The problem with growing up is that once you're grown up, people who aren't grown up aren't fun anymore. ~ Lev Grossman, The Magicians.
That's all. Sorry it's a short post, but I couldn't post this on Facebook, or the majority of my "friends" would know I meant them.
Does this make me a horrible and superficial person? Or do I just need to find an older crowd to hang out with? And where might they be, may I ask? Cause this being the more (most?) mature in the group is getting pretty old. (every pun intended)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Good:
***We just got a Keurig coffeemaker at work. With Green Mountain coffee!!! I was introduced to Green Mountain coffee back in college and fell in love with the Rainforest Nut flavor. When I realized I could have it delivered at home, I was over the moon. When I further realized just how expensive a coffee habit can be, I decided it was more fun to be pleasantly surprised when I discover it in a coffee house or bodega I happen to be patronizing. Ahem.
As for the whole Keurig dispenser idea, I've been a bit ambivalent. Yes the whole concept of no measuring and a different flavor every cup is enticing, but then you've got to weigh it against all the trash and consumerism of it all that has become the bane of our existence. This could probably be on my "The Bad" list as well.
Of course, let's not leave off (at least for the next few weeks) the novelty of it all. There are so many flavors, so many choices, so many unlimited amounts of paper cups to fill! I've actually even already determined the fact that I could go out and buy a flavor I want to keep at my desk and single serve myself. I've already had three different flavors, and there are plenty more waiting to be discovered. Having weaned myself off coffee last summer, I'm already feeling the effects of the caffeine and sugar. I might have to re-wean myself after today alone. I quickly see this becoming "The Ugly".
***There were peel and eat shrimp at the salad bar I go to for lunch. Score! 'nough said.
The Bad:
*** I'm going out for dinner and an outdoor movie. Which does actually sound like it should be on the "Good" list. And it would be except for the fact that I can't remember the name of the person I'm going with. There's a singles/professionals group I'm part of, and I met this girl there at one of the happy hours. Actually I've met her twice, but when you go to happy hours there's always so many people that you run into/meet, and depending on how happy you decide to get that night, things can be a bit hazy later. The second time I met her she gave me her Facebook profile name, but it's different from her actual name as she's a doctor and she wants to keep her anonymity, you know, to protect the innocent. So I'm hoping, I can sort of slip it in again and discover what her name is and remember it this time without her analyzing me too much. Oh, did I mention she's a psychiatric-type doctor? Ahem, again.
The Ugly:
*** House prices. Or more specifically, what we can expect to sell our house for. I know I haven't written too much about my mom. You were probably starting to wonder about my blog premise, and if there was a mom involved at all. Well, I've been trying to keep things light on this blog. And truthfully, things can get a bit heated and frustrating when it comes to my mom and our whole situation. With my mom and me AND SISTER (oh, did I forget to mention her earlier?) all living together for the past four years in the house cum preschool cum house that is a work in progress, things can get a bit tense quite often.
We moved in together at a transition point for all of us, figuring we'd pool our resources and come out better at the other end. Well that should have been only for about a year. But since it's turned into four years, and things in many ways are worse than when we started and certainly not better, we've decided to transition again. But to our own places this time (my idea). In order to go our separate ways though, we need to sell this house/school building first. And with the housing market being such that it is, this will be no easy feat. We've had some realtors come out to look at the house, and in the half-a**ed (excuse me, half-finished) state it's currently in, the numbers aren't looking good. Not awful, but not what we were hoping, and not what my mom keeps insisting she needs to survive. Ahem, (the third?) We have two more realtors coming on Saturday. We'll see what that day brings.
And the Funny: (had to throw this in, couldn't end on a sour note)
(As I get into my new car that my mom is picking me up in - is it just me or is everyone else in my family getting way more use out of my new car than I am?)
Me: Wow, you've really got the air pumping.
Mom: Well, it's so hot in here.
Me: Uh, Mom? Why do you have the seat warmers on? If you push on the dial, it turns the seat warmers on. You have to turn it to get the air blowing.
Mom: Oh, is that why it's so hot in here? I just thought I was having a hot flash!
Me: Yeah Mom. That would be why you're feeling all toasty.
