tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41033527497437617442023-11-16T04:48:36.127-08:00aridjonaridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-48686175461575401382021-04-18T13:41:00.001-07:002021-04-18T13:41:53.649-07:00the algorithm<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instagram was kind enough to suggest I click on your latest post</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Which was puzzling and momentarily startling</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(though not as traumatizing as it was)</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Seeing how I unfollowed you months ago</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Though you still follow me and occasionally let me know it)</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But you see</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I still had one particular post of yours saved from when we were together</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so the algorithm thought it was being helpful</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of course</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a selfie of you and my replacement-within-in-a-month</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You in your most curated seductively doe-eyed</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>looking</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>sorry, but</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like as clueless a dipshit as I was</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Except</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You never posted those few pictures of us you took</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not once</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not that I could see anyhow</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You never asked to</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that was nearly a year’s time we’re talking</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And from what I gather</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>more by what our mutual acquaintances out of kindness to me are not saying</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You post <i>every</i> picture of yourself with him that you can in these last few months</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There seems an incongruity to say the least</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What exactly is that about?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I can’t not wonder</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do I flatter myself</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thinking</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maybe just maybe</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You were too busy being in a relatively healthy relationship to worry about who was watching?</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do I flatter myself further by imagining that the algorithm</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Born of a toxic vanity culture</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is doing exactly what you want it to do?</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: #f4f5f6; color: #2a2e30; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wonder if even the algorithm knows how effectively subtle it has become at trolling</span></p>aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-67609068175527786222021-04-08T08:11:00.017-07:002021-04-08T08:46:13.338-07:00face<p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The good news is that I slept til five o’clock this morning</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thank you, Tylenol PM</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bad news is that the trauma followed me into my rediscovered REM cycle</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>allying </span>against me characters and settings both beloved and unsafe</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and again made me a victim in the midst of hopeful recovery</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The good news is that I hope it does so again tonight</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: AppleGothic; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because when it does I’m going to punch it in its fucking face</span></p>aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-46527320530321320292021-02-23T22:46:00.001-08:002021-02-23T22:46:28.956-08:00response to the one that got away upon being pressed Part 1<div><i>"You didn't need to write more unless you needed to get it out,"</i> she wrote with a poor emoji gritting its teeth. <i>"I can take it," </i>she encouraged with the endearing LOL</div><div><br /></div>Well<div>I guess I could let it out in fits and starts if you really want the criticism</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't last long enough to be considered a 'relationship'--there</div><div><span> I hated that</span><br /></div><div>But was that anyone's fault? Hm?</div><div><br /></div><div>(I do consider you an "ex" in my mind when relationships come up in conversation</div><div><span> with friends and people I date.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> What do you think about that, huh?)</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Oh, and I really miss your cat!</span></span></div><div><span><span>I really don't miss your dog</span></span></div><div><span><span><span> (I was just a sex object to him)</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>I'm a dog person, so that was a big deal for me!</span></span></div><div><span><span>But I was very sad to lose your cat's friendship</span></span></div><div><p>Yeah, I suppose it's possible there's a lot to take out on you</p><p>But</p><p>It's also possible that maybe you weren't as bad an experience for me as you're afraid you were?</p></div>aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-64124156783847098992021-02-09T17:11:00.002-08:002021-02-11T14:42:57.420-08:00You<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Charter;">I imagine a parallel universe where we’re still together—</span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We’d get out of the shower, naked, intoxicated with each other, completely intertwined.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What would be different is that I would wipe the fogged mirror and point to your reflection and say</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I love that girl.</span></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Charter;">Because I did.</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No doubt you would have responded in that coo-ey, sexy way you have</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“And she loves you.”</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But I would have said, trying to guide your eyes to your own reflection</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">No babe, that’s not what I’m going for.</span></i></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How do you feel about that girl? Do you love her too?</span></i></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I realize now that </span><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea what you would have said.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that if you could have said ‘yes’</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And I could have believed you</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would have made my job so much easier.</span></p>aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-3276143841371307922019-04-14T16:03:00.005-07:002019-04-14T16:03:46.808-07:00eulogy 4/10/2019<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Didot; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The basic problem with all of this, of course, is that Jim Richardson never liked to draw attention to himself. The challenge of eulogizing a man who never liked to draw attention to himself, or be in anyone’s way, inconvenience anyone in any manner, are hard enough. But then there’s the next complicating basic problem: I’m just like him. [It’s not that I don’t have plenty of Jim Richardson stories to share to illustrate all that low-key, self-effacing humility, the kindness…but when you have two guys who cultivated a life of going under the radar so we could just be free to be ourselves, how do you talk about it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I loved that guy. He loved me. He loved Jesus. He was never big on insisting that I do the same, he just showed me a lot of ways to do it. I was a curious and questioning kid growing up. And he was the smartest guy I knew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I went into psychology and I went into Biblical Studies. And he loved reading The Bible, but I never talked to him about the academic study of The Bible. When I started really reading it when I was 18, I’d decided I was just going to read it from front to back, and if I had any questions I was just going to write them down and ask him because he was one of the smartest guys I knew. And I knew he could take it. I felt safe asking him these things. I felt safe questioning. I felt safe doubting. And when I started asking all of these questions about the random things that come up early on in The Bible, and he could see that list of questions I’d made, I could see that he was a little overwhelmed and he just looked at me and said, “What have you gotten yourself into?” But I’d ask ‘how do you make sense of this and of that?…If this thing is true, how can that thing be true? And finally he held up his two thick forefingers and said to me “1) We’ll never really know and 2) It doesn’t really matter.” Which might leave you with the question of ‘What really matters?’ But I never had to ask him what really matters. He always just showed me. He loved his neighbors. He loved his God. He loved Melanie. He loved Susan. He loved Marilyn.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">And that was his way. That was his preference. The last thing I said to him in person before I left two weeks ago as I leaned down to hug him was “I love you. Thank you for being my dad.” He couldn’t stand, but he squeezed me back and said “I was glad to do it.”</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-52381803303965991842019-04-06T17:44:00.000-07:002019-04-06T17:44:09.940-07:00morbid<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">3/2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Not trying to be morbid here</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Really hoping the actual bereavement will go better than the anticipatory grief.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-91353515469885271262019-04-04T19:34:00.002-07:002020-10-07T16:57:46.120-07:00verbatim
<style type="text/css">
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span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">My dad was groggy from pain meds</span></span></div>
<div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I guess the cannabis isn’t helping enough</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">This was first time he’s ever refused to talk to me</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I asked my mom to put the phone to his ear.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">“I just want you to know I’m thinking of you, Dad</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I love you.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I love you too</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">He managed</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">“Just…</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Just be at peace”</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I said to him.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">My mom took the phone away before he heard that part</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">She apologized</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">“I’m not saying I want him to…</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">let go entirely just yet.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">And of course that made my mom cry again for the forever-eth time in the last year</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">My father still has a long way to go with this</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">And we not long enough</span></span></div>
