I ran into her when she spoke at various colloquia my third year as an undergraduate. We didn’t become genuinely acquainted until some time later at a Blues bar in St. Mark’s Place — during the later part of my final undergraduate year. She would eventually, in a city 3 hours away, become my beneficent, yet knowing, boss. In the course of time, in a room full of very large sofa pretender pillows, and over a bottle of wine, she would become my friend, but more than that, one of my harbor people.
Before she moved back to Liberia she attempted to teach me how to cook my favorite of her native dishes. I was never able to translate her instructions for a preferred Liberian cabbage dish successfully, but I was grateful for her efforts. When introduced to key lime pie she fell in love, and perfected a recipe for it almost immediately. Her sweet potato dishes were to die for, and those thank goodness I can prepare.
She was all colorful tops and worn out jeans at home, black suits, always, at work. We both had an affinity for black boots. She spoke French with me because she could and I wanted her to, though English is her native language. She helped me see me through the eyes of others. I should not fail to mention that she is a scholar, a human rights activist, and a poet.
A rare and wonderful creature, she sees life as she sees split infinitives, and like Bryson she will tell you that a split infinitive is not a grammatical error, but a rhetorical one, if an error at all, believing it to be more a question of style or choice than syntactic transgression. As such their are no mistakes in life, just consequence of choice.
She returned to Liberia, and then on to Munich, some time ago. I’ve missed her, as I’ve missed Strahan and Hobart Harbors. Some friends are like the ships that pass through favored harbors, others are the favored harbors, and we are meant to return to them or they to us, eventually, or sooner, and repetitively. Instinctively, just as I know which harbors I will return to, I know my harbor people. Do you know yours?
The first in an erratic series of brief essays about my harbor people. This, instigated by a note letting me know that the aforementioned friend will be celebrating U.S. Thanksgiving with me, and the realization that there was such a thing as a “harbor person”, and that I am fortunate to have several .
peace
I love the term harbor people. I have no harbor people, maybe one.
I ought to get me some more, this post put me in a state of dissatisfaction. in that have no harbor people, maybe one.
casey recently posted..US Airport Rage
awww no harbor people?
Love the expression. I generally refer to them as “kindred spirits”, and they are all too rare in this boy’s life. Glad your Thanksgiving will be spent well! If you’re ever in a sharing mood, the recipes sound intriguing…
I’ll pass them on.
I like the description, not quite a soul mate, but someone you connect with on a level that doesn’t happen too often, if ever.
I have a number of harbor people, this reminds me it’s been too long already since I’ve communicated, never-mind seen, some of them.
kait recently posted..My “If I Were A Rich Man” Holiday Party Attire
holiday time is a good time to get in touch.
I liked the term “sofa pretender pillows”, because I know exactly what the are.
Harbor people, yes I see it. I don’t have enough of them. A few though.
I loved this post, but the title led me to believe you might be hiding refugees in your home.
jacob recently posted..Tiger Redefines Victory
ah,
we’ve all had them in our homes and been them in the homes of others I bet.
Lovely sweet poetic reminiscence.
Who are my harbor people? I don’t know. The entire harbor collapsed in on itself with not even a trail of rising bubbles to account for it’s history.
Not many ever make any connection with me, and if so not for long.
*chucks violin into empty pit*
Bennet recently posted..A Cup Of Morning Rage With Spinkles Of Fight For the Little Man
Only Bennett’s harbor would have totally collapsed.
No, I don’t believe such an event to be exclusive.
Bennet recently posted..PAT DOWNS! – I have the solution!
who are my harbor people?
you are my harbor people.
I’ll have to think on that. Niece piece, though I have to contemplate the harbor people of my life now, irritating at this time of the morning.
g recently posted..Killer Whales Caught Surfing Some Huge Waves of the Coast of New Zealand
aw g of course.
I’ve had friends I thought to be harbor people who in the end were just safe havens, only there for a time.
Today I have a few harbor people in my life: some small harbors for the different worlds I inhabit and always end up back in, and my one true harbor girl, who is the last person I see every night and the first I see each morning. She keeps me honest, protected and loved, and never fails to bring me back down to earth when I start to drift.