***We just got a Keurig coffeemaker at work. With Green Mountain coffee!!! I was introduced to Green Mountain coffee back in college and fell in love with the Rainforest Nut flavor. When I realized I could have it delivered at home, I was over the moon. When I further realized just how expensive a coffee habit can be, I decided it was more fun to be pleasantly surprised when I discover it in a coffee house or bodega I happen to be patronizing. Ahem.
As for the whole Keurig dispenser idea, I've been a bit ambivalent. Yes the whole concept of no measuring and a different flavor every cup is enticing, but then you've got to weigh it against all the trash and consumerism of it all that has become the bane of our existence. This could probably be on my "The Bad" list as well.
Of course, let's not leave off (at least for the next few weeks) the novelty of it all. There are so many flavors, so many choices, so many unlimited amounts of paper cups to fill! I've actually even already determined the fact that I could go out and buy a flavor I want to keep at my desk and single serve myself. I've already had three different flavors, and there are plenty more waiting to be discovered. Having weaned myself off coffee last summer, I'm already feeling the effects of the caffeine and sugar. I might have to re-wean myself after today alone. I quickly see this becoming "The Ugly".
***There were peel and eat shrimp at the salad bar I go to for lunch. Score! 'nough said.
The Bad:
*** I'm going out for dinner and an outdoor movie. Which does actually sound like it should be on the "Good" list. And it would be except for the fact that I can't remember the name of the person I'm going with. There's a singles/professionals group I'm part of, and I met this girl there at one of the happy hours. Actually I've met her twice, but when you go to happy hours there's always so many people that you run into/meet, and depending on how happy you decide to get that night, things can be a bit hazy later. The second time I met her she gave me her Facebook profile name, but it's different from her actual name as she's a doctor and she wants to keep her anonymity, you know, to protect the innocent. So I'm hoping, I can sort of slip it in again and discover what her name is and remember it this time without her analyzing me too much. Oh, did I mention she's a psychiatric-type doctor? Ahem, again.
The Ugly:
*** House prices. Or more specifically, what we can expect to sell our house for. I know I haven't written too much about my mom. You were probably starting to wonder about my blog premise, and if there was a mom involved at all. Well, I've been trying to keep things light on this blog. And truthfully, things can get a bit heated and frustrating when it comes to my mom and our whole situation. With my mom and me AND SISTER (oh, did I forget to mention her earlier?) all living together for the past four years in the house cum preschool cum house that is a work in progress, things can get a bit tense quite often.
We moved in together at a transition point for all of us, figuring we'd pool our resources and come out better at the other end. Well that should have been only for about a year. But since it's turned into four years, and things in many ways are worse than when we started and certainly not better, we've decided to transition again. But to our own places this time (my idea). In order to go our separate ways though, we need to sell this house/school building first. And with the housing market being such that it is, this will be no easy feat. We've had some realtors come out to look at the house, and in the half-a**ed (excuse me, half-finished) state it's currently in, the numbers aren't looking good. Not awful, but not what we were hoping, and not what my mom keeps insisting she needs to survive. Ahem, (the third?) We have two more realtors coming on Saturday. We'll see what that day brings.
And the Funny: (had to throw this in, couldn't end on a sour note)
(As I get into my new car that my mom is picking me up in - is it just me or is everyone else in my family getting way more use out of my new car than I am?)
Me: Wow, you've really got the air pumping.
Mom: Well, it's so hot in here.
Me: Uh, Mom? Why do you have the seat warmers on? If you push on the dial, it turns the seat warmers on. You have to turn it to get the air blowing.
Mom: Oh, is that why it's so hot in here? I just thought I was having a hot flash!
Me: Yeah Mom. That would be why you're feeling all toasty.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Funny things said in the car ride to and from work with my Bro
Sitting at the stop light at the corner of Haddon Ave & Kings Highway...
Me (looking over his shoulder at the Jay West windows): Sorry, when I stop at this corner I like to check out the dresses in the Jay West windows.
Him: When I stop at this corner I like to check out the Happy Hippo!
And, on a Friday morning when I have off, so I'm dropping him off at work so that I have the car to run errands and stuff.
Me: You know, you've driven this new car more than me.
Him: Yeah, I know, it's kind of funny. Heh!
