Erin Miller

Today was a good day.
I got to wake up to an email from my wonderful boyfriend, which always helps the day start right. We don’t get to actually wake up beside each other much, but its fun to read some of his thoughts first thing in the morning.
Classes went well and I managed to get in a few hours of studying for my midterm tomorrow. I also learned about some of the interesting public health efforts going on in Harlem, and was excited to learn that I officially live within Harlem’s boundaries, though I apparently live in “west Harlem,” which is much healthier than east or central Harlem.
Wednesdays are my wicked days “wicked Wednesdays” because I have classes from 10-4 and then work from 4-9, but work went well today. We have a great new office assistant working with the program and I was able to come back after a week out with the flu and things were running smoothly; very nice.
I got an email from my little sis asking for advice for an “argumentative essay on racial discrimination,” or something like that. The language initially shocked me for its complete grown-upness (she is my little sister) then I remembered that she was 17. I’m pretty lucky to have siblings that are so much fun to talk to.
On my walk home from the subway I stopped by one of the Spanish markets as the workers were putting away their fruits and vegetables and I found big packs of strawberries for a buck fifty, and that was very exciting. I also found some bananas that look pretty good, which can be sort of a hard find in my neighborhood, though evidently not as hard as in central and east Harlem.
I stopped in to pay my tab at the bodega on my way home, which was awesome. Not because I had to pay it, but because I got to have a tab at my bodega, and Paul Simon sings about the bodegas along Broadway.
“She makes the sign of a teaspoon
He makes the sign of a wave
The poor boy changes clothes
And puts on after-shave
To compensate for his ordinary shoes
And she said honey take me dancing
But they ended up by sleeping
In a doorway
By the bodegas and the lights on
Upper broadway
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes.”
I swear the song is referencing the bodega under our building.
When I got home I found out that one of my roommates had taken my dog to the dog park. (Where Spot had actually behaved herself marvelously according to reports.) And another roommate had made me some extra dinner. Did I mention I had the best roommates in the world?
Anyway, just thought I’d share some of the experiences of the day. Thanks to anyone who might read this who had anything to do with my good day. Now its time for some studying and to hit the hay.
For anyone who might be wondering — no, I am not completely over my illness yet, I started coughing so hard last night I couldn’t sleep, but I am getting better. My coughing and general exhaustion kept me out of my dodgeball game last night, but the staff team pulled through in a huge way, and I hope to be ready to play by next week.