<br />aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-54199708851843110592017-11-27T16:41:00.004-08:002017-11-27T16:48:01.604-08:00either way<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">10/7/17</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I wonder if</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Someday</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I will be able to look back at this friendship</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">or whatever it was</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">as able to be defined by something other than </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">our power to absolutely and utterly destroy one another</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>though maybe I flatter myself</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and even that wasn’t</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>something you’d call</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>mutual</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In which case</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Either Way</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’d still have to call it</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>sad</span></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-3913806225766540742017-08-03T20:49:00.000-07:002017-08-04T19:33:00.753-07:00maybe Bryan wakes up<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“Not good news…” says Satch</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Bryan may have had his last seizure</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>collapsed in the shower this morning</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>he’s in ICU</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>no brain activity</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>his family has been advised and is advising</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the plug may be pulled tomorrow</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Bryan, of course</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>brought me into the fold</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and set into motion for me</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the change upon which all others rest in high school</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">There was Satch, the skateboarding irritant of the suburb elite,who would be my hetero-lifemate into adulthood</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">There was Jason, the contrarian, who would be my begrudged mentor in the ways of punk rock,with whom Bryan had been elementary school best friends</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">There was the other John, the papist Civil War re-enactor and all-around caster of doubts and mirth</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And then Stefanie, hot pedestrian and great friend, whom both Bryan and I brought in</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">There were other allies and confederates</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But those were the players no other circle would claim</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Also the ones that can all agree</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though we all became great friends with one another in our respective rights</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We would likely not know each other</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But not for that guy who</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"> took me along with him that one day with no embarrassment</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And Bryan’s family</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>took us in each weekend</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(his undeniably attractive step-sisters making the worthwhile of it every other weekend)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Bryan walked the railroad out of old central with me every Friday afternoon</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> Where we</span> took the grandeur of a defunct Flour Mill for granted</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>like we took most things</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And Bryan sold me my first guitar</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>was the first to suggest to me that I should practice the arpeggio figure of Hotel California one measure at a time</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>even though he didn’t know to call it that</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(still working on it, friend)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And Bryan got me my first job</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with him</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>cleaning the goddamned middle school everyday</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And Bryan convinced me that AMT model cars were an education in the waiting</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I taught Bryan not to be careless with his verbal challenges in front of me</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had no compunction of smashing the finished '36 Ford Coupe he “didn’t care about” into his bedroom wall if only to impress Satch sitting idly by</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">I think</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">I saved his ass that time</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">our canoe broadsided into a rapid in the Illinois</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And I had forgotten most of this until just now.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">———-</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Satch texts</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">“Jason is not taking it well.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And again</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">“I may see him in a bit.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But I am at a loss here in Colorado</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">With our base and roots in Oklahoma </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">While Bryan hangs on in Arizona</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Do I call his ex-girlfriend in Michigan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Who was as much sister to me long after?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Am I the one to break that to her?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">OR had she the thoughtfulness to keep with him all these years</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">And not take him for granted as I have?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But until I hear from Satch</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Maybe Bryan wakes up</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">“He’s not coming back…Is that what I’m to understand?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">I ask Satch before we ended that first call</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Correct</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But until I get the second call</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Maybe Bryan wakes up</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">He won’t</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But from where I sit right now</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">The ravages of only 20 years post-high school</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">Still have yet to crack the shallow privileged veneer</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-no net loss heretofore-</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that I’ve so far</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of random mofo chance</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>been able to encase myself</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But it is cracking</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and even if it weren’t</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;"> it will not last</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But maybe Bryan wakes up</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">He won’t</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But until the phone call comes, and it will</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-kerning: none;">But until</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maybe</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Hoefler Text'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Hoefler Text'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6pecRRPereGwrJFfAy2yR-OsNNxgK7HiOS9xBw7I136gOeGxhgiYuCR5xtYjJ5dadArOQB7_kLhtd-x2wYvm4A5JHoZ_G1BIbKbgfN5Z7nySuUQZPb6aEU_AqMo8iRMJo8sUmjOIiD0g/s1600/10399095_1104697896305_5479700_n.jpg.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6pecRRPereGwrJFfAy2yR-OsNNxgK7HiOS9xBw7I136gOeGxhgiYuCR5xtYjJ5dadArOQB7_kLhtd-x2wYvm4A5JHoZ_G1BIbKbgfN5Z7nySuUQZPb6aEU_AqMo8iRMJo8sUmjOIiD0g/s320/10399095_1104697896305_5479700_n.jpg.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTnaRSbWhDNC0uKo10VFGpjAb3gB76swDaBXmQDwYeoQqAm8NDpgQojdFycQViLJo08QhTCpNP5sgXHnEgmXx9X7tJt0_oO-dwoGv1k9lt2DG0OiyHa72bdczFu7atYGxaxs_24oS1p8s/s1600/2434_54202188805_4117371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTnaRSbWhDNC0uKo10VFGpjAb3gB76swDaBXmQDwYeoQqAm8NDpgQojdFycQViLJo08QhTCpNP5sgXHnEgmXx9X7tJt0_oO-dwoGv1k9lt2DG0OiyHa72bdczFu7atYGxaxs_24oS1p8s/s320/2434_54202188805_4117371_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Hoefler Text'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOwplcSEF8GgPZp78g6A74CwX54T4q6KfTj_nMd9x723DxZ8m04NCZbEQCKir8KQTtOGJICxetcpzDcNW8ziI91pD0LVVWYVPQtsUfa93agus9n_0J7XexJ5S3Xmxf3gj-NfeRYS11ELV/s1600/4310_77515188805_1508173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOwplcSEF8GgPZp78g6A74CwX54T4q6KfTj_nMd9x723DxZ8m04NCZbEQCKir8KQTtOGJICxetcpzDcNW8ziI91pD0LVVWYVPQtsUfa93agus9n_0J7XexJ5S3Xmxf3gj-NfeRYS11ELV/s320/4310_77515188805_1508173_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-39255755530038675472017-04-24T18:59:00.001-07:002019-09-29T12:38:48.755-07:00Landmarks, Timestamps<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">It</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">is</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">said</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">that</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "lucida grande";">And</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "lucida grande";">I</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "lucida grande";">trust</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "lucida grande";">that</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">By</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">shit</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">traipsed</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">through</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">is</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">how</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">path</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">was</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">made</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">your</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Airwalks,</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Chuck</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Taylors</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">when</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">both</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">used</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">cost</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">$25</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">per</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">pair</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">or</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">sandals,</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">your</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">bare</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">feet</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">when</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">were</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">taking</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">our</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">phase</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">quite</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">seriously</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">before</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">settled</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">on</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">some</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">comfortable</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">work</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">boots</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">something</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">felt</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">could</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">be</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">taken</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">seriously</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">at</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">various</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">graduate</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">school</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">internships</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">pave</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">way</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">by</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">going</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">built-in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">compass</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">your</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> medial