quarantine

A night out with friends. How many countless hours and dollars have I spent at any random watering hole wherever I've lived in my adult life, drinking into a state of tipsiness or beyond? Last night, Friday night, was no exception. Sure, it was low key - only a couple of friends out - but as usual, a good time was had as we lingered and cavorted into the small hours on the Lower East Side.

Going out on the town with friends is usually an entertaining and enjoyable nocturnal excursion, and it also does much to alleviate my recurrent feelings of solitude. I am not complaining about that - self-imposed isolation part of who I am. And I don't mind being alone; as a matter of fact, I often enjoy it. You see, I am not the type of person who needs to be constantly surrounded by people, or perpetually be in a relationship, or to seemingly always be in pursuit of someone - anyone - to secure a deceptive sense of personal totality. No, my time with myself is something I generally appreciate.I can write, putting in time on a novel, or a review for the website, or edit and rewrite the television pilot/series Small World... or put an entry into This Side of the City. I might laze on the couch watching a DVD or one of the few worthy television programs I like (Daily Show, Ebert & Roeper, South Park - I'm looking at you). Or I might be found reading. Just simply indulging some time into a book or magazine.

Sure, isolation can amplify and feel close to overwhelming, but that's when the decision is made to get out of the house and see some friends. Or, hell, just take a walk outside and absorb the sights and sounds of the world beyond my little domain. There is always the workday, too. Rising early, surrounded by commuters and coworkers, the mechanical hum of the office environment, performing the job, and coming home tired. Yes, work and the ensuing fatigue certainly allows solitude to be mitigated.

So here I sit on a chilly Saturday evening in New York City. Some talk show that follows Ebert & Roeper on Channel 55 is droning out in the living room. I received my Criterion Collection DVD of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in the mail today (got it cheap, too). Could pop that in later, but right now I must have some dinner...