Me (smelling the coffee and egg sandwich he just picked up at the Wawa): Maybe I could stop and get breakfast. Hey, the Pop Shop is sort of on my way home from dropping you off! I could just stop!
Him: Yeah, knock yourself out. (in the manner of an old '50s housewives TV show) You've got the car for a day!
Me:
Him: !
Me: Uh, it's my car.
Him:!
Happy Monday Peeps!
Me (looking over his shoulder at the Jay West windows): Sorry, when I stop at this corner I like to check out the dresses in the Jay West windows.
Him: When I stop at this corner I like to check out the Happy Hippo!
And, on a Friday morning when I have off, so I'm dropping him off at work so that I have the car to run errands and stuff.
Me: You know, you've driven this new car more than me.
Him: Yeah, I know, it's kind of funny. Heh!
Me (smelling the coffee and egg sandwich he just picked up at the Wawa): Maybe I could stop and get breakfast. Hey, the Pop Shop is sort of on my way home from dropping you off! I could just stop!
Him: Yeah, knock yourself out. (in the manner of an old '50s housewives TV show) You've got the car for a day!
Me:
Him: !
Me: Uh, it's my car.
Him:!
Happy Monday Peeps!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Mr Scorpio
"Hi Katy!" "Mr Scorpio!" This was a suprise. I wasn't expecting to see him tonight at all. Here I was at a happy hour/apartment showing (I love when these kinds of things are combined)trying to play it as cool as I can with Renaissance Boy. Somewhat ignoring him while at the same time keeping an eye on him. I'm chatting with some of my new found girlfriends, he's not too far away talking with the boys. It was getting late. Since the happy hour was on the roofdeck of said apartment building, they were starting to ask us to leave. Bitchy Poo (for there are no other words to describe her) had sauntered up to Ren Boy and was chatting him up. Since it was time to go, I casually got up with the intention of going over and kissing him good night. Aren't we all occassionally entitled to let out our inner bitchy poo?
I was approaching Ren Boy and Miss Bitch, when Scorp intercepted me. It was like it happened in slow motion. Ten years ago, I would have loved this. Ten years I was fawning all over Mr Scorpio, much the way Bitchy Poo is to Ren Boy at the moment. But for me, right now, I'm left speechless; unfortunately, not breathless. Scorpio and I have quite a past, and although I would have thought I'd have loved for it to be a romantic past, it never quite evolved into that.
Imagine a younger Katy, say early twenties. She's in her first job. Not quite fresh out of college, but close enough. She's enjoying work, just got her first car, is enjoying her new found freedom, and is looking for some fun. Fun comes along in the way of Mr Scorpio.
Mr. Scorpio is twleve years her senior. He's close to her height, which for this young Katy is something she never really thought she'd be able to consider, being as petite as she is. He's cute, sexy, and has a zest for life that Katy had always envied but was never quite able to work up the gumption to display. He works in the same building as her and is introduced to her at the building holiday party. She's enchanted. He comes up to see her in her office, she goes down to see him. They go to lunch, have great discussions. Then he comes up one day and drops a bombshell. He tells her he's been in an on-again/off-again relationship for several years. He's very attracted to Katy, and if here weren't mixed up with this other woman, he'd definitely be dating Katy. So Katy tells him she understands. Could they still be friends? Sure, says Scorp. (This is Katy's first big mistake.) Then Scorp's friend starts working at his organization. Scorp stops coming up to see Katy, but sends his friend instead. Katy likes the guy as a friend, but is really interested in Scorp. After all, he's the hot one! The three of them start going out after work: dinner, shows, nothing too much, but they're in the city, why not. Eventually, (maybe not too eventually but Katy is young and doesn't realize) the friend starts liking Katy. Of course being young and inexperienced and being interested in Scorpio, she totally misses this. Looking back, I think this may have been Scorpio's intention, then he could let me off the hook and not feel guilty.)
