This is neither here nor there . . .

Here I am, on Water Ave, between the river and the train tracks. I'm here in Portland, here with close, close friends, here where I want to be, and trying not to worry about when and how it will change and how much that will hurt. Here I am, with a new bar in my ear, marks on my arm, clothes to look cute in, and still feeling like an idiot half the time. But I'm here, listening to a really great song right now ("Can you hear the beat of my heart? . . . Bomba bomba bomba bomba bomba bomba bom!"), glad that it's not as late in the day as it seems, ready to make it last even longer.