tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10345349891373098352024-03-28T20:29:52.417-07:00Been Out of School Way Too LongBeen Out of School Way Too Long Chris Coulson Blog Poetry Flash Fiction Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-68095253087798520042024-03-15T13:36:00.000-07:002024-03-16T00:34:43.435-07:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 36px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>My little red wagon of beer </i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />It was Christmas Eve, and I needed to get the beer in. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No cars on the street, people elsewhere, getting with people. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christmas in full bloom, and a little red wagon next door.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Liquor store closing in an hour, Christmas<i> so </i>on the way, </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I nabbed the handle of the wagon and dashed down Rockhill Road!</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As I skipped along the road, red and green cars whizzing by </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">nowhere near as fast as me and my little red wagon were whizzing, </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I remembered I</span><span class="s2" style="color: #666666; font-kerning: none;">’d</span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"> never had a wagon before—but<i> so what? </i></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I said,<i> what of it?</i> and ran even faster, because I had one now, </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">was on a beer run with one—on Christmas Eve.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the liquor store, I drove the wagon right inside. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did they look at me weird? No, they loaded as much beer as</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">they could get into my little red wagon, laughed and took photos, </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(one of them hugged me, took my cash) and I took off back up the hill. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was energized, but pulling the little red wagon had changed, full of beer</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">as it was, and yet—I felt like the sexy Italian driver of the wagon </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">in the <i>Room With a View </i>movie, pulling<i> that</i> wagon of merry togetherness up </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to their getaway country resort. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even if I was only pulling a wagon of beer.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But was I lonely, just me and the beer? I was not. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had HER phone number on a piece of paper beneath an unlit candle</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">up on the mantle of my stone fireplace. She didn’t have a car either. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I picked her up in the little red wagon!</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-42458300584720489832024-02-16T21:51:00.000-08:002024-02-17T09:28:03.883-08:00<p><b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: xx-large;"><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: xx-large;"><i>Two pines<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are two different pine trees out in the front yard.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">The one on the left is planted for keeps in the ground,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">the other one is an ex-Christmas tree, last month<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">shining festive</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">in our house, tall, green, one of the family, went to bed with us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>That </i>pine says to the planted pine—mysterious, quiet so far—</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">“I guess I’m about to be thrown away, any minute now<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">to turn brown somewhere, forgotten, no longer even festive.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Now<i> </i>I get involved, get out in the yard, </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and <i>that</i> pine says </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to me,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“And I suppose<i> </i>you’d be the guy </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">that’s going to chop me up and throw me away?” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I grip this pine by the trunk, shake it, look deep </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">into it</span>s green eyes, <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">take command of it </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in a strong and loving way </span>it didn’t see coming</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">couldn’t have seen coming</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">after a childhood growing up fenced-off on a tree farm</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">then trashed in maybe a suburban dump way out of sight. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, I shake it hard in a green release and relief of free, fragrant </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">needles across the yard, also close to the quiet, planted pine.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The trunk reacts, wiping it</span>s bough with a branch,<i> </i></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>seems</i> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">less </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">worried, but says, “Of course, now the rest of me </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">goes away for sure, right? Off to the dump. Fine, I get it.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">It’s my turn. Strongly, I say<i> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">“<i>N</i><i>o</i>, my friend.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> My pine pal. </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">You and your all branches stay too. All your needles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I’ll trim you—I won’t hurt you—and playfully place you </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">around the yard, so you’ll be able to see one another from </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">where I lay you gently, for keeps.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Welcome home, you’re not going away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">You’re about to grow something new, right here.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>Really?</i> say both pines, pining for a happy ending. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Really, I say, arranging one. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Shakespeare coulda made a play about today, </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I say. </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Mulch Ado about Something.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">And as these forever and evergreen pine trees</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">especially<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>the pine freshly shaken</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">seem to get greener, and as the big sky goes bluer</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I tell these two tentative trees the truth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">That Shakespeare line was corny, (quiet pine nods yes)</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but </span>nothing’s really ended and over. Or alone.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome home. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-63058750709883947402024-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:002024-02-03T22:32:42.854-08:00<p><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>There's no old, only </i>ALIVE ! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">I woke up bleary, real beery, and saw<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the old woman’s wig, like an oven-warm</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Bundt Cake, warming on the sill in the morning sun.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She wasn’t<i> </i>old, of course, and never would be,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she only seemed so to me because I was 27 that morning<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she was 72, <i>that</i> morning, and she was playing Elton John, <i>loud.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was on her couch in a cold wet foggy clump<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">of blue jeans and green corduroy, my Donegal cap<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">still on as I yawned, and then she came in</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the front room of her flat and put on the song<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Honky Cat” because she said it had come out in 1972<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she always played an Elton John song for every year<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">of her birthday, on the year the song was released.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">What a system, I thought.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Happy Birthday!” I said. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was in her apartment because the night before<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>she </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">saw me drunk-driving my boots through the snow<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">after last call, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she</span>’d inconceivably asked me if I <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">wanted to come<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>home </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with her for the night and get warm.