kristenclanton.com: in a kingdom by the sea.

yesterday Liz and I drove to Baltimore to see Poe's house and graves. all of the resources, even the historical site itself, noted how terrifying the neighborhood is where Poe's house is located. Liz and I are both excited by things like this. we both dressed very very down and we went on our way.

the sky was gray and dreary and the scariness of the neighborhood just made the setting even more true; like those rare times when feelings and history match space and time. we both agreed the world is better this way.

the house was poor and cultish. we had to knock lightly on the door (the sign said this) and we were not allowed to discuss money. we were instructed to stand in a line on the opposite wall when we entered. and the old curator sized us up before saying a thing. it was wonderful. i felt like i was in a disney haunted house. we would buy that place and make it better if we could.

the Westminster Church and Burying ground was in a far better part of town, next to the University of Maryland. people dress terrible in Baltimore by the way. and the girls my age act as all the words one says are slights. ugh. i cannot talk to people that are always on edge. those are not my kind.

and the best part of all of this is my best friend, Liz. there is hardly anyone in the world who knows more about dead presidents, who describes the members of the (real) Boston tea party, in all their Apache garb, as "total badasses" and who can talk in length about how cool and culty Jefferson and Lincoln and Washington were.

there is no one else in the world who loves Alexander Hamilton as much as me aside from Liz. so here's to yesterday and my best friend, Liz.

Edgar Allen Poe House. Baltimore, MD.