November 25, 2009
It was 27 ½ weeks into our wait. It had been a long time since the end of the second season and we were feeling the effects of our separation. Some of us, like me, were watching the first season. Others were contenting themselves with the second season, in various forms and in various ways. Others were doing “B” and still others were simply waiting. News was thin on the ground and we felt pretty wrung out.
As I walked into the meeting room we’d used as refugees with Rene (yes, our forum was off line temporarily again, and hopefully it would not be that long again)I felt somewhat better. When you are a junkie, you feel as though you are not alone, a little less freakish, when you could be with others like you. Still, I sometimes wondered what the aims of the group were, were we supposed to be getting better? Somehow I got the impression that none of us were being cured of our addictions. The room was as we had left it that last time, and just as I had done when we returned to our old familiar space, I picked up bits of paper and straightened our circle of chairs. A quick call to the lead counselor assured us that we would be welcome in the old refugee space.
Iluvtheviking was bringing the coffee and I had whipped up a gingerbread cake with rum nut sugar drizzle to pour over it. I busily cut the cake into slices and began setting it out on plates, drizzling some, leaving others. Eric Lover and Dude were waiting for the coffee to be ready and God Speed was setting out big fat cinnamon rolls, still warm and fragrant.
Minnie, Nia, and Vi came into the room, the smell of the cold air on their clothes. Westexan came in, her belly before her, her hand at the small of her back. She looked a little tired as she sat down. I brought her a slice of gingerbread cake and a hot cup of decaf.
“Thank you Aslinn,” she said, putting down her purse and settling in the chair as comfortably as she could.
“Is it getting colder?” I asked.
“It is,” she said. “Any colder and you could have snow.” I loved cold weather. I was one of those strange people who liked summer and spring well enough, but really perked up with fall and winter. I was looking forward to the cold blustery weather that made you huddle in closer, drink hot cider, and sing Christmas carols under your breath.
Hoyt and Burke and Lina and Linzy hurried in, excitedly talking about the Yule trip to the Myrtles with the counselors. I was still shopping for the counselors, and I had ordered some things and I was waiting anxiously for the things to come in. I hoped I had chosen well, that they would like. I knew that many of the folks in the group were having trouble finding things.
Liz, Mel and Raki came in, and finally, as they were getting seated, the lights went out except for the panel lights in the center, and our discussions came to a halt.
“I think we should discuss how each of you is doing over the hiatus. We still have quite a ways to go before summer and our adventures begin again,” said the lead counselor.
Liz began. Our poor Liz, so many things happening at once, her world far too busy for the number of hours in her day began to speak. She looked tired, but she was there with us, a sign of true junkie-dom.
“Well, I have been very busy, as some of you know. But there is something about knowing this place is always here for me, a place of refuge. Our forum and our refugee places when we need them, and the things we talk about keep my spirits up and makes me want to go on,” she said. “I listen to the soundtrack when I am in my car, going to work or running errands or just when I have a few minutes to myself in the bathroom while I take a hot soak at the end of the day,” she looked a little sad. “But I miss the adventures and the chatter about it and the activity.”
“Mel, dearest, what about you?” asked the lead counselor.
“I am so busy that I never have time to miss the adventures, but there are times when I find myself thinking about something I have seen and read. Then, there are the technical aspects of the forum to deal with,” she said, mumbling what thought was her mantra ‘computers are our friends, computers are our friends’ as she rubbed her tired eyes. “But hopefully this will be short lived, shorter lived than the last time we had to refugee.”
“Nia, how about you, are you hanging there?” asked the southern counselor in his low voice.
“I am not doing so well, I miss our forum so much,” she said.
“You do not refugee with the others?” asked the lead counselor.
“No, not really, it isn’t like the other place, with its lovely places devoted to my most favorite Vampire in the whole world,” she said, that look of fervent devotion on her face. Eric Lover gave me a sly look. You could tell Nia had been indulging in her drug of choice and was a little spaced out.
“There is no place for you to express your devotion?” asked the southern counselor.
“There is,” said Rene. "Aslinn and I were just in there this morning for our morning admiration time,” she said.
“There you are Sweet heart, a safe place for you to go and be with other devotees,” said the soft voice of our counselor.
“What have you been doing Linzy, to ease your hunger?” asked the lead counselor.
“I just indulge myself. GK, True Blood, any bit of news and gossip going on, “B”, anything to get my fix of hard Viking,” she said. Eric Lover was nodding at the observations Linzy was making, as was Lina. All of them are Viking users, and they are known to be reckless in their mixing of substances.
“And you Aslinn, what do you do to stave off your desires?” asked the lead counselor.
I was in trouble. Though I was devoted to Bill, I found myself like Sookie, sometimes turning my gaze in the direction of the handsome sheriff of area five. There was everything to like about him, his ruthlessness was even attractive. But I did not want to confess that here on the forum floor. The only one I could truly confess this to was my counselor, which I did during my personal counseling session with him on his couch, in front of his fire, whispering into his ear as he held me….and then, later…but I jarred myself awake from my reveries.
“Well, I have of course been working on the forum, both our forum and the place where we are refugees, then I have been doing crossword puzzles and search word puzzles…” I said.
“But you have finished the puzzles for all the books,” said Eric Lover.
“Now I am doing them for each of the episodes. You know, I thought the puzzles would be quite small, but they are actually bigger than the puzzles I did for the books,” I said. “And I have been hosting Thorsday Nights and trawling for news and posting things just for interest’s sake.”
“You are busy,” said my counselor.
“No one works harder than a junkie,” I said. “But as always, I miss our forum, and all our lovely friends who gather there everyday.”
“Don’t worry, dearest, you will be back there soon,” said the lead counselor.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Meeting November 18
It was November 18th and the True Blood Anonymous group was abuzz with excitement. We had our first Thorsday meeting at our former refugee shelter at AS.org and we had a wonderful time, getting a bit silly towards the end. But that was okay, whatever happened on Thorsdays stayed at the AS.org forum. I know that I was anticipating the next meeting with a small batch of new topics for discussion and anticipating further fun.
Nia brought fudge made of white and dark chocolate, a choco-holic’s wet dream and Renee made the coffee. I brought a new bottle of Bailey’s (our last bottle gave up the last of its milk of cheer during the last meeting) and I cracked it open and poured a healthy shot of it in God Speed’s cup then mine. Hoyt sailed by, grabbing a slab of Nia’s Sin (what I like to call it) and headed to his usual place, far away from God Speed, who settled down by Westexan who was relaxing with her legs stretched out in front of her, rubbing her growing bun (The Kaiser Roll).
“How’s the soccer player?” I asked the mum to be.