parietal cortex</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">built-in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">clock</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mine</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">whatever</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we’re</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">equipped</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">track</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">through</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">same</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mud</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Generally</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">keeping</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">each</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">other</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">laughing</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">for</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">most</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">journey</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">intermittently</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">despairing</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">ask</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">which</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">landmarks</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we’ve</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">already</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">passed</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">You</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">confirm</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">accuracy</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">timestamps</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">placed</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">upon</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">them</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">been</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">told</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">me</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">that</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">may</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">expect</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">trails</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">be</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">treacherous</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">that</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">won’t</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">always</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">get</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">benefit</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">star</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">chart</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">may</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">not</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">even</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">think</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it’s</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">all</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">that</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">practical</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">have</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">timepiece</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">but</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">that</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">may</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">each</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">expect</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">navigator</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">if</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">but</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">make</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">space</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">may</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">throw</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">timekeeper</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">if</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">have</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">that</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">luxury</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">You</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">got</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">both</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">You</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mock</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">me</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">for</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">fascination</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">tattered</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">road</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">atlas,</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">compulsively</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">highlighting</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">routes</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">already</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">taken</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">chide</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">for</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">still</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">not</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">wearing</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">a</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">watch</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">count</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">on</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Like</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">subconscious</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">automatically</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">counts</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">seconds</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">That</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">missteps</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">That</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">switchbacks</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">yielded</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">gash</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">from</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">every</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">tumble</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mesquite</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">thorn</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> or sea urchin spine </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">dug</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">out</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">shot</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mezcal</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">thrown</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">back</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">treat</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">said</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">mesquite</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">thorn</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">puncture</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Brought</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">needed</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">context</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">-Uva</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Uvam</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Vivendo</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Varia</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Fit-*</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span> *(which is super Latiny for what I'm trying to get across here)<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">In</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">our</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">delirious</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">states</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">You</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">point</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">southward</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">placement</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">sun</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">interpret</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">when</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">where</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">its</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">shadow</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">does</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">fall</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">then</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">could</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">be</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">misleading</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">say</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">least</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Once</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">arrive</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">at</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">destination</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Received</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">by</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">our</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">respective</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">familiars</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">seeing</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">your</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">boots</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">caked</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">While</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">an</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">even</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">distribution</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">of</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">crusting</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">covers</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">me</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">up</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">my</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">torso</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Which</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">is</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">what</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">happens</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">every</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">time</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Time</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">get</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">despondent,</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">nigh</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">catatonic</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">it</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">becomes</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">necessary</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">for</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">pull</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">me</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">along</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Apple Braille'; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Because</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">know</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">better</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">than</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">selflessly</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">tell</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Oh,</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">just</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">go</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">on</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">without</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">me”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">exactly</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">then</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">would</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">keep</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">from</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">getting</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">lost?