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She said I looked homeless but<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>that I reminded her of her son.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">This woman didn’t remind me of my mother,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">who didn’t know that I was homeless or even out of town.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I like your flat, I said, and yes I’d love some coffee,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">because she’d just asked me, and it smelled <i>so </i>good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She said she saw me seeing her wig perched on the windowsill </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">warming up for the day</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I said no offense but it looks like a Bundt Cake, <i>hee hee!</i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Hell if it does! </i>she hollered spontaneously, but her eyes</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">were like Christmas twinkle lights so she wasn’t really mad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She said my wig looks like one of Van Gogh</span>’s haystacks,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>alright?</i> I said oh yes, you’re right, I stand corrected,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I still didn’t know her name, but I doffed my cap.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She accepted that, and dropped the needle on Elton again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I had cancer a few years ago,” she said, </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she didn’t know<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">my first name either, it wouldn’t matter in the end,</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“it<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>went into remission, but first I had the treatment, lost all<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">my hair, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and for some reason, my crops didn’t come back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>So, I do wigs.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“May I see it on you?” I asked softly. Drama in the room.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Why yes,” she said. “Ready?” </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Then she dragged the drama out,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>walking slowly across the floor, </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">across those creaky old Back Bay Boston boards<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to the window, </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and she slipped on her wig. </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She looked over at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>me across that well-appointed Brahmin room, </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">coquettishly cocked her<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>head to the side, waited for my compliment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">It came right away, my biggest smile all that winter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I could tell she was getting ready to go, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">wherever<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>she was going</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">so I drank up the rest out of my coffee cup,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">getting ready to go wherever I was going.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She knew how to walk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I liked watching her move around, striding across her<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">hardwood floors for her coat and keys, hat and bag,</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">her shoes sounding like shoes should sound on a floor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">Jingling her keys, she strode over to her stereo,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">played “Honky Cat” again, and it was still playing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">as we went all the way downstairs and out into the snow.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We got out to the Commonwealth Avenue sidewalk, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">came<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>to the moment when she’d go one way, me the other,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she put her jewelry-shiny hand out for me to shake.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Well, maybe you won’t pass this way again,” she said,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>“but </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">if you do, knock on my door. Otherwise, get back to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kansas City </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and get out of your homelessness ... get on back home.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">(I must have told her about Kansas City last night, probably </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">in a very <i>after midnight </i>sort of sentimentality, </span>I thought.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">“<i>You </i>know what to do. And give my regards to the Rafael Hotel!”</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">Then she turned, her perfume still on my hand.<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">I watched how she walked walking away, <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">walking like she was really going somewhere. <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I copied her walk and went the other way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-81009296428213121422024-01-12T18:54:00.000-08:002024-01-22T11:56:33.978-08:00<p> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Borderline personality<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Not to mention a borderline sense of humor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Laughing out loud (or quietly, alone, driving) can save anyone’s life</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but after so many of my young years in the midsection of the country—</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">that neighborhood’s Sunday clothes on all week, zippers up<i> </i>tight<i> </i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">—I know what no one laughing sounds like.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">So I’m not only going to mention it, I’m gonna <i>poetically</i> describe it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Two days ago two guys approached the casita,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>smiling sunny and easy, </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">they looked like fun, their big white delivery truck lounging on the curb.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">One of them looked like the lead singer from Los Lobos </span>and the other </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">guy looked like Frida Kahlo’s twice-cooked husband, the great Diego Rivera.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">They dollied the new oven in, unwrapped the plastic </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and threw it </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">out the door into the after-Christmas snow;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the Los Lobos guy hooked up the gas hose, closed his eyes, </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">playfully bracing himself, testing the front and back burners, then </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the Diego Rivera guy walked dramatically to the center of the cocina.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Would you like to hear a joke now?” he asked, breaking the ice. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I </span>looked around, the time seemed right, so I said yes.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Do you know why Mexicans cross the border in <i>twos</i>?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was new to New Mexico, and he was still looking at me, so I said no.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“No <i>TRES</i>passing.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Alright, that was the poetic part, and now I’m so worked up</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’m going to write the rest of it straight out.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These Mexican men, who knows, I don’t want to be a know-it-all</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and assume anything—maybe they really <i>were</i> Diego Rivera </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and David Hidalgo—but here they were, making a high </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">piece of wit in my kitchen (wittier than anything from even Noel </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Coward, who was a scaredy-cat anyway) about something insulting </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">that could have happened to them, or their friends and family. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I mean, I was <i>enchanted.</i> That joke was good, he did it well. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Of course, the idea of borders between people and places </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">has always been painfully hilarious (you cry until you laugh) </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">but it looks as though they’re hard and here to stay. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I come from a part of the country where the men and women</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">look around suspiciously, not all of them, but enough of them.