I loved the post Cooper; I think you should UD harbor people, it’s a great term.
Billy Flynn recently posted..In My Hour of Darkness
I think it’s also a goal to be a a harbor person for some not just to collect them for ourselves.
Well said; maybe an item that should be on all our bucket lists.
Billy Flynn recently posted..In My Hour of Darkness
that list gets longer and longer doesn’t it
Harbor people, I like that cooper. The best I can wish is that everyone have a couple of these harbor people. Trademark…
I’m glad you get to see your friend again.
I love sweet potatoes. When I was in Liberia we were fed a sweet potato soup that was to die for.
They are healthy too, that is what is so great about them.
Nice term “harbor people”, not soul mates but people that you won’t forget, you connect to, and who will never forget you.
The term “until we meet again” means something when said by harbor people.
Indeed it does ben.
Let’s drink to harbor people.
Cheers my friend.
gillian recently posted..thank god she is going
cheers…a couple days late but still
To be and to have harbor people, I love it.
Have a great T day with your friends invite me for sweet potato something or other some time.
And happy blogaversary great post up there. And your Vonda Shepard obsession serves it well.
john recently posted..9500 LIBERTY
I am exhausted from going to the supermarket.
I love the concept of a series of posts about your harbor people, this was a good start.
I have a couple, you know one of them, and then my family. I wonder how many people think of their family as harbor people?
Happy blogging anniversary, love the short and sweet post above. Not going on and on about blogging it makes the point more clear. The song works too, and the title is to die for girlfriend. ;)
Hope the holiday is a restful one. I’m taking off as of today, heading to the ocean.
Kiss the waves for me.
I love the idea of harbour people. Beautiful.
I have harbour people. I’m glad I didn’t have to think to know that.
risha recently posted..the pensieve
“I’m glad I didn’t have to think to know that.” I feel lucky in that way as well.
Lovely term for what I call family of friends or those people who have become so integeral to my life I can’t imagine life without them. And since leaving NY have become very familiar with their futons, guest rooms….
Their children become my surrogates and that too is wonderful–especially when they tell me they can’t imagine their lives without me
You enjoy your holiday Pia, and your harbor people. ;)
I always want to sigh when I listen to Vonda Shepard.
Happy late blogaversry I know the comments are off, but you are one of 2 blogs I’ve read for 6 years – when I started reading blogs to waste time in airports. Thank you for it.
It’s a week of rest. but thanks Joe.
Yes, I’m on a rather obvious Vonda Shepard kick.
Love the term. Been trying to think since I first read this if I have any, and who they would be. Is this a topic I can bring up with the guys? “So would any of you like to be my harbor person?”
A splendid, well-written post, Miss Cooper.
Also, I was all ready to brag about how you were older than me in blog years, then I checked my blog and saw that I began in 2003. The whole time I was thinking 2005 for some reason. I think maybe 2005 was when I got my first comment.
Anyway, Happy Bloggiversary! And hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Bone recently posted..Bout a ghost from a wishing well
Yes, you are older than me. Thank you for the blogaversry well wishing. ;)
I hope for your Thanksgiving Alabama wins today.
I’m sorry they lost.
Happy Thanksgiving, Coop.
Doug recently posted..The Reformation of Wolfshausen
I hope you Thanksgiving was splendid as well.
Missing your bloggy presence.
Was in Baltimore recently… saw lotsa harbor people. Some fish, too.
Hope your T-day was full of fun, family, vittles and a nice vino.
sauerkraut recently posted..Happy Sweet 16- Phoebe Prince
It is true, if you go to Baltimore Harbor you will see harbor people, some days more than others. I haven’t been to the harbor in awhile, it’s a fun place to go though.
Perfect term – everybody knows exactly what you mean immediately.
Belated Happy Thanksgiving.
ChrisJ recently posted..McFiction
Thank you. It was busy, lots of guests, some not yet departed.
Happy Bloggiversary
I remember so well when we first began reading each other’s blogs. Had no idea over a half decade later your blog would be required for my life. Selfishly I hope you always blog something