First Date

Sitting across the table from a one hundred thirty pound Grizzly Bear, is a great way to start you evening. Actually as far as first dates go, this would be a first. I have sat thru at least three inquisitions were I lied thru my teeth while keeping a straight face looking head on at the half knocked in the ass fathers who could have cared less what happened when I took out their daughters. And I have been through the nine circles of Hell, Dante wrote of, not to mention the interrogatories akin of the Spanish inquisition. Where you going? Be back by ten. What does you father do? Are you one of those hippies? You ever smoked dope? This time though, I half expected to see my date come from around the corner with the inscription, “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate“, or “abandon all hope, ye who enter here” on her sweat shirt.” For sure I never expected to see a Grizzly Bear. Doberman yes, Bear, no. A pet they say? A family pet that is shall we say on a diet. For once it reaches a certain weight; it’s got to go. Got to go they say? Who is making that decision? I can hear them now, “Where is Timmy, Suzanne?” “In his room I guess.”  Only opening the door to find the bear licking his chops on what was a used to be growing ten year old. “Oops.” Do I really want to be dating a girl who finds bear hair on her dress and picks it off as if it means nothing? Mrs. Caputo asked what movie we were going to see, and all I could think of was; Gentle Ben! I had her back by the prescribed ten thirty. We never dated again.   

Random Thoughts

He lined them up like holidays, thoughts that is, as he placed the phone down to prepare for her arrival. The reasons why he should and several of why he shouldn’t go ahead with it; after all how much more could he take. When he thought to the left he was positive and then to the right negative; not one maybe thought among them. The memories stood in line in the back of his mind, patiently waiting to speak. Each would get due process and attention. He had been playing with them when the phone rang but two minutes on the phone with her and they scattered like deer in a field that suddenly sensed the danger of the hunt. None the least bit curious as to why they were running, just all realizing that if called upon alone they were toast. Toast they thought, a funny word and an even stranger invention. All cells combined to think of toast. Take perfectly good bread and burn it. Take an ever perfectly good life and burn it up ever so slightly.  But the cells were already moving onto gravy, trying to bring up good times. Take perfectly good fat and mix it with flour. What were they thinking? Besides, thoughts don’t have thoughts of their own. Who ever heard of such a thing? Is it possible that they do? Maybe in a different universe, or in a place where people appreciated just what they were all about; thoughts that is. Thoughts are not to be taken lightly. Mind your thoughts he was often told as a child. He twisted the door knob to let her in. And all he had to do was get his thoughts together. But they were no were to be found; off playing in a field.

On the streets of San Fran

 

It’s been a few years and if I sit down and think about it real hard, maybe a few more than I care to recall. Was it San Francisco or was it Omaha? It was on a bus, and I was looking for my life and you were running from yours. And we met and chased the comet, I think it was Kahotec? But you walked away in the rain in a brown leather jacket and I half amusingly called out; this should be a song. You yelled back, and said, if any one can write it you will. Years later when I heard the song, “Taxi,” and saw your face moving out and away from me in mid town traffic after a long night at the YMCA and not over fine mowed lawns but the streets of San Francisco? I often wonder what became of you; and if you ever do the same for me. Are you acting happy? Am I still getting high on life, and not pocket herb? You would be surprised I am sure that I didn’t perish in the war, become a millionaire before thirty or buy that mountain top condo near flagstaff. I am sure I would be surprised at how you turned out as well. I often wonder if we met on purpose or by accident. If those words you told me, “be true to yourself, and you will find the good in the world,’ were words that you were supposed to pass on to me so that I could pass them on to everyone I would later meet. Poco is on, “I” tunes tonight, and I remember they sang your favorite song. Even if you have forgotten there is another one that says, “The song remembers when,” like I do now.