Tonight my friend Sarah is performing a dance recital in the city of Roeselare.  She told me months ago about today.  And here I almost am.

I’m in Tarterie in the neighbouring city of Kortrijk.  I’ve decided to roam around centrum, but first there’s cappuccino.

As I sat down, a big black-and-white dog cozied up to my left leg.  I petted her head and back for a few minutes … two contented beings.

And then she was gone.  I can yearn all I want for a lingering companion but Stella clearly had places to go, other people to meet.  I didn’t have the presence of mind to take a photo.  Perhaps she’ll return.

She came back into the room, approached a young girl for a minute or so, walked away from her, glanced at me … and kept going.  So briefly, this love.

***

I’m sitting on a bench in a large square in Kortrijk centrum.  Several cafés are filling with devotées of fine Belgian beer.  My stomach doesn’t want to join them.  I suspect that me not feeling the energy of this city is simply me not feeling the energy of me.

“Healthy food, Bruce.”  And so dinner is on the terrace of the Hawaiian Poké Bowl, also on the square.  The tummy is smiling.  And here come the cyclists:

***

Now I’m in Roeselare.  Sarah will be dancing in De Spil, a cultural centre.  Voilà:

Just Sarah and a pianist.  Haunting.  So mysterious.  Her feet floated above the floor.  She wore a grey wool blanket, surrounded by others …

At one point, Sarah hunched down and piled more blankets on top of her.  Light from the side showed a tortured soul.  She implored us: “Speak to me!” … “Look forward, not back.”

We stood at the end.  It was brilliant.

And now weaving through Roeselare streets to catch my train home to Gent.

May we all sleep well