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When you’re that scared out of the corner of your eye </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you don’t ever dare change your mind </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">because it would sink the family boat</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(and after all, they did their best, maybe)</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and laughing at anything is inappropriate in that neighborhood. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A sense of humor is almost <i>sexual!</i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When it was time to go, everybody hugged those two guys, the two guys hugged </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">everybody, the kind of hug where it feels like everything’s already alright, <i>meanwhile</i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the truck flashed its lights at me and those guys weren’t even behind the wheel yet. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do I smell gas? </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No, but I’m laughing </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and my oven is HOT. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-55719178494746920762023-11-30T14:17:00.000-08:002023-11-30T14:26:58.807-08:00<p> </p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px;"><i>Dancing in and out of jail with Twyla Tharp</i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">It was 1985, closing in on Happy Hour</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and the city had just won the World Series.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I should say, the <i>rest </i>of the city.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I had just come out of a make-shift, garage-style opium den<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">where me and my friend Goldblatt had gone deeply</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">into weed and the wonders of multiple bottles popped.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I drove, in this elevated Christmas Eve exuberance,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">straight (and conveniently, for the police) into a trap</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">where I was politely, but pointedly, asked to walk a line.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I did that (politely, wanderingly); the cheerful police </span>began </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to laugh, jingling cuffs, and the clearly-cultured police woman </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">said that I moved like something right out of Twyla Tharp.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Well,</i> I said, we’re all in good moods here, the baseball<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">team won, now we’re discussing modern dance, <i>surely </i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">you’ll </span>let me drive on home, I’m really ok. They didn’t like that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Someone jingled cuffs on me, I was jerked in a car</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">driven then walked to a cell, that night was not </span>on the list </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">of memories effervescent, just gray and fluorescent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">BUT. When I got out, back to whatever my house was,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">looked up the Twyla Tharp performances to see, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and twenty-five </span>years later, I stopped drinking for keeps.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">And now, years later, one way or another, I am dancing! </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-55822608173624090142023-09-09T23:42:00.000-07:002024-01-07T09:51:21.999-08:00<p><br /></p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Paris on crutches (minus one)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There I was, resting suavely, after surgery in a cafe in Paris<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">having<i> </i>gotten my hip replaced up in Belgium, </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">and a tooth </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">popped out of my mouth and dropped into my croissant. <i>Hilarious!</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">So naturally I laughed at that, slipped on my black leather jacket,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">walked out of the cafe over to the Seine and threw the tooth in, <i>incisively</i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with some kind of upbeat prayer and a goodbye to my tooth,</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">all of this to keep any<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>silly sadness (about falling apart, <i>ha!</i>) off of me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">It<i> had</i> been a bumpy bunch of decades<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>so now I was feeling festive. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">This surgery (replete with a sparkling smorgasbord of morphine!) </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">sewed up a year to the day of my reservation at the rehab with a view,</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">sobering up after drinking every day from junior high school<i> onwards. </i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">Back at the hotel, my tooth already having a made a splash in Paris, </p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">something was pulling at my drinking sleeve to </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">go to </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">the American Cathedral</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">across the river and a few doors down from the Champs-<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white;">É</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">lysées, then </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">down</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">the ancient steps to the crypt to the secret meeting to talk it over. In<i> French!</i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">That meant crossing Paris on crutches—streets, trains, the subway</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">under the Seine, up and down the stairs—could I do it? <i>Oui, oui, oui! </i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">Get up out of bed, down the hotel stairs on my wooden crutches, </span></span><span style="font-family: Cochin;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">flashing </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">down the street, across the city on the Métro, considered </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">going way down </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">those stairs into the Catacombs </span><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">but I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">’d be out of my skull to try that, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">so </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">I kept on across Paris and under the river, through the Arc de Triomphe!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Cochin;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px;">Those deliciously fun French making way for me on the sidewalk, </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Cochin;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px;">offering their seats </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">on the subway, smiling and saluting me </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Cochin;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px;">like I</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">’m Jean Gabin, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">what a wonderful day, </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">such a long, long way</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">from junior high, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;">my body still <i>alive! </i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-10664301816539375112023-08-26T14:54:00.205-07:002023-08-26T22:43:42.478-07:00<p> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 29px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Butterflies running away from home<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Cool, crisp, sensually expectant Fall </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">right around the corner and I can barely keep my pants on!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Cold night air smoky in your window, candy corn glowing in the sheets</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">new </span>kids at school, new clothes <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">school supplies new </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">all there at the foot </span>of your bed, or under your pillow</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(probably no kids under your pillow) and, <i>then</i> ... </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">touches of lipstick and blue jeans in the backseat of some<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>car. </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Some see decay and death in Fall, </span>Winter blowing in next</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">(but there are forever romantic secrets sparkling in the snow drifts) </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and though I could drop in my tracks any second, </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I don’t see it that way at all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Last year I saw a skyful of red dry yellow <i>wild<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">leaves blowing sideways<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">like butterflies running away from home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">This year I’m going with<i> them!