Brilliant afternoon

Saturday and Sunday are farmer's market days. I don't go to the Portland one on Saturdays -- it is too crowded for me. I prefer the little one in Milwaukie. Produce is reasonable and fresh, and it is small enough that I am not overwhelmed by the crush of people. As I approached the Farmer's Market this afternoon I almost swooned from the smells drifting from it. First, the german sausages on the grill, making my mouth water, followed by the crisp, spicy scent of basil. It was everywhere: I counted 7 varieties. Cantaloupes from Hermiston, picked yesterday, the skins still dirty and the scent... oh dear lord! The scent of perfectly ripe cantaloupe at ambient temperature is positively heady. I bought one. I could not resist my second favorite fruit. I rounded a corner and there were my nectarines. Gorgeous as sunsets, scarlet and yellow, and ripe, oh so ripe. I bought two and bit into one right away. I had an oralgasm. I closed my eyes and moaned. So succulent and ripe that the flesh pulled away from the pit and the hole filled with juice. What a sensual treat! I had brought my own bag, as usual, and I filled it with produce for the week: basil, tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, goat cheese, summer squash, nectarines, apples, and raspberries. When I got back to the truck I loaded it all into the cooler and covered it with the cold-packs, then continued my drive into the Pearl District to meet Robin and Josh and Chris.

I took the Burnside bridge into Chinatown and found that it is currently in a state of disarray: roads and sidewalks torn up, gravel and dust everywhere, with the Chinese Garden an island of serenity in the midst of it. I parked a couple of blocks away and walked to the north side of the Garden, where we had agreed to meet, it would be shady and cool for whomever had to wait the longest.
I was the second one there. Chris was already waiting. He rode in from Vancouver on his bike. I didn't ask, but it looks to me like its a Honda Valkyrie with sky-blue fenders and tank. His legs are so long it almost looks too small for him, but (damn!) he looked good on it. He gave me a hug and I smelled leather and his own unique scent. I sure do like the way he smells. His hair was saturated and I told him to take off his jacket (nice creaky heavy scuffed-up brown leather jacket) and he did. He's not a slim man, he's built like David was, but 3" taller, with a bit less of a barrel chest and broader in the shoulders. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt tucked into his pale blue jeans. I made appreciative noises over the bike and he offered to give me a ride.

"I don't think that is a good idea," I told him.
"Why not? I thought you liked bikes?" He asked. There was confusion on his face.
"I love bikes," I answered. "But they really turn me on...Its like having a giant vibrator between my legs." I grinned, imagining me on the bike, my arms around him, my thighs pressing into his, and the pulse of the engine against my vulva. Nope. Not a good idea.
He laughed at my expression, flapped his jacket over his shoulder, and then put an arm around my shoulders and hugged me to him. "The things you say," he said, his voice full of amusement. "One of the things I like about you is that I never know what is going to come out of your mouth, but I know I'll enjoy it."

Josh and Robin showed up shortly and we decided to go to have dim sum for lunch. We passed the local landmark Hung Far Low. There are three dim sum places right near the Garden, and after strolling around a bit we decided on Fong's. I love dim sum: I just point at stuff, even stuff I am unfamiiliar with, and I don't even ask what it is. I just eat it. I'm good with sticks and I ate everything but the steamed pastries with sticks. It was fun to watch Chris. He is actually quite adept, but his hands are so huge, he dwarfs the sticks. Our server brought him longer ones.

The garden was beautiful, as it always is. We strolled around, admiring the lotuses and water-lilies on the pond, the hibiscus blooming in a half dozen colours, the little orchids popping up everywhere. The Chinese name of the garden means "Garden of Awakening Orchids." I like to call it the garden of awakening organs sometimes, just to see people's faces. I had my camera with me but I kept the photograph-snapping to a minimum.
Not only was this was a social visit, but there were too many people to get much in the way of clear shots. We sat down and chatted a bit. I was very aware of Chris and I did not want to sit next to him, so I sat across from him. Robin and Josh are fun. He was very supportive of her quitting smoking, and it seems she is just starting menopause, so she really needs someone around who will tolerate her physical and emotional hot-flashes. Chris stretched out his legs and placed his feet on either side of mine. Big feet, clad in boots that went up over the ankle. Sensible footwear for riding the bike, but I figured his feet must be warm. I wiggled my toes in my Keens, this pair chocolate-coloured. I stood up and walked to him. He had to bend his knees and widen his thighs so I could get close enough. I kissed his forehead and ran my fingers through his hair, so pretty and golden in the light. He looked surprised, and then pleased, and he didn't say anything, which was smart of him. I went back and sat down and we kept talking.

About 3:30 it started getting really hot, so we decided to call it a day. Robin and Chris headed home and I followed Chris to his bike... it was on the way to where I was parked. I told him it was good to see him and gave him a hug. I wanted to kiss him, but even standing on tip-toe, I cannot kiss him spontaneously. He has to lean down. He sat sideways on his bike, which put us more or less on eye level, and asked when he could see me again. I told him Thursday I am going to Pioneer Square for wine, music, and song, so perhaps he could meet me there, otherwise, next weekend should be good. He seemed surprised that I did not have plans for Labor Day weekend. I told him I used to go to Bellingham with Stephanie to visit her mom, but I'm not this year... and work has been so busy, I haven't even thought about what I will do. Maybe stay at home and enjoy the solitude, or spend in with Lori and her family. He invited me to his place: BBQ with his sister and her kids and a few friends. His friends. Hmm. I told him I would think about it. And then he leaned forward and gave me a kiss that sort of froze me where I was. Damn nice mouth, and he smelled so good. I kissed him back, mindful that we were in public, and then said goodbye. I promised to email him the info on Thursday night.

When I got back to the truck I got inside and just sat there for a couple of minutes. I felt like I was shaking, but I wasn't. Something is gonna give soon. I need to decide what I want, soon. Or my body is going to decide for me.