I helped a friend move last night. With El and two other folks we tackled opening the Uhaul- a surprisingly tough task bc all of Jonah’s stuff had rammed itself against the door during the Toronto to Montreal trip- and then shunting his worldy possessions up the skinny staircase to the second floor. I’m a bit bent and bruised today, but the whole working together, sweating and heavy-lifting thing is undeniably fun. You know, making a speedy passing chain up the stairs, and hustling with a table leg in each arm because the system you’ve got going is working well, and singing chain gang, (which inevitably morphed into gang bang jokes) and then discussing strategy with a couch lodged firmly halfway up. During the heat of the day this would have been unbearable, but in the evening it was cool and quick and funny, even when I managed to get my arm rammed between couch and backporch railing on our second couch attempt. Today I’m going to go help paint- mostly becuase I like slapping on primer, and because I like El’s friends, but also bc I think it’s good, when so many people feel they need to leave the city, to make sure to warmly welcome the prodigals back.