</i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-69785533805076421022023-08-01T11:02:00.006-07:002023-08-01T22:46:55.295-07:00<p> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sinead unafraid<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The kind voice of a fierce rebel angel </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and I hope she</span><span style="color: #666666;">’</span>s somewhere beautiful like her </span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">somewhere loud with laughing and love runs free,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">where shame</span><span style="color: #666666;">’</span>s gone out the window</span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">somewhere the pope lost his dress and Sinatra </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span>(and other one-note choir boys!) can</span></span><span style="color: #666666;">’</span>t get a gig. </span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-81235369421892795842023-07-14T09:07:00.005-07:002023-07-14T15:18:55.482-07:00<p> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Drinking in a blues club at seven in the morning,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>then getting breakfast</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I ha</span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">d been drinking like it (or I) was going out of style </span>since ten </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">in the morning the morning before, then I heard <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">a </span>yellow clock</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">humming behind the bar across the room, glowing like the yellow </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moonbeam clock in my grandma’s kitchen across the state line.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Snowing all night, so we didn</span>’<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">t know </span>where the state line was </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">anymore, and anyway it was just us now, sweetly and privately. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">A woman real close to me had her yellow pumps up on the table <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">crossed at the ankles, some of her fingers interlaced with mine,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the rest of them loose into her loose red hair, she was smiling sleepy </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">but her fingers were<i> </i>squeezing<i> </i>me awake. Still smelled of Chanel. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And then, breakfast. Eggs rose like suns on the tables, pancakes </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">piled up hot and smoky, syrup and butter lathered in, the warm woman </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">near me kicked off her pumps, dipped her toes in the egg yolks </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and acrobatically fed me the drippings as I dangled bacon like grapes </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to her lips, then I dangled her the grapes (I owed her, I liked her!) </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and everyone ate, and ate, and kept on eating until they all passed out. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This was all friendly, no one was going home for days, a warm shaft of sunlight </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">came in, <i>some</i> of us in the room were cheating, with other lovers,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> blame</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">it on the snow, </span>but everyone was alright, smiling at each other, and the smell </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">of the kitchen lighting up was so homey, all of us so far away from everything. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-10827882582962893732023-06-30T13:34:00.016-07:002023-06-30T22:29:52.891-07:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">A good deed, a soul connection, and a touchdown</span></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">This happened on a flat Sunday, almost 4th of July</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">so flat even God — </span><i>he or she</i></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">wasn’t gonna go to church, the local church<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">being so square and pale in its architecture<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and congregation; so hopeless and defeated<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>in its music, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">out in Kansas City long ago<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in a soft, dreamy place called Brookside. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I was out strolling, Señor Jobim on my Walkman,</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">going for my Sunday case of beer; I eased into the market, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">took a look at the clientele,<i> not </i>inspiring, maybe church had let out; </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">they were devotedly praying hunching over their shopping carts, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">their little kids trying to make a run for it,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>and yet—</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">there was this one brave woman.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">She was <i>swirling colors</i> in her clothes, smart blue eyes like spotlights</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">wherever she looked, I could not take my eyes off of her </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and although she hadn’t seen me, I wanted to go over and shake her hand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">She was powerful, she rotated around herself, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>radiated out something that pulled objects (like me) in; </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">she was private but spectacular</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">with a sensual, sniffing nose that may have been powdered in Paris.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile, gradually, nearly <i>imperceptibly, </i>everyone in the market </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">(the second they saw her)</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">stood up straight off their carts, bright-eyed </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and bushy-tailed, all the way up out of prayer mode. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There was music up above us, it changed the moment, </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">a song called </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“The Captain of Her Heart” coming down; I knew it, looked at her, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">saw that she recognized it too, we made eye contact with each other </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(I felt fireworks all over me, 4th of July weekend had nothing to do with it), </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">recognized that we both recognized the song, </span>so, nothing else to recognize, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">she went back to the cooler full of white wines. She had frosty breath.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I was being nonchalant in my fascination with her, on the surface</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(she wasn<i>’</i>t looking my way anyway—<i>I thought</i>), got my case of beer </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">from the opposite cooler,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>we both had frosty breaths in the cooler aisle. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Behind me, she was humming, then singing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to “The Captain of Her Heart.” I smiled;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>I smiled </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and turned around to harmonize with her<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">but she was above me, and reaching higher!</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She was standing on the low foot rail of </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">her<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>very full </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">therefore rock-steady cart reaching for a bottle </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of Gallo white wine up high in the cooler, chilled </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and seemingly out of reach but she put her finger on it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Her finger set the bottle, and the rest of the day,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">and a lot of the rest of my life in motion; the bottle wobbled, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">got in a rhythm wilder, teetering … swinging side to side, </span>falling, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">a fat gallon going <i>down.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Yes, I dived. I <i>dove!)</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I dove for the bottle like the wide receiver I once was but </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">was never meant to be except for maybe<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">in this moment with this woman<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and I caught<i> </i>the bottle cleanly cradling it from </span>the hard linoleum </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(smashed the Walkman) and slid down the aisle </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">into a soft display<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">of paper towels for sale.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">“Touchdown!