my real name. My name is Andrea. He didn’t care, and that made it all the better. He took my order, and I found a little spot along a window to sit. And after a few minutes I heard it. “Latte for Andrea! Andrea!”

I heard my name.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HEARD SOMEONE USE MY NAME.

They said it wrong. I’m “ANNE-dree-ah.” Not “Ahn-DRAY-uh.” But they said it.

I can’t believe how excited I was to hear that. I was almost in tears.

I sat down at the window and that’s when something you said to me a few days ago really got me thinking. “Stop playing with your phone all day. Don’t share everything all the time with me. Sit and savor the moment.” I put my phone down, opened my book and enjoyed a morning of coffee, Alice’s adventures, and a tomato slate, which is probably a fancy way of saying pizza-bread. And I enjoyed the moment. Reading my book. Listening to the buzz of conversations around me. People watching. I just enjoyed my morning without a care in the world and the excitement of being called my name for the first time. While I think I’m going to miss my almost coffee spot in the other town, I think I found my coffee spot in this town.

With the food and coffee done, I walked over to the lake to sit and continue reading my book. And again, no phone sharing, no checking it. Just enjoy the moment. I smelled the salty-ocean air from the bench, got to people watch for a while and enjoyed the sounds of water and birds and people. Some people even talked to me, asking me if the book was good, and how I was doing. I love talk like that. Just interacting with real people. It makes me feel that I’m real, too.

I know why Ragdoll wanted me to read the Alice books. The first one is about a girl navigating wierd people and being astonished by it. I feel like that a lot. But the second one has Alice climb through a mirror into another world. And even has a picture of Alice crawling through the mirror to the other side. Just like me coming through the window. She knew I’d understand it.

I finished my first chapter, and then just put the book away and enjoyed my time at the bay. There’s a big city on the otherside of the lake. I’m hoping I’ll visit it one day.

When I first came to downtown, I saw this place that made Afghan food and I decided to try it the next time I was in town. That was going to be today. I came in for lunch and looked at the menu and had no idea what to get. So I got a Pakaura appetizer, the Bolani and some naan and a mango lassi. I didn’t realize I was buying starch on bread on bread. And it was a whole lot of it all. The Mango Lassi was amazing. Such a powerful sweet fruity taste that it almost shocked me. Everything else was good. The chutney on the pakaura was REALLY good. And the Bolani was okay. And the Naan made it just bread on bread on potatoes. It wasn’t bad, but next time I’ll try to figure out what things are before I order them.

My day ended early because Ragdoll had an even to go to, and she was already going to it late so I could have my time out. I began walking up to where we parked the car, and I passed an older lady who noticed I had a book in my hand. She asked what I was reading. And we had a whole long conversation. I was talking and interacting and being a person to this older lady and I was so happy. She asked why I was reading a children’s book and I told her I was starting small, and she recommended her favorite book “The Little Prince.” She was happy I was also reading a book and not a phone. “When you read The Little Prince, I hope you think of me.”

I think I will, but not just because you recommended the book. You were my first real conversation in the real world. Thank you.

I’m real.

Best day ever, even if it was short. I’m hoping we can go visit the forest next weekend. Or something new in the country.

I haven’t heard much from you, or anything from Didi. I hope you’re well.

–Andrea