Leprechauns
Matthew&Peter
We'd been friends for years. More than friends. Family, in the way friends, not only of long standing but with whom you develop and enjoy a particular intimacy become family. Kin. Of a clan. And so it was understood, it was before understanding, it was without question that we would evacuate to their house, and we did without question. We, Paul&I and our three cats, moved into their guest room where we had slept many times before. But you know, to take or give (depending on the perspective) refuge in a crisis is one thing. We were going to need more than that. We were going to need shelter. For a while.
We were after all homeless.
Which puts everyone in a bit of a bind, you know. But as any one of us might have imagined, in that sense it never did bind. Which we knew was no small tribute to the values and the ideals that we hold dear, and which we honor. Community in a true sense, and loyalty and dependability, and respect, you know.
There were some things, certainly, that made it easier. They had a one room in-law studio apartment with its own entrance that we moved into, but that wasn't really it. It had more to do with, well, living as if together, as opposed to just staying there, which demands a different set of skills. And playing together, and working together. And of course honesty and regard. And being able to talk about it. And even paying rent.
And you know in the end we lived together, four adults, four dogs and four cats, not to mention some birds, for two months. And we were with grace able to maintain as individuals and as couples our sense of privacy. And with pleasure and ease our sense of the intimacy we shared.
But in the end, you know, it had to do most with heart, and their absolutely unequivocal and unwavering sense of welcome and affiliation.
I don't know how one gives thanks for that, except to put it back in the pot and pass it around. And to keep watch for the leprechaun.
Gretta
She was one of those who came, as soon as the roads opened, without being asked, and jumped in to do, well whatever needed to be done. All around the neighborhood. Ubiquitous. With vigorous enthusiasm and stalwart concern, absent any hint of thrill seeking. Because, well because we were important, friends, community. There it is again, community. Connectedness. Because we all lose a bit when any one suffers. And because she knows nothing of the arrogance that would have allowed her to believe that this couldn't, or didn't, happen to her.
Now she would have little patience for my talk of leprechauns but she'd come chase them with me, just because she would.
May 15
And at Lalita's Cantina, where we were the other day having pre season Margarita's, I saw a plain white piece of paper tacked on the mirror above the bar which put all of this into perspective, it read:
We don't like to think of ourselves as flood victims, but simply as people who live with water! 