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">This<i> </i>from<i> </i>the woman (of course) as she flung her </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">red velvet beret up in the air where it landed with a </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">red velvet wobble on a security camera high<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>in the supermarket ceiling</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">—apropos, <i>you know?</i></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">We were stealing the show from the churchgoers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I got up, stacked back up the paper towels,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">the woman’s arms were still up in the air<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">(she was too!) for the touchdown<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">as she eased down from her cart with a <i>big, bright </i>smile.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">People watched us in churchly silence,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a manager of the supermarket (name tag) arrived,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I went around him, took the bottle to the woman, </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">her arms came down, we looked each other over.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Maybe it was a flat Sunday, both bored<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">or maybe we were both Sunday lonely at home,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">or maybe we saw a new curvature<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of the earth, the two of us walking off out of orbit!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Looking each other over, we began to smile. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Like maybe it was that last thing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>I’m in the book</i>, she said. This was back then,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">in the days when there were those books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>What’s your name?</i> I asked. I was almost at the point</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">of telling her mine, to be gentlemanly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><i>You’ll know it when you need it,</i> she said. She had me there. </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I knew what she meant. And I knew it<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>was on the horizon. </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">That need; it was coming soon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">She was maybe many years older<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">but what did that have to with anything?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">I was simultaneously maybe many years younger.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;">Fireworks are fireworks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-71792415186003430712023-03-04T15:06:00.000-08:002023-03-04T15:06:34.916-08:00<p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Disheveled rebel baby<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Yes, I was born disheveled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I felt precarious already, but also <i>way </i>precocious. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Ready for action, said the nurses, so they say.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">A couple of years later, in the first grade,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was sent to the principal’s office for climbing up</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the venetian blinds (those tough old heavy wooden slats)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">of my classroom. </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I had to stand in the corner. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Something was going on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Some of it was sheer crazy baby energy, but also </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">because somehow I knew that I’d been born<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">with an unfair advantage, me, a little<i> boy,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and because of that kind of male delivery, the world<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and all the doors were ridiculously, unfairly open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I saw the little girls getting the short end of it all (later, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">they grew up, turned into women, and I still saw it). Well, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>fuck that</i>, I said<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">in some some sort of equivalent baby language.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">That’s not fair, I said to the principal,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">from the corner, and I’m gonna mess with it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">And messing with it messed with my mother, a grandad, </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">some of the teachers, most of the the male coaches<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">and all of those gym classes and other classes from one end </p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;">of school to the other. Jobs, and a lot more, later on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">No matter what, I’d proceed, evermore—<i>disheveled.</i></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">It’s not<i> </i>enough, I know, to change everything or maybe anything </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">for all my girl and women friends, but I’ll do all I can<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to short circuit it all, stick up for my friends ... </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and fuck up my unfair advantage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Anyway—as women know as well or better </span>than me—</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>the corner</i> can be a real dangerous place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For the so-called principals in the room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I said, to the principal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-82186946170655159502023-02-25T13:31:00.005-08:002023-02-25T13:39:15.854-08:00<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Birds both in leather<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I drove into the Whole Foods parking lot, </span>a black bulge </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">of weather rolling in over the mountains, Led Zeppelin </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">turned up loud as I could get it (“When the Levee Breaks”) </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">and slammed into <i>I thought</i> an empty space<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">except for a bird sitting in a bush, looking me right in the eye.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">She didn’t move, I turned off the music, and the car.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">She cocked her head left, then right. I kept quiet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got out of the car way more gentle than I usually do,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">came around the car door softly; she watched me move.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bird was propped up on a green-gone-brown limb </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">and she was <i>not </i>getting ready to fly; trusting me as I got closer, </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know why; this was all making me <i>softer— </i></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">the bird watching me, trusting me, I don’t know why.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The granola crowd was glaring, going into the store,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">still mad at me for the loud rock and roll; I was melting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bulge of weather overhead was about to unload,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">the granola shoppers went shopping; I saw that the bird’s back leg </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">was caught on the strap of an old abandoned purse, </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">leather rotting, trashed-out, but still holding down her down. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got low, close, real tender, touched the strap, and just barely, </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">freeing her leg instantly, I hoped not hurting her,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>but the bird</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">—a she or a he bird, either way <i>we were birds of a feather—</i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">went on looking at me<i>, </i>and still<i> </i>she<i> </i>didn’t immediately fly away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then she did, she flew, and she was <i>gone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lost my train of thought, and the shopping list.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was thrown and touched by the entire moment,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">got back in the car, caught the tail of my leather jacket<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">on the door, going too fast, forgetting for a second my new <i>soft </i>thing,<i> </i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">then I slid<i> </i>in<i> </i>my Norah Jones CD and drove away from the storm.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-67903006205124331032023-01-08T17:06:00.005-08:002023-01-08T20:08:22.880-08:00<p> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>One way or another, a Love Poem, at last<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There was a particularly wonderful woman<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and what I did to try to win her over<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">is almost as unforgettable as she was, is. Almost.