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">exactly</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">then</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">would</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">you</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">arrive</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">on</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">time?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">It</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">hasn’t</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">failed</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">us</span><span style="font-family: "apple braille"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">yet</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-41537236783290850842017-04-24T18:13:00.001-07:002017-04-24T19:48:35.195-07:00immediacy - part 2<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So we processed how awesome that was</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what trappings and fixings<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>were our preferred treatment for the nachos</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(and we can both agree: Colby Jack—so much)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>then I felt I should ask him </span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>about some…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>stuff</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This boy</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>who understands facts and figures</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>as a second language</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">finds it helpful to break down all of his concerns—</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">academic stress, middle school social dynamics, how much sibling annoys him, and</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">parents’ impending separation</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">into pieces of a pie, and respective percentages to be rated in each week’s session</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Academic concerns this week?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He explained clearly that he’d take the math portion of the state standardized testing</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with its reliable 1:1 ratio of solution to problem</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>any day, any year</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">over the open-ended requirements of the writing tests</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(You and Me, kid)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">20%</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Middle School Social stuff?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Meh. Made a new friend this week.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2%</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sibling?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Absolutely obnoxious.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">16%</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Leaving only…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I do the math really quick</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“That’s about sixty-something percent left, my friend”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Am I doing the math right?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I ask him</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His eye contact had broken off when we started on the pie</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and transfixed to the safety of nothing in front of him</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His face wears all of the assuredness of a deer caught in a bath of ball stadium lighting</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the look with which I’ve been familiar since my first job in foster care</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I wear, for dramatic effect</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>my best gritted teeth</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>my best clenched jaw</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and the rest of my face to match</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I ask questions</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>just how okay does it feel to break down over this?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sometimes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">OFTEN</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I just wish they’d feel comfortable enough to say</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">as softly and matter of fact as they can</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Well, asshole, it doesn’t”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(And when did I ever? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I get it)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I ask the feeling words—</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“I don’t know” is all he can manage</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I have to assume that I ask another forgettable, inane, space filler</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“I don’t know” is all he can manage</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“How about I back off for tonight?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I ask softly</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I seem to have hit on the safe phrase to break him from that trance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">You know</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sometimes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s okay</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To make up your own short-answer question to a writing test</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And to speak about how much you want nachos</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And why</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Because if it seems like</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ummmm</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>some people can’t agree on anything else</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They certainly seem to love you enough to agree that you deserve</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>some goddamned nachos every once in a while</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Colby Jack, right?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Smile and enthusiastic nod</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(He actually tried to suggest American at one point, so I had a very quick talk with him because his socialization is important to me)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Black beans or refried?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Pssh, black</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Beef or chicken?”<br />
Leaning toward chicken tonight</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fair enough</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Jalape</span><span style="font-family: "lucida grande"; line-height: normal;">ñ</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">os?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He hesitates</span></div>
<div style="font-family: applegothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“There may be some heartburn at first. They made me cry the first couple of times, but now I really REALLY need them. Give it a shot?”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "applegothic";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "applegothic";">He nods</span>aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-78777996444370011452017-04-24T10:20:00.002-07:002017-04-26T21:00:44.226-07:00immediacy - part 1(4/12/17)<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My current favorite 6th grader was brought to see me this evening.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I wouldn’t say he likes to talk</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shy one this one</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Usually I don’t make the choice to join them on the couch</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But for hearing him </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when his small 12 year-old face and voice register such uncertainty</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There are responses to my standard interview openers about anxiety:</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Knowing that you’re going to be happy again”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and again, “that you’ll be safe”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">that I may or may not have gotten had he been having to shout them at me</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>across the standard space</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I keyed in quickly</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">that he is a baseball trivia genius in his own right</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I gave it my best:<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Who threw his 7th no-hitter in Nineteen Nine—“</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Nolan Ryan” he interrupted</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with the nonchalant authority only a soft-spoken prepubescent can throw out</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Impressed that I even tried</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">but more than that amused at how plainly stunned I was</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yet with a sudden brass that sincerely communicated:</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>‘That all ya’ got?’</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Indeed it was</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And that only because </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Texas</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He showed to the next</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>diligently inquiring if I’d studied up</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I hadn’t</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But he showed me his summer bucket list anyway</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>because I’d said “I wanna see this list”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He took me through every single item and its importance</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This evening</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>he took mild satisfaction that he’d crossed another off the list</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Yes, he’d been to the Melting Pot</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>had all the desserts</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>not hungry even a moment before</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>was struck with unmistakable pangs & specific hankering</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">as he spoke of his poly-glycemic, glutenated adventure </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>or just right before?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hard to say</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But I felt it important to relay my sudden state</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">and of course he agreed in his meek, but enthusiastic way</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that he was too</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With only a hunch</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I played naive (or thought I was but maybe wasn’t really) and asked earnestly:</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Dude, are you craving nachos too…?”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His eyes widened slightly, face lit, </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>head nodded with subdued but unmistakable intensity in the affirmative</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>‘Get the fuck out,’ I almost said fully out loud (the first two words probably nonetheless audible)</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-31024427602864857782017-04-20T20:16:00.001-07:002017-04-20T20:23:29.285-07:00singularity<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">You’re as quick as they come</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and pretty much always have been</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think I can remember back to the summer that you truly honed it</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">You went from being the morbidly anxious little girl</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>shocked and scandalized by every little one of our references to sex</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(do you recall hiding behind the office door that one time? Because you totally did.)