“Bending it like Beckham around my right kidney,” she said, squirming a little, trying to find a comfortable position. Give it up Westexan, you won’t be comfortable til the little dictator has his triumphal entry into the world.
Iluvtheviking came in all aglow. She was pretty and in the pink, a wide grin on her face. She passed up the coffee and never mind and had just a small square of Sin and sat down. I got up and squatted in front of her.
“Congratulations Iluvtheviking, I am tickled pink for you,” I said.
“Thank you,” she said. “I am so excited when I am not barfing my head off,” she said.
“Good for you,” I said. Eric Lover came in and sat down her big bag of crazy and went and got a cuppa and fudge and sat down. I went and sat back down and sipped my coffee. Linzy and Lina and Liz and Mel came in and hurriedly got their candy and coffee and plopped down. Dude, Minnie and Vi and Karalee and Burke filled in the empty places around our circle.
Soon the lights went out and we were aware of the counselors at the doors, the lead counselor and the southern counselor at one door, the lady counselor and her protégé at the other.
“I sense a great deal of excitement in the room,” said the lead counselor. “Tell us what has happened.”
“Go ahead Iluvtheviking, tell him,” said Hoyt.
“Okay…I’m going to have a baby,” she said, squeeing excitedly.
“Congratulations. First our Westexan is having a little teacup and now you,” said the lead counselor.
“And let’s not forget Dracodarling being engaged,” said the southern voice of my favorite counselor. Draco had not been with us for some time….but then again, she is in love….
“What shall we discuss tonight?” asked the lead counselor
“Well, this is something I have been thinking about,” I began. “I know we have to take notices from the Source with a grain of salt, the Source is so tricky, but there were two things that I found intriguing.”
“Tell us Aslinn,” said my counselor.
“Well, one of the notices said that Bill meets a woman who thinks Bill is her son and another notice said that there was going to be a situation where we see Bill’s wife,” I said. “What do you think that will be about?”
“That is intriguing,” said Liz. “Well, you know that the Connection talks about a certain family connection of Bill’s. I think this may be a way to bring that piece of the story into the next season. We were originally supposed to learn this last season.”
“One of the things that is troubling to me is that Bill’s wife sees him after she thinks Bill is dead in the war,” I said. “Imagine, going along thinking your husband is dead and then you see him again.”
“And of course he is Vampire; imagine having to tell someone you love that you can never come home because you are…different….” I said. I sniffed a little and Vi handed me tissues. It had been a while since we had needed tissues in group.
“And watching the adventures of the first summer isn’t helping,” said Nia weakly. “Next Saturday they show the whole thing with Liam, Diane and Malcolm and how angry everyone was with them and with Sookie for loving…who she loves…” said Nia, smoothing her hand over her favorite Vampire’s face.
“Everyone suffers so much because of love,” said Hoyt. “Look at Jessica.” This remark of course elicited an angry glare from GS.
“Not just Jessica,” said Liz. “Sam, Jason, Bill, Eric and his love for his maker, Lorena.” Everyone grumbled at the mention of the most evil woman in the world.
“Fair is fair guys, she may be evil but she is in love with Bill,” said Mel. “Or at least a reasonable facsimile”
“And don’t forget Tara and Sookie. Poor Tara is going to be suffering so much she doesn’t even see danger when it comes her way and Sookie…this is going to be a tough season for her,” said Burke.
“True,” said Lina. She sighed heavily and shook her head. “I don’t know if I can make it…it is still so far away, next June.”
“Twenty-eight and a half weeks,” I said, sadly.
Nia brought fudge made of white and dark chocolate, a choco-holic’s wet dream and Renee made the coffee. I brought a new bottle of Bailey’s (our last bottle gave up the last of its milk of cheer during the last meeting) and I cracked it open and poured a healthy shot of it in God Speed’s cup then mine. Hoyt sailed by, grabbing a slab of Nia’s Sin (what I like to call it) and headed to his usual place, far away from God Speed, who settled down by Westexan who was relaxing with her legs stretched out in front of her, rubbing her growing bun (The Kaiser Roll).
“How’s the soccer player?” I asked the mum to be.
“Bending it like Beckham around my right kidney,” she said, squirming a little, trying to find a comfortable position. Give it up Westexan, you won’t be comfortable til the little dictator has his triumphal entry into the world.
Iluvtheviking came in all aglow. She was pretty and in the pink, a wide grin on her face. She passed up the coffee and never mind and had just a small square of Sin and sat down. I got up and squatted in front of her.
“Congratulations Iluvtheviking, I am tickled pink for you,” I said.
“Thank you,” she said. “I am so excited when I am not barfing my head off,” she said.
“Good for you,” I said. Eric Lover came in and sat down her big bag of crazy and went and got a cuppa and fudge and sat down. I went and sat back down and sipped my coffee. Linzy and Lina and Liz and Mel came in and hurriedly got their candy and coffee and plopped down. Dude, Minnie and Vi and Karalee and Burke filled in the empty places around our circle.
Soon the lights went out and we were aware of the counselors at the doors, the lead counselor and the southern counselor at one door, the lady counselor and her protégé at the other.
“I sense a great deal of excitement in the room,” said the lead counselor. “Tell us what has happened.”
“Go ahead Iluvtheviking, tell him,” said Hoyt.
“Okay…I’m going to have a baby,” she said, squeeing excitedly.
“Congratulations. First our Westexan is having a little teacup and now you,” said the lead counselor.
“And let’s not forget Dracodarling being engaged,” said the southern voice of my favorite counselor. Draco had not been with us for some time….but then again, she is in love….
“What shall we discuss tonight?” asked the lead counselor
“Well, this is something I have been thinking about,” I began. “I know we have to take notices from the Source with a grain of salt, the Source is so tricky, but there were two things that I found intriguing.”
“Tell us Aslinn,” said my counselor.
“Well, one of the notices said that Bill meets a woman who thinks Bill is her son and another notice said that there was going to be a situation where we see Bill’s wife,” I said. “What do you think that will be about?”
“That is intriguing,” said Liz. “Well, you know that the Connection talks about a certain family connection of Bill’s. I think this may be a way to bring that piece of the story into the next season. We were originally supposed to learn this last season.”
“One of the things that is troubling to me is that Bill’s wife sees him after she thinks Bill is dead in the war,” I said. “Imagine, going along thinking your husband is dead and then you see him again.”
“And of course he is Vampire; imagine having to tell someone you love that you can never come home because you are…different….” I said. I sniffed a little and Vi handed me tissues. It had been a while since we had needed tissues in group.
“And watching the adventures of the first summer isn’t helping,” said Nia weakly. “Next Saturday they show the whole thing with Liam, Diane and Malcolm and how angry everyone was with them and with Sookie for loving…who she loves…” said Nia, smoothing her hand over her favorite Vampire’s face.
