Cambridge

[adrian_turtle]

The City of Cambridge phoned the other day. It was just a recording, and it wasn't good news, but it was nice to know they were thinking of me.

I've never lived in Cambridge. It feels like home, though. I can remember the moment I came up the stairs early on a Sunday morning in January*, and looked around Harvard Square almost silent in the snow. I remember the transition from thinking I wanted to live anyplace in the world but Troy, to thinking I'd suddenly found the place I belonged. I mean, I knew it was ridiculous, but that's what it felt like. (I remember the moment but not the year. Some Arisia weekend in the late 1990s.) I left upstate New York in 1998, and what with one thing and another I haven't lived more than 2.5 miles from Cambridge since then.

I don't sign up for Cambridge mailing lists. I don't have a Cambridge address. I don't join Cambridge phone trees. I don't expect them to call me. I wouldn't be surprised if the state of Massachusetts called to tell me something about a public health emergency. The town of Arlington, where I live now? They don't, because I haven't signed up and asked them to, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I wouldn't even be shocked to hear from a city where I used to live.

Cambridge called. They're concerned about my health. (They love me!) They are such a deeply flawed city but somehow I still love them. How did they know to call?

Comments

[amaebi]

Perhaps they have long admired you from afar.

[adrian_turtle]

*smile* When I could walk reasonably, I lived walking distance from Cambridge. And spent a lot of time in their libraries. (Which are splendid!) So that's possible.

[amaebi]

:)

[corylea]

Hee, that's cute! I'm glad the City of Cambridge is protecting you.

The City of Malden calls us fairly often, mostly when it snows, but they have never once told us that they love us or are concerned about us. Now I feel gypped. :-)

[adrian_turtle]

They didn't say explicitly that they love me. I just heard it that way. They want me to wear a face mask when I go out, which is actually kind of difficult because I'm still at that awkward stage where I can breathe ok if I sit still and don't wear a face mask but I'm still short of breath if I cover my face or exert myself at all.