It was windy and rainy today. Not cold gusts though; a very moderate temperature which would have been pleasant to work in if I had not been soaking in my own sweat under a pancho Henrike had insisted I take.
Today was the the first day I did not need to ask anyone what I should do- I had a nice mental list going. I crawled through another couple tunnels, weeding them (Saying “Fuck you!” to each nettle I pulled- it’s a love hate thing). Some of the grassy weeds’ roots bite deep and hard into the soil and my hand gets tired from all the gripping. I was feeling a real soreness in the wrists today. I’d better rest them some.
Selena, a new worker, arrived from Germany today. She’s medium height- strong and stocky, but also very curvy at the same time. She has short dark hair, a wonderful open smile, and a shockingly low and pretty voice.
I was sorting through disgusting, half rotted produce and other rubbish in a light rain, just heavy enough to soak everything and make the liquids run down my arm, but not heavy enough to wash any of the filth off of me. My hands were gritty and stinky, and every time I had to push up my glasses or scratch an itch, I got yuckier.
When Henrike introduced her, Selena reached to shake my hand and I reached halfway out and said, “It’s filthy.”
“I don’t care.”
We shook hands and I turned back to working with a smile. Selena joined in and I did that thing where you work just a little bit faster when you meet someone who impresses you or whom you want to impress. And so a crate holding two week old milk, slipped out of my hands, covering everything else in the pile. I gagged a little, but was able to keep it together.
Then, at the bottom of the milk soaked pile were little plastic bags filled with green slime which used to be lettuce. Since the plastic had to go in one pile, and the slime in another, I had to open the bag. At this point, I actually doubled over and dry heaved.
This always amuses me a little. So my dry heaves sound something like “BLAAAAGDZ! BLAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAGDZH!” which can, depending on the audience, make other people either laugh or dry heave.
Here and now, Selena laughed some.
It had been such a wet and nasty day that I didn’t even talk to anyone after we were done working for the day. I just walked to the shower with my head down.
But while I was in there, the sun came out and dinner was made! I was refreshed!
We got to talking, Henrike, Selena, and I, and Selena asked about my education. I told her I quit college to do interesting things.
“Like what?” Quipped Henrike. “Sort through rubbish?”
“Hey-oooooo!”
And the day ended with a final little bit of good news and cheer.
I had been stressing all week about whether or not I’d be able to overcome my body shame and cultural conditioning and go in the hot tub with everyone. They do it nude here. But my tough decision was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Ten Years Ago Today 