“Everyone suffers so much because of love,” said Hoyt. “Look at Jessica.” This remark of course elicited an angry glare from GS.
“Not just Jessica,” said Liz. “Sam, Jason, Bill, Eric and his love for his maker, Lorena.” Everyone grumbled at the mention of the most evil woman in the world.
“Fair is fair guys, she may be evil but she is in love with Bill,” said Mel. “Or at least a reasonable facsimile”
“And don’t forget Tara and Sookie. Poor Tara is going to be suffering so much she doesn’t even see danger when it comes her way and Sookie…this is going to be a tough season for her,” said Burke.
“True,” said Lina. She sighed heavily and shook her head. “I don’t know if I can make it…it is still so far away, next June.”
“Twenty-eight and a half weeks,” I said, sadly.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran's Day
In a Warrior
In Flander's Fields
The poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row- Lt. Col. John McCrae
"The Patriot's Dream"- Gordon Lightfoot
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
The patriot's dream is as old as the sky
It lives in the lust of a cold callous lie
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
The train pulled away on that glorious night
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
The patriot's dream still lives on today
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
Well there was a sad, sad lady
Weeping all night long
She received a sad, sad message
From a voice on the telephone
Her children were all sleeping
As she waited out the dawn
How could she tell those children
That their father was shot down
So she took them to her side that day
And she told them one by one
Your father was a good man ten thousand miles from home
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
Well there was a young girl watching in the early afternoon
When she heard the name of someone who said he'd be home soon
And she wondered how they got him, but the papers did not tell
There would be no sweet reunion, there would be no wedding bells
So she took herself into her room and she turned the bed sheets down
And she cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
Well there was an old man sitting in his mansion on the hill
And he thought of his good fortune and the time he'd yet o kill
Well he called to his wife one day, "Come sit with me awhile"
Then turning toward the sunset, he smiled a wicked smile
"Well I'd like to say I'm sorry for the sinful deeds I've done
But let me first remind you, I'm a patriotic son"
They tried to do their duty and it took 'em straight to hell
They might be in some prison, I hope they're treated well
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
The train pulled away on that glorious night
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
The patriot's dream still lives on today
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
The sun was going down now, over the West Virginia Capital Building. The old joke is the capital building with it's neo-classical design, reminiscent of the US capital, was the best little whore house in West Virginia. I walked between the old oaks and took my place where I told the counselors we would meet.
I had never been a real patriot, not that flag waving type of patriotism, that Lee Greenwood "I'm Proud to be an American" sort of patriot. I never had much use for that Fourth of July, Veteran's Day sort of patriotism that some folks trot out with Old Glory a couple of times a year. No, my sort of patriotism was more in the social activist type. I had worked for many years, many of them my teen years, in the roll of agent for change. I worked for some years as a veteran's advocate, fighting for benefits in the intricate red tape world of the VA system, often for troubled men, often for dying men. That is how I had met my late husband. He was a client and then my first lover and I was his til the day he died almost 12 years ago. Then I went to work for the Veteran's Memorial Foundation and was involved in the building of the archives and the memorial itself, the edifice in front of which I was standing, awaiting two of the most unusual veterans I had ever met.
As the sun was behind the black West Virginia mountains, I saw the head lights of a red corvette splash over the road and the sidewalk, illuminating me in their glare. I put my hand out, shielding my eyes. I looked back at the monument that my family and I had overseen being built. I remember....but I digress. I walked down the gentle slope of the lawn. My counselor came and took my hands and leaned forward and kissed my cheek briefly, his lips light and cool. The lead counselor did the same, he stooping from his considerable height to kiss my cheek with a touch as light as a butterfly.
"I'm so glad you came," I said.
"Tell us about this place, dearest," said the lead counselor.
"It is our memorial to the over ten thousand who died in the wars of the last century from our state. Per capita, our state has more veterans than any state in the nation," I said, leading both men slowly to the large black marble blocks which precede the monument itself. I had my counselor by the hand. I could feel the hand of the lead counselor at the small of my back and he shortened his stride to match mine. I pointed to the names of my parents on the black marble. "These are my parents, my dad was the executive director and my mom was the head archivist."
"Where is your name sweetheart?" asked my counselor.
"Oh, I was just the office help, but I am proud of my parent's work, that is what I want you to see," I said, pulling his hand gently up the walk to the monument.
The monument itself looked something like stone henge. Four large monoliths in curved oval shape, surrounded by a reflecting pool lined in black Italian Terazzo marble, separated by four bridges. The center was illuminated by huge light with a magnifying lens cut by Bausch and Lomb created a pillar of light that went twenty stories into the dark sky.
"Earth, fire, water," said the lead counselor. The heavy wind from the river blew, blowing his silvery blond hair back away from his Viking's face added the final element. "Air." he said finally.
"Rather pagan, wouldn't you say?" I said, smiling at the Big Pagan himself. The large beacon light went out as we stepped into the Sanctuary proper. As it did, the little foot lights came on, illuminating the over 10,000 names carved into the curved black walls there. My counselor reached up and hesitated. I put my warm hands on his finger tips and gently pressed them onto the cold marble where you could feel the names of the men and women who died in the wars of the last century. He stroked the smooth stone and I saw his eyes widen. I didn't know what to say to this. You would think after his long history the representation of so much loss would not effect him, but there was a sad, shocked look on his face. The lead counselor was standing in front of the monolith dedicated to World War II.
"Ah, these are my boys," I said. "I spent an entire summer compiling the histories of these boys, writing to the records people in Washington, DC, getting their files." I pointed to a name I knew well. "This fellow was on the ship the Paul B. Hamilton. He and eleven other West Virginia sailors were bombed into the other world by the Japanese off the coast of Africa."
"Do you know them all Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor.
"No, not all, but enough to tell you that I loved them all," I said. I walked back to my counselor, who was looking at the plaque for the Congressional Medal of Honor Winners.
"I knew about this boy, he was from my hometown. He was pinned down when the Vietnamese started throwing hand grenades at his position. He saw a hand grenade fall on the ground near a group of his men and with a rebel yell, he threw himself on the grenade and shielded his friends from the blast," I said.
"A rebel yell?" he asked.
"Uh huh," I said. "We wanted to put out a special plaque to remember those who died of disease and mental illness after the wars but we were told that would be too controversial. But just as many died of those things as there were battlefield dead." I shrugged.
"Did you know anyone like that Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor, his tall shadow walking slowly over to me.