The friend starts getting friendlier, and after a bit a little too close for Katy's comfort. But the three of them keep going out. Katry's having so much fun, she doesn't really care if they're going out on the town as a threesome. And the friend seems harmless enough. She sets up a double date with one of her girlfriends. Hoping to get Scorp's friend off her back. It sort of works, but then he starts to call her girlfriend. A lot. She finds out from Scorp that his friend is borderline bipolar, and has gone through some bouts of major depression. Meds work, but he doesn't really like taking his meds. But around the same time, the friend gets let go from his job. So Katy figures he won't become a problem and she doesn't have to worry. But he starts calling her. A lot. And once or twice he comes into the city during the work day just to see Katy. If she were interested, she would be flattered. As it is, she's a little creeped out. Her girlfriend says that he was calling her a lot too, and she was considering him to be stalker material. There was a lot of freaky phone calls and messages, and Scorps friend eventually did wind up in a hospital for a while. But then Katy changed her phone and her friend did too. So he couldn't find them, adn things went back to normal more or less.
During this same time, Katy was actually trying to put the moves on Scorpio. She figured that if he was interested even a little maybe he would eventually leave his on-again/off-again for her. Yes of course he wasn't going to do this, but we're all young once and have to learn this stuff through experience. There was quite a bit of heavy petting, and to this day, Scorp was the best kisser I've ever known. But in the end I got a new job in NYC, and moved there for awhile. It took a whole new relationshsip with the Italian Stallion from Brooklyn to get Scorp off my mind, but it worked. And the Italian Stallion was definitely a lot of fun while it lasted. The Italian Stallion was my first. Yes, ok so I was a little older for my first, but I feel like it was good that I waited a bit. I could fully appreciate him and what we were doing and yet still feel like I was young enough for it not to be weird. But all that's a post for another time.
Mr Scorpio and I have kept in touch off and on through the years. He's no longer seeing that woman, and has been in a couple of other relationships since then. He still can't hold down a decent job, and still only wants to know where the next party is. It was very surreal seeing him up there on that roof deck where I was trying to fit in with my new friends. I missed my opportunity to kiss Ren Boy goodnight and rub Bitchy's nose in it. Actually, I missed Ren Boy altogether, which might be for the best. I mean, what was I rubbing her nose in anyway? I'm not his girlfriend anymore. I should just leave him alone and let him be. I don't need to be confusing him. Because although I still care about him and want things to turn out right for him, I don't want him as a boyfriend. He's just not what I need.
It's times like this that I really wish I were married to my right guy with children and a family already. I'm tired of the whole singles scene rat race. For yes, it is it's own rat race. Calling Mr Right (not Mr Right Now)! I'm ready for you. Where are you? And when are you going to rescue me from this pretensious hell I'm living in at the moment?
I was approaching Ren Boy and Miss Bitch, when Scorp intercepted me. It was like it happened in slow motion. Ten years ago, I would have loved this. Ten years I was fawning all over Mr Scorpio, much the way Bitchy Poo is to Ren Boy at the moment. But for me, right now, I'm left speechless; unfortunately, not breathless. Scorpio and I have quite a past, and although I would have thought I'd have loved for it to be a romantic past, it never quite evolved into that.
Imagine a younger Katy, say early twenties. She's in her first job. Not quite fresh out of college, but close enough. She's enjoying work, just got her first car, is enjoying her new found freedom, and is looking for some fun. Fun comes along in the way of Mr Scorpio.
Mr. Scorpio is twleve years her senior. He's close to her height, which for this young Katy is something she never really thought she'd be able to consider, being as petite as she is. He's cute, sexy, and has a zest for life that Katy had always envied but was never quite able to work up the gumption to display. He works in the same building as her and is introduced to her at the building holiday party. She's enchanted. He comes up to see her in her office, she goes down to see him. They go to lunch, have great discussions. Then he comes up one day and drops a bombshell. He tells her he's been in an on-again/off-again relationship for several years. He's very attracted to Katy, and if here weren't mixed up with this other woman, he'd definitely be dating Katy. So Katy tells him she understands. Could they still be friends? Sure, says Scorp. (This is Katy's first big mistake.) Then Scorp's friend starts working at his organization. Scorp stops coming up to see Katy, but sends his friend instead. Katy likes the guy as a friend, but is really interested in Scorp. After all, he's the hot one! The three of them start going out after work: dinner, shows, nothing too much, but they're in the city, why not. Eventually, (maybe not too eventually but Katy is young and doesn't realize) the friend starts liking Katy. Of course being young and inexperienced and being interested in Scorpio, she totally misses this. Looking back, I think this may have been Scorpio's intention, then he could let me off the hook and not feel guilty.)