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To the young woman</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that owned everyone of us</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I recall our resident prophet’s forecast</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That the youngest and shyest of us</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Should one day transform into a singularity</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the presence of which we would all melt</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When we weren’t melting</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We were being scorched to ash</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And if I wasn’t being scorched to ash</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wept with the pride of getting to be in your orbit</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now don’t think that I would ever see you in any other way</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">No matter how filled out</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">No matter how</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what others might describe as</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>worn down</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>by the expectations of your sorority</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that otherwise stirred within you open rebellion</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">For all of the loathsome glare we gave you at your sister’s wedding reception</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when you left our lunch table, panicked, to join in the mandated celebratory circle</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whatever the fuck that was</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Never think that I ever</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ever</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>felt that you caved</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I did not</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I knew you to be acting in accord</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with the dictates</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of love</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for your sister</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for your mom</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for her mom</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of which need to matter</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All of whom did as well by you as they knew how</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of which needs to mean something</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As well as they knew how, with what they themselves were given</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I cannot deem otherwise</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>SO LONG AS</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>it means something</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
Don’t think I don’t get that</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s not easy but</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My mother raised me to get that</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Palatino; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I suspect you will raise your son to do the same</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvJhhrZtAUhgqOAJhbWsJ7vkZcwjo5b6GoxOlCFJNZD_ynr0Ga28yC_Vv-BDx50K9JaOFYlFsS71XKCYIFduYhcA7GYOIAYNK9kqv6T-hV5S5NhTLuMp7P5PvCmuGcuGRYzo2dEqLRzL1/s1600/10399539_69981355708_4966122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvJhhrZtAUhgqOAJhbWsJ7vkZcwjo5b6GoxOlCFJNZD_ynr0Ga28yC_Vv-BDx50K9JaOFYlFsS71XKCYIFduYhcA7GYOIAYNK9kqv6T-hV5S5NhTLuMp7P5PvCmuGcuGRYzo2dEqLRzL1/s320/10399539_69981355708_4966122_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-90443311621308593492017-04-20T19:51:00.002-07:002017-04-20T20:17:00.709-07:00immediacy - write-up (prologue)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "applegothic"; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">[Client]was brought by both parents. [One parent] noted that [client] may be feeling sadness lately due to sensitivity to parental discord ([other parent] indicated [s/he] did not agree) and impending separation</span><span style="font-family: "applegothic"; line-height: normal;">” </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "applegothic"; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "applegothic"; line-height: normal;">read my write-up</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: AppleGothic; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">without the slightest hint of irony as I wrote it</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-61469301030210525202017-04-19T22:52:00.000-07:002017-04-19T22:53:39.992-07:00A meta-recollection with YouTube annotations<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I always remember something different</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when I think back</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sometimes I can’t trust</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what is my recollection</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what is the mix edit of the Lightning Crashes song with all of the journalists’ voices</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxLbCmvxrE&t=212s"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxLbCmvxrE&t=212s</span></a>)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>whether I was the one who took the picture of the firefighter with the kid</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(I wasn’t)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>or if it just worked its way inside me like everyone else</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of course it did</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now then</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I did see the President when he came, with my mom (my dad didn't like him)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was this moment: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bUinsY4bSA"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bUinsY4bSA</span></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>at 31:57</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>here recorded for all posterity</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but in no way doing justice to how quickly an auditorium of the bereaved and bewildered</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>shut up and sat down</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nor how tall, imposing, larger than life he seemed from the nosebleed section</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>how you could have picked out the bearer of the free world</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>from a mile away (which is what it felt like)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Do I get wisted</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>longing for a simpler time that was obviously never simple</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when evil moved into our backyard</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when murder found a new address</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when justice should be so swift and so severe </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WzEgcdk5oU&t=7s"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WzEgcdk5oU&t=7s</span></a>)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>when I would be so okay with the FBI doing whatever it needed to do</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and to whom</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But with such assurance that there are good people</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>such good people</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and many</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I did not need the First Lady to say, but I’m glad she did</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl59FA3STGc&t=194s"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl59FA3STGc&t=194s</span></a>)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Baskerville; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not that that’s what she’s remembered for anyway</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> ---------</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I always remember something different</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Sometimes that it was some A-rab in a hoodie</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> If you can believe someone would actually throw that out there</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> And that a news organization anchored by an Ogle brother would run with it</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> (</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1d4mE8fT5M">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1d4mE8fT5M</a>)</div>
<div>
And that there were two of them, and their sketches bandied about</div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Because if there's one A-rab that wishes us ill</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> There's gotta be another</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> and</span></div>
<div>
Whether an A-rab, or a decisively Irish-American ex-military militant who got bullied as a child</div>
<div>
I suppose assuming</div>
<div>
that there's always another </div>
<div>
actually is the one thing we always get right</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-51235988686136657062017-04-06T10:58:00.000-07:002017-04-06T23:33:43.549-07:00conveyance<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My favorite high school senior came to see me this evening.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Still a lot on my plate,” he reported</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I was ready to find yet another way to tell him how not to be anxious about college</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How he will</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in fact</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>kill it six ways this way and back</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Not that he would have believed me</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The fates had other ideas for my amusement—</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nay</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The glorification of my very vocational satisfaction this evening</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">with his characteristic sweetness, openness, and self-effacement</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>disclosed how he’d become enmeshed in a </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>banal but not mundane</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>family drama</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that predates him by approximately 50 years</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How he started asking too many questions from his place of sincerity</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How he was subsequently appropriated by no fewer than three septuagenarian matriarchs for matters of </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> the most complicit</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the most petty</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the most juvenile</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and absolutely the most unremarkable</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of intrigue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In a dynamic my favorite theorists</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Bowenians</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Refer to as ‘Triangulation’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Girardians</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>‘Mimetic Desire’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in my ravenous, unquenchable, morbid creepishness</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">just call</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>‘<i>Delicious</i>’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Well, buddy”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My eyes glistening</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>possibly gleaming some autumnal overtone</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Inhaling slowly with enchantment</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“It’s like this…” I say, hopefully concealing the salivation</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“You ever had a falling out with a friend?” I ask</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Never being more certain of an answer I’ve yet to hear</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Yes I have!” he answers</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(And you’ve never heard an exclamation point more resonant or genuine)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“It was over…”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Say ‘a girl’*</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Say ‘a girl’</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>SAY ‘A GIRL’</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“…a girl.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'american typewriter'; line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(*his orientation had long ago been </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">established in our conversations)</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I exhale calmly</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with unnameable glee</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There’s no way he won’t get this</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but also with wistfulness</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