"Yeah, I knew a lot of them: Frank and Vernon and Homer and Norman and my husband, Jimmy, they died of mental illness, or suicide or cancer...war changed a whole lot from the times you served or fought in wars," I said. "I wonder, did war make more sense to you during your time?" I asked the lead counselor.
"War was more intimate, about simpler things, mostly about food or hunting grounds, I suppose it does make more sense than the war of isms your people of your time seem to fight about. Now I see war as a waste, in a different context of course, but you shouldn't be troubled about that," said the lead counselor.
"Well, you obviously know something about my war," said my counselor, "And as you well know, it was about isms as well, though we ordinary soldiers did not understand the details, it was just the cause."
"It is a beautiful monument, Aslinn," said the lead counselor. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
"Thank you for sharing it with me," I said. "I hope we don't have to build anymore like it."
"For your sake, I hope you get your wish sweet heart," said my counselor.
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, who are serving or paid the ultimate price for freedom. Brightest Blessings Be.
In Flander's Fields
The poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row- Lt. Col. John McCrae
"The Patriot's Dream"- Gordon Lightfoot
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
The patriot's dream is as old as the sky
It lives in the lust of a cold callous lie
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
The train pulled away on that glorious night
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
The patriot's dream still lives on today
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
Well there was a sad, sad lady
Weeping all night long
She received a sad, sad message
From a voice on the telephone
Her children were all sleeping
As she waited out the dawn
How could she tell those children
That their father was shot down
So she took them to her side that day
And she told them one by one
Your father was a good man ten thousand miles from home
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
Well there was a young girl watching in the early afternoon
When she heard the name of someone who said he'd be home soon
And she wondered how they got him, but the papers did not tell
There would be no sweet reunion, there would be no wedding bells
So she took herself into her room and she turned the bed sheets down
And she cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
Well there was an old man sitting in his mansion on the hill
And he thought of his good fortune and the time he'd yet o kill
Well he called to his wife one day, "Come sit with me awhile"
Then turning toward the sunset, he smiled a wicked smile
"Well I'd like to say I'm sorry for the sinful deeds I've done
But let me first remind you, I'm a patriotic son"
They tried to do their duty and it took 'em straight to hell
They might be in some prison, I hope they're treated well
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
The train pulled away on that glorious night
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
The patriot's dream still lives on today
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
The sun was going down now, over the West Virginia Capital Building. The old joke is the capital building with it's neo-classical design, reminiscent of the US capital, was the best little whore house in West Virginia. I walked between the old oaks and took my place where I told the counselors we would meet.
I had never been a real patriot, not that flag waving type of patriotism, that Lee Greenwood "I'm Proud to be an American" sort of patriot. I never had much use for that Fourth of July, Veteran's Day sort of patriotism that some folks trot out with Old Glory a couple of times a year. No, my sort of patriotism was more in the social activist type. I had worked for many years, many of them my teen years, in the roll of agent for change. I worked for some years as a veteran's advocate, fighting for benefits in the intricate red tape world of the VA system, often for troubled men, often for dying men. That is how I had met my late husband. He was a client and then my first lover and I was his til the day he died almost 12 years ago. Then I went to work for the Veteran's Memorial Foundation and was involved in the building of the archives and the memorial itself, the edifice in front of which I was standing, awaiting two of the most unusual veterans I had ever met.
As the sun was behind the black West Virginia mountains, I saw the head lights of a red corvette splash over the road and the sidewalk, illuminating me in their glare. I put my hand out, shielding my eyes. I looked back at the monument that my family and I had overseen being built. I remember....but I digress. I walked down the gentle slope of the lawn. My counselor came and took my hands and leaned forward and kissed my cheek briefly, his lips light and cool. The lead counselor did the same, he stooping from his considerable height to kiss my cheek with a touch as light as a butterfly.
"I'm so glad you came," I said.
"Tell us about this place, dearest," said the lead counselor.
"It is our memorial to the over ten thousand who died in the wars of the last century from our state. Per capita, our state has more veterans than any state in the nation," I said, leading both men slowly to the large black marble blocks which precede the monument itself. I had my counselor by the hand. I could feel the hand of the lead counselor at the small of my back and he shortened his stride to match mine. I pointed to the names of my parents on the black marble. "These are my parents, my dad was the executive director and my mom was the head archivist."
"Where is your name sweetheart?" asked my counselor.
"Oh, I was just the office help, but I am proud of my parent's work, that is what I want you to see," I said, pulling his hand gently up the walk to the monument.
The monument itself looked something like stone henge. Four large monoliths in curved oval shape, surrounded by a reflecting pool lined in black Italian Terazzo marble, separated by four bridges. The center was illuminated by huge light with a magnifying lens cut by Bausch and Lomb created a pillar of light that went twenty stories into the dark sky.
"Earth, fire, water," said the lead counselor. The heavy wind from the river blew, blowing his silvery blond hair back away from his Viking's face added the final element. "Air." he said finally.
"Rather pagan, wouldn't you say?" I said, smiling at the Big Pagan himself. The large beacon light went out as we stepped into the Sanctuary proper. As it did, the little foot lights came on, illuminating the over 10,000 names carved into the curved black walls there. My counselor reached up and hesitated. I put my warm hands on his finger tips and gently pressed them onto the cold marble where you could feel the names of the men and women who died in the wars of the last century. He stroked the smooth stone and I saw his eyes widen. I didn't know what to say to this. You would think after his long history the representation of so much loss would not effect him, but there was a sad, shocked look on his face. The lead counselor was standing in front of the monolith dedicated to World War II.
"Ah, these are my boys," I said. "I spent an entire summer compiling the histories of these boys, writing to the records people in Washington, DC, getting their files." I pointed to a name I knew well. "This fellow was on the ship the Paul B. Hamilton. He and eleven other West Virginia sailors were bombed into the other world by the Japanese off the coast of Africa."
"Do you know them all Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor.
"No, not all, but enough to tell you that I loved them all," I said. I walked back to my counselor, who was looking at the plaque for the Congressional Medal of Honor Winners.
"I knew about this boy, he was from my hometown. He was pinned down when the Vietnamese started throwing hand grenades at his position. He saw a hand grenade fall on the ground near a group of his men and with a rebel yell, he threw himself on the grenade and shielded his friends from the blast," I said.
"A rebel yell?" he asked.
"Uh huh," I said. "We wanted to put out a special plaque to remember those who died of disease and mental illness after the wars but we were told that would be too controversial. But just as many died of those things as there were battlefield dead." I shrugged.
"Did you know anyone like that Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor, his tall shadow walking slowly over to me.
"Yeah, I knew a lot of them: Frank and Vernon and Homer and Norman and my husband, Jimmy, they died of mental illness, or suicide or cancer...war changed a whole lot from the times you served or fought in wars," I said. "I wonder, did war make more sense to you during your time?" I asked the lead counselor.