The friend starts getting friendlier, and after a bit a little too close for Katy's comfort. But the three of them keep going out. Katry's having so much fun, she doesn't really care if they're going out on the town as a threesome. And the friend seems harmless enough. She sets up a double date with one of her girlfriends. Hoping to get Scorp's friend off her back. It sort of works, but then he starts to call her girlfriend. A lot. She finds out from Scorp that his friend is borderline bipolar, and has gone through some bouts of major depression. Meds work, but he doesn't really like taking his meds. But around the same time, the friend gets let go from his job. So Katy figures he won't become a problem and she doesn't have to worry. But he starts calling her. A lot. And once or twice he comes into the city during the work day just to see Katy. If she were interested, she would be flattered. As it is, she's a little creeped out. Her girlfriend says that he was calling her a lot too, and she was considering him to be stalker material. There was a lot of freaky phone calls and messages, and Scorps friend eventually did wind up in a hospital for a while. But then Katy changed her phone and her friend did too. So he couldn't find them, adn things went back to normal more or less.
During this same time, Katy was actually trying to put the moves on Scorpio. She figured that if he was interested even a little maybe he would eventually leave his on-again/off-again for her. Yes of course he wasn't going to do this, but we're all young once and have to learn this stuff through experience. There was quite a bit of heavy petting, and to this day, Scorp was the best kisser I've ever known. But in the end I got a new job in NYC, and moved there for awhile. It took a whole new relationshsip with the Italian Stallion from Brooklyn to get Scorp off my mind, but it worked. And the Italian Stallion was definitely a lot of fun while it lasted. The Italian Stallion was my first. Yes, ok so I was a little older for my first, but I feel like it was good that I waited a bit. I could fully appreciate him and what we were doing and yet still feel like I was young enough for it not to be weird. But all that's a post for another time.
Mr Scorpio and I have kept in touch off and on through the years. He's no longer seeing that woman, and has been in a couple of other relationships since then. He still can't hold down a decent job, and still only wants to know where the next party is. It was very surreal seeing him up there on that roof deck where I was trying to fit in with my new friends. I missed my opportunity to kiss Ren Boy goodnight and rub Bitchy's nose in it. Actually, I missed Ren Boy altogether, which might be for the best. I mean, what was I rubbing her nose in anyway? I'm not his girlfriend anymore. I should just leave him alone and let him be. I don't need to be confusing him. Because although I still care about him and want things to turn out right for him, I don't want him as a boyfriend. He's just not what I need.
It's times like this that I really wish I were married to my right guy with children and a family already. I'm tired of the whole singles scene rat race. For yes, it is it's own rat race. Calling Mr Right (not Mr Right Now)! I'm ready for you. Where are you? And when are you going to rescue me from this pretensious hell I'm living in at the moment?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Solar Eclipse
Supposedly, eclipses bring change, of the rattling your cage, slap you in the face kind. They make time move at warp speed and decisions that you've been putting off are sort of made for you with circumstance being dropped unceremoniously in your lap. Last week was just like that, leading up to the solar eclipse yesterday.
I found myself needing say good-bye to my car, my precious Katy! We had some great times and some pretty wild adventures! She went with me for my three month stint in NYC back in 2002 in the wake of 9-11. We could make it back home to South Jersey early on a Saturday morning in a little over an hour (and that was with stopping for bagels.) She lived in the 'hood with me when I moved to Philly in 2003, driving to all those crazy jobs: down to Wilmington, back up to King of Prussia, before coming home at the end of some very long days. Even taking a bullet for me (don't worry, it was overnight and I wasn't in the car at the time.) We've been down the shore, and to the dog park more times than I can count. We even took her on a road trip out to Long Island and then onto Newport, Rhode Island. Those were good times!
But last Saturday, after picking my mother up from her job working for an orchestral camp for a few weeks, on the ride home (luckily we were only a few minutes from home at the time) Katy's "check engine" light came on. It was Fourth of July weekend so we waited until Tuesday morning, then I drove her carefully to the dealership and let them take a look at her. They came back saying that one of her sensors was broken. It was the sensor that regulates how much gas is filtered into the motor, and would cost around $800 to fix. I suppose that wouldn't be a huge deal if I hadn't just spent $1100 in June and $500 back in March. The year's only half over and if I made this fix, I would have spent $2400. I already knew that the air conditioner needed to be fixed by going in through the dash, and some of the electrical things in the door that regulate the locking mechanism would also need to be fixed, the timing belt was coming due. These were some further big ticket items, and that didn't include the next maintenance that would be coming up. Finacially, it just wasn't looking good for Katy.