There may be no going back for him after I let him in on this</div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And so we lay it out</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How people </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>loved ones, no less</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>take on commodity and stock values over which to be shuffled</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>often directly commensurate to our insecurities</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How we learn and assign those values </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>relates to having absolutely no spontaneous originality**</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in this life</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>like, at all</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'american typewriter'; line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(**which is especially hard for him</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
because he’s a brilliant jazz musician in his own right)</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How adults in families</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>usually aren’t adults with each other</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(luckily, he was already starting to catch on)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> How we draw people in</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>over to our lunch tables</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Because we all know these bullets have our names on them</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And they’re too much to dodge on our own</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Did you by any chance become friends with that guy again?” I ask with the most earnest of <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> -jadedness- </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Yes!”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“What a gift!” I say</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Out of both sides of my mouth like an asshole does</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He fully confirming (through some probing on my part)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what I already knew:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They achieved this through (at least temporary)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>marvelous, mutual, miraculous</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>consensus</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That that girl was no good after all</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But where would their bromance be without her?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And after having him boil down exactly the reasons why</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> he wants to say what he wants to say to his grandma</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He is appropriately overwhelmed</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Muttering the words ‘complicated’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>‘messy’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As I’m sure he never has</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I suppose my work might be done</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But to his honest question</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>rooted in his honest compassion for a brood of kinfolk</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with whom on most days he knows not what to do</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>What the hell do I do with this?</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I have an honest answer</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Love</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With the conviction and the caveats I was given in youth group,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>long before I went to psychotherapy, social justice, or divinity camp</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> I give to him:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1) These things think us before we can think them</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Before we have any option to give fuck #1</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2) Just because we understand gravity</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Doesn’t mean we can fly</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(evidenced by my multiple internal contusions and fractures</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>after recently trying to traverse a canyon)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But again I say</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Love</i></span><br />
Especially in these days when I can't quite do or believe it myself</div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Even as he flails down that ravine as I recently have</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Even as his internal, naturally selected wiring compels him to that lunch table</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>before he says something a bit passive-aggressive to his grandma</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(His grandma!)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">What exactly that looks like for him</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>is a conviction he has to arrive at on his own</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But I trust him to give it his best</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ve got some ideas if he comes up short</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'century gothic'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I’ll be here</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdEUOoAIIZ1czyhhpESi5tsdL-Ka7MmywCOFfToLkfqwSL3gbZ_OeQ1i782jjEqbA4ubjDhQjFE4USE9lRcKG5J0J_2k3j_ZqhDnbDvaNrkzbd9hrEcGDoR61uy1hT70n3Kp_73IJ43US/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-06+at+12.00.17+PM+-+crop.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdEUOoAIIZ1czyhhpESi5tsdL-Ka7MmywCOFfToLkfqwSL3gbZ_OeQ1i782jjEqbA4ubjDhQjFE4USE9lRcKG5J0J_2k3j_ZqhDnbDvaNrkzbd9hrEcGDoR61uy1hT70n3Kp_73IJ43US/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-04-06+at+12.00.17+PM+-+crop.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-2637932696820662002017-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:002017-04-04T13:58:12.742-07:00Adulting Tale #1: Banking<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
I’ll hereby go on record that I prefer the type of ATM machines that don’t keep hold of your debit card while making a transaction</div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My bank</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A good one</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Allows you to make a swipe</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Transact to to your capitalist heart’s content</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Go on your way</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The bank in which I usually make my deposits in downtown Longmont, where I work, because my nearest bank branch (Boulder), an hour from where I live (Greeley), but has a cooperative agreement with my bank to take deposits</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>naturally has its own ATM system</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>formerly okay by me</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>now down a notch</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It was an early morning of deposits</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and cash withdrawals</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>because I thought I’d forgotten my checkbook</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and that therapist is not going to pay himself</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Believe Me</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All this, before coffee</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It took my card</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It held it as it always does</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I left without it</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not as I have ever done once before now, nor will again(?)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All this, before coffee</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I returned an hour later</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Realizing my error </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>after trying to pay for coffee a half block over</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(fortunately they took checks</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>because it turned out I did have my checkbook)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kindly went to the bank teller with my plight</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why would this person not be happy to assist me?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: Our ATM person isn’t in today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: You have an ATM person?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: Yes, he’s not in today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: And he’s not in today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: If it was a US Bank card, he can retrieve it for you tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: And if it was not?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: Was yours a US Bank card?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: It was not.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: Then it got shredded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: …Shredded…?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teller: Shredded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Me: …</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The bright side </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> is that the coffee shop takes checks</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'al bayan'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And I did remember my checkbook</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-89988969529773385442017-02-08T21:04:00.000-08:002017-02-08T22:14:30.679-08:00When I see you in Hell<div class="MsoNormal">
When I see you in hell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll not wish to discover</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That you took a go at yourself<br />
Just because you couldn’t bear the thought of life
without me<o:p></o:p></div>
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Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
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But I won’t say it wouldn’t be flattering<o:p></o:p></div>