"War was more intimate, about simpler things, mostly about food or hunting grounds, I suppose it does make more sense than the war of isms your people of your time seem to fight about. Now I see war as a waste, in a different context of course, but you shouldn't be troubled about that," said the lead counselor.
"Well, you obviously know something about my war," said my counselor, "And as you well know, it was about isms as well, though we ordinary soldiers did not understand the details, it was just the cause."
"It is a beautiful monument, Aslinn," said the lead counselor. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
"Thank you for sharing it with me," I said. "I hope we don't have to build anymore like it."
"For your sake, I hope you get your wish sweet heart," said my counselor.
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, who are serving or paid the ultimate price for freedom. Brightest Blessings Be.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Meeting November 10
God Speed brought in his mini cheese burgers and Minnie brought some potato skins. I brought some punch with Southern Comfort and some fresh brewed ice tea for those who needed a little less punch and Burke brought in a bottle of Jamison and some ice.
After the invitation form the counselors to join them for Yule at the Myrtles Plantation, we had busily been thinking about what we would all get the counselors for the winter celebration. I still hadn't thought of anything for my counselor though I had already chosen something for the young counselor and the lovely lady counselor (which you will just have to find out about later). I had also cemented the plans with the lead counselor and the southern counselor tomorrow. I was excited about their visit.
I settled in my accustomed place beside Eric Lover and Westexan sat down next to me, a cup of iced tea in one hand and a mini cheese burger and potato skins in a plate in the other. God Speed took a seat beside her. Nia, Burke, Lina, Linzy and Iluvtheviking and VCat came and sat down, loaded down with their own goodies. I lifted my cup of Jamison's to Burke, the bringer of the uisce beatha, the water of life, and she smiled at me.
We were also chatti9ng about the prospect of the new season, as more news began to trickle down, giving us hints and clues about the things we might see in the new season. It was 30 weeks til the new season and we were just maintaining our composure. I had been trawling the net, looking for news, setting time to kick a little life into another devoted forum which had been a little inactive and posting crossword puzzles and questions for discussion.
SweetandWild, one of our new junkies had signed up immediately to be at the meetings and she was making her first appearance this evening. Southern Fairy had also joined us in the TBA group and was excited, waiting for the counselors, of whom she'd heard so much.
Suddenly the lights dimmed as Raki took her seat by Liz and Mel. Hoyt was looking a little sullen, since GS had been to see the young counselor recently. But there was no time to contemplate what he was feeling because the counselors were here, the two males on one side, the lead counselor leaning against the door, while the southern counselor was sitting down in his usual place. The lady counselor and her young protege was behind me at the other door, making me wonder again if they would allow us to leave if we so desired, or would we be silently urged to sit down again until they decided to dismiss us, and would there ever be a time when we simply would not be allowed to leave. I lost that train of thought as the lead counselor began to speak.
We Truebies had been watching the first season and rehashing some of the events of the first season and how they were connected with the last season. And of course we were cussing and discussing the possibilities of next season.
"How are all of our friends this evening?" asked my counselor in his soft southern voice. He would be traveling with me tonight back home and the lead counselor would be following me. They had made arrangements to stay with friends and leave early Thursday evening. Just how many friends did our counselors have? And were they all like our counselors?
"I think we want to talk about some things we have thought about Bill's kidnapping," said Linzy. "What interest would the King of Mississippi have in Bill? Why would he make Bill his "guest"?"
"Could be at the behest of Lorena alone?" asked Hoyt. "Is she one of his subjects?"
"Why would he take interest in a personal vendetta between Lorena and her 'child'?" asked Westexan.
"I think it is Eric, I still think he had something to do with it," said Nia without hesitation. "I don't trust him."
"I don't think it is Eric," said Iluvtheviking. "I mean, it would be convenient to have him out of the way for Eric to do whatever it is he is doing for the queen, namely selling V, but this is pretty extreme. And if he thinks this is a ploy to get Sookie, then he would be wrong."
"But, if he did, he may not know that Bill has asked Sookie to marry him and has been dragged off before he heard her say yes. He thinks she refused him. Lorena may use this to her advantage, to get him back into her bed, just so she can torture him later," said Lina. "And she knows how Sookie is about Bill, perhaps she thinks Sookie would come for him and then Lorena could kill her and do it in front of Bill and then taunt Bill with the obvious, that Sookie did love him then finish him off,"
"That would be pretty devious of her. But that still doesn't answer the question about the King," said Westexan. "What interest would he have in the situation?"
"Well, perhaps there is another agenda with that altogether," I said. "Perhaps the King wants to know what the Queen is doing. The Source has changed things around so much, perhaps this is a way for him to find things out about the Queen of Louisiana. He will have Bill, which will bring Eric looking for him, with Sookie, and he can find out what is going on with the Queen, perhaps by having Bill prisoner and threatening to hurt Bill in front of Sookie, or disclosing the infidelity of Bill with his maker to her to get her blurt out anything she might know, like the fact that Eric was holding a V pusher in his 'jail' and then released him instead of killing him. Maybe this will put Eric to the test as to whether he is starting to have feelings for Sookie."
"So, you think this may lead to..." asked Burke.
"I think this may lead to a plot that is in one of the later books. What if it isn't a murder trial Sophie Anne has to take part in? What if it is about selling V, which is an anathema to Vampires," I said.
"Yeah, this would bring in Nan Flanagan, I mean she was all for stripping the Big Viking of his fiefdom and even bringing them all before the Magister. This would also bring in the story of the hostile take over," I said. "And if the Queen has to, she can bring in others, to make sure Eric can't testify....this would tie into something I discussed before, that the queen would bring in the witches to curse Eric.. "
"Do you think she would go to such lengths, Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor.
"This is just speculation," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "With the Source, anything might happen."
"We will leave it here tonight," said the lady counselor. "We will see everyone on Wednesday, our regular day?"
We all agreed. And wondered what we might discuss next.. .
After the invitation form the counselors to join them for Yule at the Myrtles Plantation, we had busily been thinking about what we would all get the counselors for the winter celebration. I still hadn't thought of anything for my counselor though I had already chosen something for the young counselor and the lovely lady counselor (which you will just have to find out about later). I had also cemented the plans with the lead counselor and the southern counselor tomorrow. I was excited about their visit.
I settled in my accustomed place beside Eric Lover and Westexan sat down next to me, a cup of iced tea in one hand and a mini cheese burger and potato skins in a plate in the other. God Speed took a seat beside her. Nia, Burke, Lina, Linzy and Iluvtheviking and VCat came and sat down, loaded down with their own goodies. I lifted my cup of Jamison's to Burke, the bringer of the uisce beatha, the water of life, and she smiled at me.