And so I made the decision to get a new car. I got the same VW golf as Katy, just the newer model. Luckily, I know the sales manager, so I was able to get a really good deal. Although I have the same tags, I decided there can only be one Katydid, so my new car I'm calling Gilbert, Gil or Gilly for short. He rides really smooth and has a CD player, bluetooth, and even seat warmers! I'm sure I'll appreciate them once I've finished mourning Katy.
I found myself needing say good-bye to my car, my precious Katy! We had some great times and some pretty wild adventures! She went with me for my three month stint in NYC back in 2002 in the wake of 9-11. We could make it back home to South Jersey early on a Saturday morning in a little over an hour (and that was with stopping for bagels.) She lived in the 'hood with me when I moved to Philly in 2003, driving to all those crazy jobs: down to Wilmington, back up to King of Prussia, before coming home at the end of some very long days. Even taking a bullet for me (don't worry, it was overnight and I wasn't in the car at the time.) We've been down the shore, and to the dog park more times than I can count. We even took her on a road trip out to Long Island and then onto Newport, Rhode Island. Those were good times!
But last Saturday, after picking my mother up from her job working for an orchestral camp for a few weeks, on the ride home (luckily we were only a few minutes from home at the time) Katy's "check engine" light came on. It was Fourth of July weekend so we waited until Tuesday morning, then I drove her carefully to the dealership and let them take a look at her. They came back saying that one of her sensors was broken. It was the sensor that regulates how much gas is filtered into the motor, and would cost around $800 to fix. I suppose that wouldn't be a huge deal if I hadn't just spent $1100 in June and $500 back in March. The year's only half over and if I made this fix, I would have spent $2400. I already knew that the air conditioner needed to be fixed by going in through the dash, and some of the electrical things in the door that regulate the locking mechanism would also need to be fixed, the timing belt was coming due. These were some further big ticket items, and that didn't include the next maintenance that would be coming up. Finacially, it just wasn't looking good for Katy.
And so I made the decision to get a new car. I got the same VW golf as Katy, just the newer model. Luckily, I know the sales manager, so I was able to get a really good deal. Although I have the same tags, I decided there can only be one Katydid, so my new car I'm calling Gilbert, Gil or Gilly for short. He rides really smooth and has a CD player, bluetooth, and even seat warmers! I'm sure I'll appreciate them once I've finished mourning Katy.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Classic vs Classy
My Bro and I are riding back from work in my car. It's a long drive and fighting shore traffic on 4th of July weekend is making it even longer. So we're chatting along. I'm pointing out the big houses I'd love to live in as we drive through one of the more luxurious neighborhoods we go through. I tell him about how one of my friends introduced me to a guy at the happy hour I went to last night. The guy was in around my age, but since he came from money, he wasn't really working for real. He had a bunch of little side things he was doing, but nothing to write home about. Meanwhile he owned a condo in Town, had his own business, but wasn't exactly working, you know?
So this steered the conversation in a whole other direction. Where we groan about all the kids we grew up with in all the neighborhoods we lived in and near and were currently driving through. Kids who never really had to learn how to make it on their own because their parents were always footing the bill for them. Kids who never really had to learn responsibility, because what was the point if mommy and daddy will always be there to catch them? We're laughing about it, like we always do.
"That must be something. Must be really nice to not have to ever worry."
"Yeah."
"I remember... and I don't think I've ever actually told anyone this before... But I remember when me and a couple of my friends were walking through the neighborhood back home. We were carrying around a bunch of beers in our pockets, and getting pretty drunk. We were passing these huge houses with 3 and 4 car garages. Two big SUVs per house, plus daddy's little play car, plus a car for each child driver in the family. We were having the same kind of conversation we're having now. So then we decided to leave some of our empty beer bottles in some random mailboxes. You know, just because."
"...!..."