<i> She </i>wins. <i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Saturday of our date I got ready<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">by going down to the independent bookstore,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">that was my first angle of impressing her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Well, <i>second</i>, my second angle, the first being <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Lemon-Pledging the shit out of my apartment,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">which made her cough a lot a little later. But <i>Smilingly</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">At the bookstore, up and down the aisles,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">up and down the stairs, I picked out my book.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Being and Nothingness</i>, by Jean-Paul Sartre. <i>Bingo.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">(I was probably smart back then<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">maybe a little bit <i>rustic</i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">so I resorted to these sorts of subterfuges</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and they always backfired. But it all always worked out.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I took the fat philosophy book home, bent up the pages, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">cracked open a beer, accidentally spilled it on hundreds<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">of the thousands of pages, knocked over my cold cup<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">of morning coffee on the cover and casually flipped the book</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">on the couch where I’d been reading all that day long.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I had a spring in my steps as I ran up hers</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to the top floor, her door flew open<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">with a perfumed whoosh, and off we went to dinner.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">During which dinner I discovered that she<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">was a philosophy major</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in the university that we’d both attended,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>her, </i>philosophically attended, to a PhD.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She noticed me sliding down, a little cornered<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in our red-leather corner booth of the Savoy Grill.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She asked if I was having an existential crisis, but</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">having not really read the book, I hadn’t a clue what to say.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">After dinner, back at my place, after I opened the windows, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and once she’d stopped coughing,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she told me she was charmed by my “well-thumbed” book<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and I could tell by the look on her face, so close to mine</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">(as she flipped pages, reading all the places I’d underlined)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">that she was not making that up, she wasn’t <i>just saying that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Our first kiss happened then, her up on tip-toe<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Being and Nothingness </i>falling from her free hand<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to the floor between her shoes,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">already resting on their sides. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We were in love for awhile. At last, we said goodbye.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But it was easy, we still loved each other. We said so.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">When we said goodbye, she was still shaking her head at me </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">as she walked away, looking back at me as if<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I were an un-subtitled French movie, but still,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she looked glad. (And I bet she spoke French, too.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I would remain rustic a few more years<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but just so this poem doesn’t end narcissistically (sp?),</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I want to say that, as I walked away<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was looking back over my shoulder at <i>her</i>,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and I was shaking <i>my</i> head, too.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She was great.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Unforgettably.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-15839471053722381482022-12-17T14:48:00.011-08:002022-12-17T15:01:09.048-08:00<p><br /></p><p> <b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><i>Out the dog door<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was watching a professional football game</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and the crowd of booing bloated beerheads </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">not to mention<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>the belligerently ballistic head coach<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">were all screaming RED at the quarterback</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">who was obviously doing his best,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">when suddenly—</span>I had a memory of my junior high school gym class<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and it hit me like a clothesline tackle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But before I go <i>there</i>, I had a simultaneous but not off<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the subject memory during the two-minute warning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Having to do with how I hate it when people speak of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">animals as<i> dumb animals.</i> I must<i> </i>have a vested interest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Once, I saw a little dog at a Christmas plus Hanukkah party, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">little holiday bells on her collar, she was only trying to love </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">everybody in sight, not leave anybody out, running between </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">everybody’s legs, looking up, looking up at everyone,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but when she—eyes up, ears up, paws up—when she</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>jumped up <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">well fuck, that was it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The party stopped, everybody went berserk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">They screamed at her so hard her eyes went wide, went back </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in her head, shaking so hard she froze, got low, then she ran </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">out to somewhere <i>away</i> from the dining room, so fast between </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the mingling shoes until she got out the dog door, by herself in the dark, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">eyes wide and white like the moon above her</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she </span>stared up at it like maybe, just maybe, there was something </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">like <i>her</i> up there, somebody or <i>something</i> simpatico.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I watched, having discreetly followed her out the dog door, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and the moon must have helped her because when she<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">looked back down to earth, over at me, saw me peeing in the bushes, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she<i> </i></span>seemed to understand that I knew what she was going through.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I sure did. And the first time I understood it was way back<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in the early 70s, one day in junior high school gym class. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Maybe not anymore, but back in the 70s they gave you a shirt </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in gym class with a blank box on the front <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">where you were supposed to write your name.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">After the bullying dull-eyed teacher, coach, father figure, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">future driver’s ed instructor<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">had called me “bird muscle” and worse (to <i>him</i>, what did I care?),<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">like disrespectful, undisciplined, maybe even unAmerican,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">made me do at least four or five thousand push-ups<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">for my <i>attitude</i>, and for being good at all his sports anyway,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">even with my hairdo, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I took out a pen and wrote clear and strong black and white </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">bold in the blank box not my name but </span><span style="text-align: center;">OUT OF ORDER.