We were also chatti9ng about the prospect of the new season, as more news began to trickle down, giving us hints and clues about the things we might see in the new season. It was 30 weeks til the new season and we were just maintaining our composure. I had been trawling the net, looking for news, setting time to kick a little life into another devoted forum which had been a little inactive and posting crossword puzzles and questions for discussion.
SweetandWild, one of our new junkies had signed up immediately to be at the meetings and she was making her first appearance this evening. Southern Fairy had also joined us in the TBA group and was excited, waiting for the counselors, of whom she'd heard so much.
Suddenly the lights dimmed as Raki took her seat by Liz and Mel. Hoyt was looking a little sullen, since GS had been to see the young counselor recently. But there was no time to contemplate what he was feeling because the counselors were here, the two males on one side, the lead counselor leaning against the door, while the southern counselor was sitting down in his usual place. The lady counselor and her young protege was behind me at the other door, making me wonder again if they would allow us to leave if we so desired, or would we be silently urged to sit down again until they decided to dismiss us, and would there ever be a time when we simply would not be allowed to leave. I lost that train of thought as the lead counselor began to speak.
We Truebies had been watching the first season and rehashing some of the events of the first season and how they were connected with the last season. And of course we were cussing and discussing the possibilities of next season.
"How are all of our friends this evening?" asked my counselor in his soft southern voice. He would be traveling with me tonight back home and the lead counselor would be following me. They had made arrangements to stay with friends and leave early Thursday evening. Just how many friends did our counselors have? And were they all like our counselors?
"I think we want to talk about some things we have thought about Bill's kidnapping," said Linzy. "What interest would the King of Mississippi have in Bill? Why would he make Bill his "guest"?"
"Could be at the behest of Lorena alone?" asked Hoyt. "Is she one of his subjects?"
"Why would he take interest in a personal vendetta between Lorena and her 'child'?" asked Westexan.
"I think it is Eric, I still think he had something to do with it," said Nia without hesitation. "I don't trust him."
"I don't think it is Eric," said Iluvtheviking. "I mean, it would be convenient to have him out of the way for Eric to do whatever it is he is doing for the queen, namely selling V, but this is pretty extreme. And if he thinks this is a ploy to get Sookie, then he would be wrong."
"But, if he did, he may not know that Bill has asked Sookie to marry him and has been dragged off before he heard her say yes. He thinks she refused him. Lorena may use this to her advantage, to get him back into her bed, just so she can torture him later," said Lina. "And she knows how Sookie is about Bill, perhaps she thinks Sookie would come for him and then Lorena could kill her and do it in front of Bill and then taunt Bill with the obvious, that Sookie did love him then finish him off,"
"That would be pretty devious of her. But that still doesn't answer the question about the King," said Westexan. "What interest would he have in the situation?"
"Well, perhaps there is another agenda with that altogether," I said. "Perhaps the King wants to know what the Queen is doing. The Source has changed things around so much, perhaps this is a way for him to find things out about the Queen of Louisiana. He will have Bill, which will bring Eric looking for him, with Sookie, and he can find out what is going on with the Queen, perhaps by having Bill prisoner and threatening to hurt Bill in front of Sookie, or disclosing the infidelity of Bill with his maker to her to get her blurt out anything she might know, like the fact that Eric was holding a V pusher in his 'jail' and then released him instead of killing him. Maybe this will put Eric to the test as to whether he is starting to have feelings for Sookie."
"So, you think this may lead to..." asked Burke.
"I think this may lead to a plot that is in one of the later books. What if it isn't a murder trial Sophie Anne has to take part in? What if it is about selling V, which is an anathema to Vampires," I said.
"Yeah, this would bring in Nan Flanagan, I mean she was all for stripping the Big Viking of his fiefdom and even bringing them all before the Magister. This would also bring in the story of the hostile take over," I said. "And if the Queen has to, she can bring in others, to make sure Eric can't testify....this would tie into something I discussed before, that the queen would bring in the witches to curse Eric.. "
"Do you think she would go to such lengths, Aslinn?" asked the lead counselor.
"This is just speculation," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "With the Source, anything might happen."
"We will leave it here tonight," said the lady counselor. "We will see everyone on Wednesday, our regular day?"
We all agreed. And wondered what we might discuss next.. .
Friday, November 6, 2009
Meeting November 4
I made the treats this time, rice crispy treats with M & M's and some divinity candy and Westexan brought the coffee. After the Halloween party and the impromptu dinner theatre and the revelation that some of of those tabloid sightings were true, though why I should doubt the possibility of such a thing happening I haven't a clue. I went and got my coffee as soon as Westexan laid it out and God Speed poured a heaping dollop of Irish nevermind in my extended cup. I grabbed up a couple of pieces of my divinity and sat down in my accustomed place. Eric Lover dashed in and grabbed her cup and sat down beside me, lit a cigarette and handed me the pack. I thought longingly of the last cigarette of Turkish blend tobacco the lead counselor had gotten me and how sweet and wonderful the tobacco had been.
Nia, Liz and Mel came in with Minnie and Vi. Renee and Lindzy and Lina came in soon after with Hoyt following behind. Raki and Iluvtheviking was sitting down in the circle. GS and Westexan took their seats.
"What will be talking about this evening?" wondered God Speed aloud.
"I think we should discuss some of the things we have been discussing in the speculations in season three," said Eric Lover pragmatically. "We are getting into some interesting discussions in there."
"Have you heard..." said Westexan.
"Save it for the meeting," I said. "We have to have something to discuss in the meeting. Say chere," I said to God Speed. "Have you gotten a note from the lead counselor?"
"About Yule?" he asked. I nodded. "I take it you did too?"
"Yeah, what do you think?" I said, oblivious to Eric Lover and Westexan spluttering and Westexan saying "You got some 'splainin' to do."
"Could be fun, and it is the 18th, 19th and 20th of December," said God Speed. "Why not on Christmas?"
"The lead counselor is not a Christian, his wintertime feast is Yule," I explained.
"And why there? Isn't it supposed to be haunted?" he asked.
"Well, what do you expect from the counselors?" I answered.
"Recon they will be able to accommodate the counselor's special....needs?" he asked.
"Maybe," I said.
"Will you two cut the shiatsu and tell us what the eff you are talking about?" asked Eric Lover, never one to bandy words.
"They will tell you everything. We don't want to give it away. It's their treat, we pay for nothing that weekend," I said.
"Wow, a trip on the counselors," said Westexan.