Then we both started laughing. It was so ridiculous, and yet so perfect.
"That is totally classic," I told him. "But not to be confused with classy. Which you are not."
"Oh, I know," he said. "I know."
So this steered the conversation in a whole other direction. Where we groan about all the kids we grew up with in all the neighborhoods we lived in and near and were currently driving through. Kids who never really had to learn how to make it on their own because their parents were always footing the bill for them. Kids who never really had to learn responsibility, because what was the point if mommy and daddy will always be there to catch them? We're laughing about it, like we always do.
"That must be something. Must be really nice to not have to ever worry."
"Yeah."
"I remember... and I don't think I've ever actually told anyone this before... But I remember when me and a couple of my friends were walking through the neighborhood back home. We were carrying around a bunch of beers in our pockets, and getting pretty drunk. We were passing these huge houses with 3 and 4 car garages. Two big SUVs per house, plus daddy's little play car, plus a car for each child driver in the family. We were having the same kind of conversation we're having now. So then we decided to leave some of our empty beer bottles in some random mailboxes. You know, just because."
"...!..."
Then we both started laughing. It was so ridiculous, and yet so perfect.
"That is totally classic," I told him. "But not to be confused with classy. Which you are not."
"Oh, I know," he said. "I know."
An Old Friend
I just ran into the guy who owned the video store in my neighborhood when I was living in the city. He was a nicer older gentleman, probably in his 50s, barbershop mustache, always talking with someone outside his store, you know the type. He was always a welcome face on my way home from one of my late night jobs. Always had the right thing to say, the right amount of encouragement.
Renaissance Boy lived in the same neighborhood as I used to. When we'd walk through the neighborhood, sometimes we pass where the store had been. It closed around the same time that I moved out; I think there's a coffee shop there now. Whenever we passed I'd feel a certain bit of nostalgia. When I was living there I was juggling one full time and two part time jobs just to make ends meet. I was tired. I was stressed. I was overwhelmed. But I was also on my own, calling my own shots, not having to worry about anyone else. There's a peacefulness to that lifestyle, I realize now. Something I currently don't have with my arrangement with Mom. Something I would love to have again.
Every time we'd walk and pass by the video store spot I'd wonder what happened to the owner. I missed his little pep talks, "You're heading in the wrong direction. You've got to turn around and find a party somewhere and meet some people. You shouldn't be working so hard, you need to meet a nice rich man who can take you away from all this." It was enough to make most girls my age cringe. But me? I found it comforting somehow.
I've been thinking about those times a lot lately. About him. Just in a father daughter way (really people!). And who should I run into today on my way to a happy hour? Yep, the one and the same. He told me the same little pep talk. It made me smile. Do you ever think that maybe there really are guardian angels? Or that fate places certain people in our path just when we need to see them most? I have warm fuzzies now. And this happy that I really wasn't sure I was looking forward to, I feel better about. Nothing like a little pep talk to get you back out there.
Renaissance Boy lived in the same neighborhood as I used to. When we'd walk through the neighborhood, sometimes we pass where the store had been. It closed around the same time that I moved out; I think there's a coffee shop there now. Whenever we passed I'd feel a certain bit of nostalgia. When I was living there I was juggling one full time and two part time jobs just to make ends meet. I was tired. I was stressed. I was overwhelmed. But I was also on my own, calling my own shots, not having to worry about anyone else. There's a peacefulness to that lifestyle, I realize now. Something I currently don't have with my arrangement with Mom. Something I would love to have again.
Every time we'd walk and pass by the video store spot I'd wonder what happened to the owner. I missed his little pep talks, "You're heading in the wrong direction. You've got to turn around and find a party somewhere and meet some people. You shouldn't be working so hard, you need to meet a nice rich man who can take you away from all this." It was enough to make most girls my age cringe. But me? I found it comforting somehow.
I've been thinking about those times a lot lately. About him. Just in a father daughter way (really people!). And who should I run into today on my way to a happy hour? Yep, the one and the same. He told me the same little pep talk. It made me smile. Do you ever think that maybe there really are guardian angels? Or that fate places certain people in our path just when we need to see them most? I have warm fuzzies now. And this happy that I really wasn't sure I was looking forward to, I feel better about. Nothing like a little pep talk to get you back out there.
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