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I sure was. (He flunked me, and worse). I sure <i>am.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">And the dog howls at the moon any night she wants to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but no longer needs to <i>long</i> for the moon<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">because she can see that there are no dogs on the moon</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and she wants fun and love down here on earth.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">And the quarterback, </span>no timeouts left, 3rd and long, </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">smiles, sort of <i>festively<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">at the line of scrimmage</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">changes the play, then he runs—</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">eighty yards</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">around the safety<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and any<i> other</i> sort of<i> </i>safety </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and dives into the end zone, head-first </span>over the head </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">of the head coach (<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">athletically, </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">rebelliously, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">surrealistically </span>not going out of bounds)—for a touchdown!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-23080483100107793022022-12-01T14:50:00.014-08:002022-12-01T22:34:32.708-08:00<p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><b>No Dutch Uncles, no mansplaining<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i><b>after midnight<span class="Apple-converted-space"> (at sunrise, or ever again) </span></b></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Change (especially internal)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">doesn’t only come down political hallways.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Sometimes you have to go up high, over the hill,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">through the magical moonlit smoke<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">up to where the coyotes are running.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But not for office.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-58598600840781604892022-11-22T21:36:00.007-08:002022-11-22T23:49:26.897-08:00<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Blue<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">How I feel tonight is how I felt long ago,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">the night before going to school knowing the bullies<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">were gonna get me behind the gym, and I couldn’t stop it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">HOWEVER—that night long ago, I made a plan:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">come morning I’d lie to my mother (another bully) about </span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">going to school, then go off, play hooky. Everywhere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">But don’t get me wrong; I’ve already bullied my way<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">(fiercely, yet festively—in a shade of Christopher BLUE)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">into the voting booth and made my mark, <i>way</i> before<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">heading off to higher ground.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-36742597960722398532022-11-19T19:36:00.000-08:002022-11-19T19:36:19.251-08:00<p><b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 20px;"><i>Spinach for Popeye<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There’s a radio tower seen at night—blinking<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">rhythmic red bulbs—for miles in all directions </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">above 31st and Main Street in Kansas City,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and below it one night we all piled out of a bar at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">a break between sets of music by They Might Be Giants.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We smoked in the alley, the sun wasn’t down yet<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">so I looked up into the steel tower and told them,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">these women and men pals of mine, that I could climb it;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I pointed at the <i>straight up </i>ladder, they looked straight <i>up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">They didn’t go for it</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">thought it was the smoke talking<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">laughed in a nice way, hugged me in a loving way,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">then went back into the bar for more independent music.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The sun went down and I began to climb.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The view got better and clearer, longer and farther, <i>if<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">at times colder, sometimes hotter, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I haven’t fallen off yet. </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-48304809229876511062022-10-29T22:37:00.034-07:002022-11-02T14:35:23.581-07:00<p> <b style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px;"><i>Got my jeans on </i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I woke up with a yellow splash of sunlight across my</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">chest, a blanket of blue sky across my<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">lower regions; all by my loose and lonesome in bed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But all of a sudden,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">waking up—in more ways than one<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was no longer going to be lonesome.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I had, I think, one or two twenty dollar bills<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but I wanted Mozart, ABBA, the Clash, Sinead </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">O’Connor, Chrissie Hynde, the Captain and Tennille, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">oysters on the half shell, and to fall all the way in love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I’d have it all before dark.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I remember—and confess—that it was meager where<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was that morning. There was my bouncy mattress,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">my clanging radiator, and my lonely beer refrigerator. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But there was also that sun and blue for </span>untold miles<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>high, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and suddenly I wanted nothing any meager<i>er.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Bringing all of this just a little bit down to earth—</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">what we’re talking about here is<b> </b>six cassette tapes, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">dinner for two in a romantically low-lit restaurant,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and finding one ravenous and rebellious kind of woman.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">My apartment lit up. I did too. I got my jeans on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">My jeans walked to open the door of my now-not-lonely beer <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">refrigerator, down the cigarette-smoky hallway stairs, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">skipping to the midtown village to Penny Lane Records. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">My cold can of early beer was happy history.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I had my Irish newsboy cap on. The puffy one, on top. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I got to the record store, I got <i>in</i> the record store, passing </span>through </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the security wafers at the front door brimming with innocence, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">but checking them out nonetheless; there was a bright and busy woman </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">by the cash register who said<i> good morning! </i>to me, she was <i>very</i> pretty;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I made a mental (not to mention physical) note of it; then I swung</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">through the aisles, picking up Sinead, ABBA, Chrissie, the Clash, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the Captain and Tennille, and proceeded thoughtfully, maybe studiously, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">probably obviously, over to the classical music aisle, for Mozart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">A guy came in with a beard, a backpack, a beatific smile, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and he began to glow as he walked to the woman </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">at the cash box, asking her: <i>where’s the feminist music section?