We began to settle down in our respective places. God Speed was pointedly ignoring Hoyt. After finding him in the arms of the young counselor in training at the Halloween fete, GS was feeling a little sensitive, though I know he really ought not be, since I had my private session on Tuesday and I know that GS had taken the young counselor away for the evening. I shivered with the vague memories of my time with my counselor and I know that Vi had a certain far away look that had stayed with her since Monday, which was her appointed night.
Finally, the ritual of the lights happened and we fell silent as the counselors took their places at the entrances of the room. I often wondered what would happen if we decided to try to leave. Would they stop us? At any rate, my thoughts moved to other things as I heard the voice of the lead counselor. I had invited the lead counselor and my counselor to accompany me to a very special place on Veteran's Day and they had graciously accepted my invitation.
"Thank you so much for the wonderful Halloween Fete you arranged for us," said the lead counselor. "We have planned something for all of you for Yule. It will not take you away from your families, but it is our way of thanking you for your generosity with the Halloween party and other times you have shown your friendship to us." Though his voice was without inflection, I could feel that he was thinking about the visiting counselor who was with us for too short a time. If the speculations were correct, we would see more of the past and know a bit more about him, but it would not be the same as the time we had him here with us.
"How is your friend?" asked Linzy. "Is he well?"
"Yes," said the lead counselor. "And we paid restitution to the owner of the animal in question. Eric Lover, dearest, did you have any trouble from the people who own the house?"
"None at all," she said.
"Very good," he said.
"What would you like to talk about this evening?" asked my counselor and my eyes closed a fraction at the sound of his slow southern drawl.
"Speculations, we have speculating about the new adventures this summer," said GS.
"What are you excited about?" asked my counselor.
"Well, currently, we have been speculating about the beginning of the love triangle with Bill, Sookie and Eric," said Lina.
"Yeah, and into the future of the summer after next. We are very excited about the prospects of Sookie and Eric teaming up, so to speak," said Linzy. "I just hope it is passionate."
"Oh, I can assure you it will be passionate," said the lead counselor. The Southern counselor looked up at the lead counselor. If I could see his face, I would know that he was frowning and there was a sound I could just hear, a slight snick. The lead counselor looked down and if I could see his face, I could swear he was smiling that sardonic smile. I looked at Eric Lover who looked at me, her eyes wide.
"But what of those who are devoted to the Bill/Sookie pairing....how will you feel," asked the lady counselor behind me. I lit another of Eric Lover's cigarettes and I shuffled my feet.
"Aslinn, do you have something you would like to say?" said the lead counselor.
"Do I have something to say?" I muttered. "Sure, why not? I am going to tell you something, I nearly gave up on the connection after the third book, when she broke Sookie and Bill up. I read that fourth book and I hated it,"
"Why sweetheart?" asked my counselor.
"It wasn't that Sookie was with Eric...precisely... well, okay, it was part of it. I just didn't care for the way Eric was portrayed. There was no reason to make Eric a wuss."
"A wuss?" asked the lead counselor.
"Let me explain, would ya?" I said. "In the fourth book, something happens to Eric to make him lose his memory...tell me about a soap opera cliche. Anyhow, she made Eric all...weak...for lack of a better word. I mean, memory or no memory, he is a thousand year old Vampire, he would feel that about himself. Instead, he is sort of like...Okay, there is no better way for me to describe this but she made Eric sort of like a combination of Rainman and Forrest Gump with fangs." I held my breath. I just knew I'd insulted the lead counselor. Instead he graced us with a loud laugh.
"And you didn't care for this?" he asked.
"Well, hell no. Eric is a thousand year old Viking Vampire, the son of a chieftain, nobility in his own right. Even if he didn't know or remember those things, he would feel those things about himself. It would be in his blood. I mean, she writes about him scuttling into the house behind Sookie and leaning into her like a frightened puppy and being all afraid. He wouldn't feel that way. And I don't think Sookie would like him like that precisely. It freed her up to want to be with him that he didn't remember he was the sheriff of area five and this ultra political Vampire, but there was no reason to make him so...weak," I said.
"So, you object to the way he was portrayed?" asked my counselor.
"Well, yeah," I said. "Of course I always hope for a Bill and Sookie reunion, but if she has to be with someone other than Bill, I prefer it she be with Eric," I answered. I had a sinking feeling that I had said the wrong thing. Either way, neither of the counselors would be happy with my thoughts.
"Well, this is very far into the future," said the lead counselor. "We have many miles to go together before that happens. Many more adventures, and perhaps the Source will make it different, and give everyone the passion they are seeking. I certainly feel a lot of passion in this room tonight."
"We have heard about some spoilers, coming in from the casting calls. I wonder if they are true?" asked Hoyt.
"That is unknown. There are so many things that may be happening? Jessica and what happens to her, Bill and Lorena and the King of Mississippi, Sookie and Eric, Tara and Jason and Lettie Mae..." said God Speed.
"Yes, so many adventures to share with you. And we, the counselors, wish to invite you to join us for Yule on the 18th, 19th and 20th of December. We have arranged for you all to come to the Myrtles for Yule, as our guests. They have special accommodations for us as well and we could all be together for the holidays," said the lead counselor. "Would you like that?" A resounding yes went around the room as we all agreed.
"Next week, we will have the group meeting on Tuesday, we are otherwise engaged next Wednesday," said my counselor.
The lady counselor called for a wrap for the evening and I packed up my bag and followed Eric Lover out into the parking lot. I unlocked my car and threw in my bag. I did not hear my counselor walk up to me. I spun around when I felt a presence behind me.
"Gosh Darn it, I wish you wouldn't do that," I said.
"Sorry, I have frightened you," he said. "I just wanted to tell you the lead counselor and I would be delighted to meet with you on Veteran's day where you propose."
"Great, that is fine then," I said. "Thanks for moving the meeting up to Tuesday for me, so we can really spend some time there."
"Not a problem sweetheart," he said, kissing my cheek with his cool lips. And then he was gone.
Nia, Liz and Mel came in with Minnie and Vi. Renee and Lindzy and Lina came in soon after with Hoyt following behind. Raki and Iluvtheviking was sitting down in the circle. GS and Westexan took their seats.
"What will be talking about this evening?" wondered God Speed aloud.
"I think we should discuss some of the things we have been discussing in the speculations in season three," said Eric Lover pragmatically. "We are getting into some interesting discussions in there."
"Have you heard..." said Westexan.
"Save it for the meeting," I said. "We have to have something to discuss in the meeting. Say chere," I said to God Speed. "Have you gotten a note from the lead counselor?"
"About Yule?" he asked. I nodded. "I take it you did too?"
"Yeah, what do you think?" I said, oblivious to Eric Lover and Westexan spluttering and Westexan saying "You got some 'splainin' to do."