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aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-68840922482190172562017-02-08T21:03:00.001-08:002017-02-09T09:19:33.361-08:00upon Kit's departure<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">I get</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that impulse</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">to close no doors</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">to write no epitaphs</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">to cut no cords</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">to keep that glass a little full</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">to hold on to very fine sand</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I too enjoy spiting gravity</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(‘cause Gravity—</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You’re a punk</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And you got it comin’)</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sympathize</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">a search prolonged</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">being unsatisfied with ‘good enough’</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">or even being unduly satisfied with it</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">We made these very futile gestures</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and even overtures to these futile gestures</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before, During, and After we realized we’d lose you</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it causes me</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for whatever reason</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to take stock</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of how many tables we’ve thrown over that we couldn’t turn on our rivals</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The curtains torn down that offended us</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">though fiercely draping ourselves in the one that offends the competition</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>because we still forget to put on our own clothes most days</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Further</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">How I’m not bothered</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>by</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">turning over every stone that looks to have a fact beneath</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">and avoiding each one that looks like truth</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m all over it</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have that covered</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do that</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do it</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>all</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>time</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span>Even now without your Cheshire grin to embolden me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> to turn it over again</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I’d be that flawed, messy, sincere human all over again</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">So long as you did it again with me</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now then</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">a couple of years from now when we meet</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reality of our shared daily existence for five entire years</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(save those months you had to go home to do your dissertation research)</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still the fondest of memories</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still one of the greatest gifts for which I’d never thought to ask</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the visceral essence of it sadly faded</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">We will yet still be operating off of the training we received from one another</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like rats still pressing the lever for a snack </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>though they haven’t seen the inside of that cage in half their lifetime</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">As evidenced by how automatically we’ll slip into our fairly crass appraisals</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of those who</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>just</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>don’t</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>get it</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>quite like we do</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">And you know WE ARE GOING TO LAUGH</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'DIN Condensed'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>like no time has passed at all</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">nor ever would again</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpEgsZp8vT8RQT3mTtJ0-4nV88w64Zc_RfwyFFsx6aiNXpZMfNDcQZMEaYZAeqzw27gBSapD1fOwFLZy_vkeqUU_SPYXu3uJFx-J5VfafmDKp1_6nAEcmygeZUF1bcqeFfbn64Gxbho77/s1600/22552_1294277204331_1076987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpEgsZp8vT8RQT3mTtJ0-4nV88w64Zc_RfwyFFsx6aiNXpZMfNDcQZMEaYZAeqzw27gBSapD1fOwFLZy_vkeqUU_SPYXu3uJFx-J5VfafmDKp1_6nAEcmygeZUF1bcqeFfbn64Gxbho77/s320/22552_1294277204331_1076987_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-32627444943642611452016-09-08T20:27:00.000-07:002016-09-09T13:29:00.065-07:00redaction<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I admit to being surprised to hear</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that you managed to forgive her</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for things of ill repute neither tasteful nor understated</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nor without consequence to the innocent</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Or that she agreed to meet with you for coffee at your old diner</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the memory of your angry and bitter rebuke</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>still so painfully resonant in her ears</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And that </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that affiliation was patched up</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with not a little tenderness</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This was a story about losing</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Was it not?</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I confess I was astonished</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that the chance you took</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>against your last best judgment</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yielded some fast dividends</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Particularly when the time was so perilously close to running out</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That was some luck, my friend</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Random f-ing chance the likes of which not seen</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since evolution of the first white American guy to make an honest dime</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But this was</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nonetheless</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a story about losing</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Was it not?</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I can’t get over</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the simplicity</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of a transaction</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in which kindness</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>seemed to lose you every advantage you went in with</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and out you came</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a pint less </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>maybe more</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But this was a story that</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>reached its losingest of conclusions</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>no other was in store</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You still lost</span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;">Did you not? </span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Perhaps you missed the memo</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Absent a day of school</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Didn’t get the script</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">That explained that you were to walk this messy and broken world</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A messy and broken soul</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">No reclamation</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This was not going to end well</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This was</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">in fact</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">not going to end for you at all</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Unless</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and I find this likely</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and frightfully plausible</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">you had access to that redacted line at the end that everyone else missed</span></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-72871268789566566342015-08-24T22:28:00.000-07:002015-08-24T22:28:43.372-07:00white whine buzzI will in no way claim<br />
that my vices have severe repercussions<br />
or that my struggles with them are as profound as those of others' in my life <br />
<br />
I do know this:<br />
<br />
It being the first day of school<br />
I was expecting the corporate coffee chain location at my school<br />
which has served me so well over the last 2 years<br />
to be open and ready to vend me a beverage this morning<br />
<br />
It was not <br />
It was gone<br />
Inexplicably gone<br />
<br />
I settled for the 3rd rate swill<br />
That is the nectar of every Sunday morning fellowship hour<br />
offered by the establishment down the hall<br />
<br />
And I don't care how excellent their salmon lox bagel sandwich is<br />
Because, oh my,<br />
Did that ever hit the spot<br />
It doesn't make them qualified to caffeinate the learning masses<br />
<br />
what the fuck, school? over.<br />
<br />
And for the first time in memory,<br />
I<br />
this night owl<br />
cannot wait to go to sleep right now<br />
wake up tomorrow<br />
Just to try to make this rightaridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-18535742043591243492015-04-27T23:36:00.000-07:002015-04-28T11:47:36.615-07:00shippers [explicit]<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Is there a special place in hell</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">For fandom shippers?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I certainly hope so.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Because there are other sites on the internet</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (porn)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> other genres of literature</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (porn)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> and other genres of porn</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (fan fiction)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Where one can find a venue</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">To support the romantic relationship of two fictional characters</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> And WITHOUT any <i>disservice</i> to the supporting female character</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> formerly strong, with differentiated integrity</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> formerly the personification of hope</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> formerly engaged in a physical relationship with another man</span><br />
<span class="s1"> with healthy <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>consequences</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> formerly capable of self-composure without the validation</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> of the protagonist male character</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> still brooding</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> still haunted</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> still broken</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> still joyless</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> still inaccessible</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> even after she accessed him</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I don’t know</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">It’s like you guys just…</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> wanna see two imagined people fuck</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Is there a special place in hell</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">For showrunners</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Who shamelessly cater to the groundswell of these assholes?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I think not.