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We're all in The Chinese Restaurant.

Last night I made mango curry that turned out to be too sweet, and watched “The Chinese Restaurant”: Seinfeld season 2, episode 11. 
It’s like we’re all stuck in the Chinese restaurant, given arbitrary wait times, very hungry, anxious to get on with it, and someone yelling “Cartright!" like we're supposed to know what that means.

Governor Inslee issued an order to shelter in place today: "Stay Home, Stay Safe." But don’t worry we can still get take out. And groceries. Also gas stations are still open. I realize people need gas, but there must be a way to prevent people from needing to go into the gas station. Child care centers are also open though it is common knowledge that kids are gross. Also 13 pages of “essential businesses” are still operating. So basically it’s like nothing is different, but you can’t go to the beach or hiking. Which probably means people will be wandering through their own neighborhoods in droves. Luckily or unluckily, it should be rainy this week. Lucky because many people don’t like to be outside in rain and it will support this Stay Home thing. Unlucky because many people are depressed during rainy weather. 

And the bridge is broken.

"This will make it pretty clear who is actually depressed and who isn’t,” Fr tells me. 
“Say more about that” I say. I find this to be a better response than “huh?”
“People who are fake depressed will broadcast it on social media, and people who are genuinely depressed will feel how they always feel.”
I see what he means; I don’t know if I agree with him, so I respond indirectly:
"If someone you live with is an addict, you will find out real quick. Also, if someone you live with is an anxious person, you will want to leave them post haste.”
Also if you are on the fence about your relationship, it will become clear whether you actually like each other or not. Shortly after this pandemic is handled, there will be two types of couples: super committed or breaking up. This will affect relationship for years. It will be an interesting study. 
I don’t say this part out loud because 1) I'm not talking about us, and 2) I’m already feeling smothered (but it’s not him, it’s definitely me). 

Did I mention the bridge is broken? That would be the West Seattle Bridge. The fastest way to get in and out of West Seattle. My commute on the bridge is 27 minutes, without the bridge it’s 51 minutes. There are many fortunate things going on here, though. 1) No one is really commuting right now so a huge traffic problem has been averted. 2) No one is really commuting right now so structural engineers noticed the bridge erosion before anyone was hurt. The order in which I wrote these silver linings is indeed how I perceive their importance in this moment. Sorry, mom. 

This evening I walked into the dirty gas station to partake of my cash discount. I need some marijuana. People in the vicinity responded to this private thought, which informs me that I said it out loud. 

I’m baking right now. This seems to be how I process, I bake and I write. I’m reminded of my mother. She would bake for no discernible reason. Good day, bad day, any day there was a chance I’d come home to a pie or delicious homemade bread, or cookies. Or some other treat. I didn’t know how much of a treat it was until I was older and realized that all mothers didn’t do this. Some kids moved away from home not understanding the chemistry of cookie baking or a perfect pie crust. I inherited my dad’s love of writing and black licorice, and my mom’s compulsion to bake comfort for the people she loves, and to feel productive. OR maybe she was baking to handle some overwhelming anxiety that she hid from us. That would make us even more alike. 

Tonight on Step by Step, Cody gets engaged after 3 dates to a woman in a leather jacket he met through a personal ad in a biker magazine. She has a child. Cody likes the child more than the woman. Frank talks to him about whether getting married is a good idea, even though Frank married Carol after a week. Cody ends the engagement and somehow no one's feelings are hurt. Cody promises to remain in the kid's life, and we never see the kid again. Also Al stuffs her bra and Marc stares at her chest in a very creepy way. Marc is no longer my favorite character. 


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