"Could be fun, and it is the 18th, 19th and 20th of December," said God Speed. "Why not on Christmas?"
"The lead counselor is not a Christian, his wintertime feast is Yule," I explained.
"And why there? Isn't it supposed to be haunted?" he asked.
"Well, what do you expect from the counselors?" I answered.
"Recon they will be able to accommodate the counselor's special....needs?" he asked.
"Maybe," I said.
"Will you two cut the shiatsu and tell us what the eff you are talking about?" asked Eric Lover, never one to bandy words.
"They will tell you everything. We don't want to give it away. It's their treat, we pay for nothing that weekend," I said.
"Wow, a trip on the counselors," said Westexan.
We began to settle down in our respective places. God Speed was pointedly ignoring Hoyt. After finding him in the arms of the young counselor in training at the Halloween fete, GS was feeling a little sensitive, though I know he really ought not be, since I had my private session on Tuesday and I know that GS had taken the young counselor away for the evening. I shivered with the vague memories of my time with my counselor and I know that Vi had a certain far away look that had stayed with her since Monday, which was her appointed night.
Finally, the ritual of the lights happened and we fell silent as the counselors took their places at the entrances of the room. I often wondered what would happen if we decided to try to leave. Would they stop us? At any rate, my thoughts moved to other things as I heard the voice of the lead counselor. I had invited the lead counselor and my counselor to accompany me to a very special place on Veteran's Day and they had graciously accepted my invitation.
"Thank you so much for the wonderful Halloween Fete you arranged for us," said the lead counselor. "We have planned something for all of you for Yule. It will not take you away from your families, but it is our way of thanking you for your generosity with the Halloween party and other times you have shown your friendship to us." Though his voice was without inflection, I could feel that he was thinking about the visiting counselor who was with us for too short a time. If the speculations were correct, we would see more of the past and know a bit more about him, but it would not be the same as the time we had him here with us.
"How is your friend?" asked Linzy. "Is he well?"
"Yes," said the lead counselor. "And we paid restitution to the owner of the animal in question. Eric Lover, dearest, did you have any trouble from the people who own the house?"
"None at all," she said.
"Very good," he said.
"What would you like to talk about this evening?" asked my counselor and my eyes closed a fraction at the sound of his slow southern drawl.
"Speculations, we have speculating about the new adventures this summer," said GS.
"What are you excited about?" asked my counselor.
"Well, currently, we have been speculating about the beginning of the love triangle with Bill, Sookie and Eric," said Lina.
"Yeah, and into the future of the summer after next. We are very excited about the prospects of Sookie and Eric teaming up, so to speak," said Linzy. "I just hope it is passionate."
"Oh, I can assure you it will be passionate," said the lead counselor. The Southern counselor looked up at the lead counselor. If I could see his face, I would know that he was frowning and there was a sound I could just hear, a slight snick. The lead counselor looked down and if I could see his face, I could swear he was smiling that sardonic smile. I looked at Eric Lover who looked at me, her eyes wide.
"But what of those who are devoted to the Bill/Sookie pairing....how will you feel," asked the lady counselor behind me. I lit another of Eric Lover's cigarettes and I shuffled my feet.
"Aslinn, do you have something you would like to say?" said the lead counselor.
"Do I have something to say?" I muttered. "Sure, why not? I am going to tell you something, I nearly gave up on the connection after the third book, when she broke Sookie and Bill up. I read that fourth book and I hated it,"
"Why sweetheart?" asked my counselor.
"It wasn't that Sookie was with Eric...precisely... well, okay, it was part of it. I just didn't care for the way Eric was portrayed. There was no reason to make Eric a wuss."
"A wuss?" asked the lead counselor.
"Let me explain, would ya?" I said. "In the fourth book, something happens to Eric to make him lose his memory...tell me about a soap opera cliche. Anyhow, she made Eric all...weak...for lack of a better word. I mean, memory or no memory, he is a thousand year old Vampire, he would feel that about himself. Instead, he is sort of like...Okay, there is no better way for me to describe this but she made Eric sort of like a combination of Rainman and Forrest Gump with fangs." I held my breath. I just knew I'd insulted the lead counselor. Instead he graced us with a loud laugh.
"And you didn't care for this?" he asked.
"Well, hell no. Eric is a thousand year old Viking Vampire, the son of a chieftain, nobility in his own right. Even if he didn't know or remember those things, he would feel those things about himself. It would be in his blood. I mean, she writes about him scuttling into the house behind Sookie and leaning into her like a frightened puppy and being all afraid. He wouldn't feel that way. And I don't think Sookie would like him like that precisely. It freed her up to want to be with him that he didn't remember he was the sheriff of area five and this ultra political Vampire, but there was no reason to make him so...weak," I said.
"So, you object to the way he was portrayed?" asked my counselor.
"Well, yeah," I said. "Of course I always hope for a Bill and Sookie reunion, but if she has to be with someone other than Bill, I prefer it she be with Eric," I answered. I had a sinking feeling that I had said the wrong thing. Either way, neither of the counselors would be happy with my thoughts.
"Well, this is very far into the future," said the lead counselor. "We have many miles to go together before that happens. Many more adventures, and perhaps the Source will make it different, and give everyone the passion they are seeking. I certainly feel a lot of passion in this room tonight."
"We have heard about some spoilers, coming in from the casting calls. I wonder if they are true?" asked Hoyt.
"That is unknown. There are so many things that may be happening? Jessica and what happens to her, Bill and Lorena and the King of Mississippi, Sookie and Eric, Tara and Jason and Lettie Mae..." said God Speed.
"Yes, so many adventures to share with you. And we, the counselors, wish to invite you to join us for Yule on the 18th, 19th and 20th of December. We have arranged for you all to come to the Myrtles for Yule, as our guests. They have special accommodations for us as well and we could all be together for the holidays," said the lead counselor. "Would you like that?" A resounding yes went around the room as we all agreed.
"Next week, we will have the group meeting on Tuesday, we are otherwise engaged next Wednesday," said my counselor.
The lady counselor called for a wrap for the evening and I packed up my bag and followed Eric Lover out into the parking lot. I unlocked my car and threw in my bag. I did not hear my counselor walk up to me. I spun around when I felt a presence behind me.
"Gosh Darn it, I wish you wouldn't do that," I said.
"Sorry, I have frightened you," he said. "I just wanted to tell you the lead counselor and I would be delighted to meet with you on Veteran's day where you propose."
"Great, that is fine then," I said. "Thanks for moving the meeting up to Tuesday for me, so we can really spend some time there."
"Not a problem sweetheart," he said, kissing my cheek with his cool lips. And then he was gone.
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