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><strike>I think that happens when</strike></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Okay</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I hope that happens</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">When you guys realize</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> She</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> was</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> something else</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> before you caved</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i>If</i> that occurs to you in between trips to the bank</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-61067740924497792292015-04-24T17:09:00.000-07:002017-04-24T10:06:56.095-07:00Concerning the Matter of the Disowning, However Imagined<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Eggshells are things better spared</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Than to have my weight imposed upon them</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Not unlike that time</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My presence was demand-requested into the debriefing on a near </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> tragedy</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Concerning which I was quite pleased to have been present and helpful to the only real suffering individual concerned</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> As far as I was concerned</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Until I had to sit through the </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> HISTRIONICS</span></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> of the affected cohort group</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> who</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> while </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I have no doubt </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> sad for their anguished companion</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Were probably a little more sad not to have been present</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And to not have the opportunity to have <i>really</i> joined with her in her suffering</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">An uncomfortable realization:</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I had been present</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> For all that glorious anguish</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I got to see the empty package of generic pain-reliever</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> the drained liquor bottle</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I got to call the ambulance for Christ sake</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And now I was the only one request-demanded to the debriefing</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Because I was witness</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> The first-hand conduit</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> of all that suffering</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For this beleaguered group</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was to be the Fluffer of their Shared Anguish</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And I suppose I gave it to them</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Good</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was recently unfriended on Facebook</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">by the fellow who demand-requested that I be there</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All he indicated was</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Something about my cover photo </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> which depicts an angry self-absorbed man</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> dressed ironically as a sad clown</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">He really seemed to take it personally</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfK0ZQ1kv8ZQBdl36OoXRLRxD57I4HnrFy-HhUYwbtqqXUd1Z6T8I9BLAlxSJAQqhK8YH0mgG68KIEltAVeRh6OokgbAmkv341-_GBV_VCFgOrPrVWSYBjNvkH40f9K3mg_SEeXbZRrRA/s1600/10923631_10152920662175709_682185894721513211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfK0ZQ1kv8ZQBdl36OoXRLRxD57I4HnrFy-HhUYwbtqqXUd1Z6T8I9BLAlxSJAQqhK8YH0mgG68KIEltAVeRh6OokgbAmkv341-_GBV_VCFgOrPrVWSYBjNvkH40f9K3mg_SEeXbZRrRA/s320/10923631_10152920662175709_682185894721513211_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-80790388736290891732015-04-23T22:38:00.002-07:002017-02-09T11:31:39.007-08:00concerning that matter of some racial bigotry in Oklahoma<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I must name names:</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Yukon, Oklahoma</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Independence Middle School in 1992 if I’m to be incredibly blunt</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The last situation <i>I thought</i> I wanted to be in that I was forced to be in?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Being the new kid in town, forced to get undressed in a boys locker room</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> with other neo-pubescent boys, complete strangers</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The last situation that I <i>in fact</i> did not want to be in that actually happened?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Being the new kid in town, forced to get undressed in a boys locker room</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> with other neo-pubescent boys, complete strangers</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> while they chanted the following</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><i> Hail, Angels, Dressed in White</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Killing N——ers, Left and Right</i></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Well</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I don’t remember the rest for some reason</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But there was more</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I said nothing</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">And I tucked that incident away amidst the rest of the unpleasantness</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> of the aforementioned circumstances (…middle school…Yukon, Oklahoma)</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Now, I can’t help but think</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Had I a device to record and capture that moment 22 years ago in a middle school locker room</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Participants no more than 14 years old</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">And if I had to guess—</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Not their first recital</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Nor their original composition</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> But an homage that was doing someone proud</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I wouldn’t say they pulled it out of the air</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But I would say it was in the air</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Now then</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> The thing to do</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> is not to say </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><i> Well, I never…</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Oh it is tempting</span><br />
<span class="s1">But for some grace perhaps I hadn’t come from another Bible Belt town with a tad more</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>diversity</span></div>
<div class="p1">
Not really embraced</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> But diversity nonetheless</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Wherein my best friends had been individuals of color</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Which excuses me nothing from the fact that my ancestors</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> UNDENIABLY </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Considered their ancestors to be property</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> of THEIRS mind you</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Did I personally do anything? i.e. RESPONSIBLE for that</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">No</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> and that’s rarely going to be my conversation</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But I’m vulnerable to breathing air like anyone</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">And also to saying nothing</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Which is exactly what I</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> terrified?</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> shamed?</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> unsure</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> did that day</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">And that, G-d willing, will be my conversation from here on</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">And I fear (though I don't know)</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> All that having it on video would have accomplished</span></div>
Would be to reiterate to the world that I didn’t do anything else when I could have<br />
<br />
http://www.route66news.com/2014/01/21/route-66-towns-former-sundown-towns-apologize/aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103352749743761744.post-13342967414151531972015-04-20T08:19:00.001-07:002017-02-09T08:48:38.532-08:00the hero of the rest of that story<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a dream</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About this thing that used to happen all the time</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> in our adolescence and adolescent adulthood</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You and I were at one of those parties</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> thrown by the larger circle of friends</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which we’d only agree to go to provided we had one another’s back</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this version, though</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We’re actually not who we used to be</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But who we’ve grown up to be</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> You with the wife and kid, and the 9 to 5</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (or, the 7 to 5, in your case)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Me splitting time between perpetual student and clinic</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we’ve all returned, as if to a very specific sort of reunion</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> You and I having a tacit agreement</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> That my emotional entanglements of the past</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(of which you’re well aware and we need not detail for these purposes)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> would not make me timid</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was going quite well</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I had one of my moments</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Someone requested you for something</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> You were gone for what seemed an eternity of a few minutes</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I panicked</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I ran</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean I really ran</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Somehow I had my shorts and shoes</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> And I just started jogging off</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Down a neighborhood street that was a little bit like</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> any street in every town I’ve ever lived in.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I worked up the requisite sweat after a couple of miles</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which seemed to get it out of my system</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> But there I was returned to my senses and stranded</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Though with a phone in my pocket</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (which should tell you it definitely wasn’t the 90s)</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And even in my dreams</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yours is the only number I still have memorized</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I’m sorry, man<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> I pulled a <i>John</i>…”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>You pulled a </i>John<i>,</i></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span></i> you laughed, not in the least disappointed</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“But can I pick up some ice cream for everyone since I’m out?”</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> (which should tell you I wasn’t 19 anymore)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You conferred with the rest of the guests</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And decided on the spot this was the best way to explain why I wasn’t there</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I woke up right after buying the Blue Bell</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s no doubt in my mind you came and got me</span></div>
aridjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101358706176203193noreply@blogger.com0