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Such perfect timing, this young man was my ideal cover,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I’d </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">just </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">about got the tapes in the back of my jeans,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">but </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">then of course </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">remembered </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">(how could I forget) </span>that that was why I’d worn my </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">puffy Irish newsboy cap<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">(the woman was so beautiful I </span>almost <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">forgot<i> </i></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>everything</i>)</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">—the cap that was high, floppy, puffy, and roomy enough </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">for the tapes to ride in, secretly high above the security wafers!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I slipped the tapes in the hat, got my jeans on toward the front door. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But the woman, within the young man’s earnest glow, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">listening to him halfway, was halfway watching me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>I</i> was walking toward the wafers, the door, Broadway</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">he was asking about Indigo Girls</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">she was watching me like she’d seen my movie before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But like she might lay low,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">get her some popcorn, and sneak into the next show.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Within mere feet of the wafers my feet went cold but</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">my jeans (I’ll take credit) kept them moving, passing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">unalarmed through and outside to Broadway Boulevard.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The door to the record store swung open behind me; </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the woman running the store told the good-hearted guy</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">where Kate Bush was inside, which made me want<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to go back in and steal her too but my hat was full-up, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">plus the woman was behind me, I could tell by her heels. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I <i>knew </i>you were stealing,” she said, with a surprise of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>a smile </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">that was so big, unafraid and without ending<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>it made me feel </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">like someone might finally love me all the way and without ending; </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">this all sounds way over the top, but it was … <i>that</i> kind of a smile. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I knew you were going to steal the moment you walked in the door.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We both broke eye contact, reluctantly for sure, because </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">there was something going on and we both knew it, but<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">we needed to get a grip, regroup, even savor this—</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">so I looked north to the corner restaurant, she south to</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the big city’s Plaza shopping and entertainment district.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Penny Lane record store hunkered in bricks behind </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">us as if to say, hey, <i>what about me?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“And yet,” I broke the melting ice,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“you’re looking at me like you seem<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to maybe like me.” “I do,” she said,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">melting both of the ice caps, so far away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“But why,” I continued, starting to swim, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“when you’ve caught me at shoplifting? </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It’s true that I put on my bluest jeans </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">this morning, but what else do you see?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“It’s not your Levis,” she said, but took a look at them anyway. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“The crotch, um—</span>the <i>crux</i> of the matter is that I see need, a little </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">lack, but I see the inclination to <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">do something about it. </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I see <i>desire</i>. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I like it. </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">It’s rare, of late.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Even if you did just sneak off some tapes in your hat!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">She bent over laughing, slapping her fishnet thigh, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">her hair falling </span>crazy like wild out of her loose-bound bun,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">so I took off my cap and handed her back the cassettes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Keep ‘em, but tell me, is it true what I say I see?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“It’s true, and I don’t want to go home. Will you go out </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">to dinner </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">with me </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">tonight? I’d love some oysters on the half shell. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I woke up wanting oysters, all this music, and to fall in love.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I was out of breath. “I like<i> you,</i>” I added. She took over.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I will definitely go out to dinner with you, thank you for asking, </span>but I want us </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to go to Annie’s Santa Fe a few blocks down on the Plaza—Mexican food, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">maybe no oysters, and it will be my treat, since you’re stealing this morning, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">but <i>about that, </i>I’ll hire you at Penny Lane Records here behind me as my<i> </i></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>number </i><i>two</i>, if that doesn’t insult you as a guy, but I have a sense it don’t. <i>Doesn’t.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“</i>It doesn’t. I’m not made like that, as a guy.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I guess you could say that I was charmed by the spirit off your stealing.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Thank you, but the stealing is now over.”</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I’m kind of sizing you up right now, I bet you stole<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">just long enough to get <i>in the spirit, </i>so to speak.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Anyway, </i>that’s how it was for me. Hang on to that, I say.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“You too?” A window open, in her. I jumped in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Hang on to the spirit, I mean. And yes, me too. I could </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">see <i>you </i>c</span>oming a mile away. But, of course, I didn’t </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">know you were going to steal more than just my music.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I’d like to become gallant enough to <i>take </i>you to dinner.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I’d love that, ask me again after your first payday under me, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in two weeks time. I’d like to kiss you now, please. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I’ll close up early, lock up, us inside. I have a question.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I</span>’<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">ve been wanting to kiss you since I<i> saw</i> you, </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">since </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i>before</i> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I saw you, </span>ever since I woke up this morning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Would you yawn or laugh if I said since I was born? </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’ve been wanting to kiss you since two minutes ago,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the way you </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">bent over and slapped your leg, your hair flying aromatically <span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">out of control</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">—<i>floral marshmallow?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span>Hey, but first we’d better let that nice guy </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">out of your store,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the guy with his Kate Bush record. You’ve a question?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“The Captain and Tennille. Are you sure about that?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Sure I’m sure.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We’re going to have fun getting to know one another.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">There was a yellow splash of sunlight<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">and a blanket of blue sky, all around us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-28190677441072843462022-09-28T20:22:00.002-07:002022-09-28T20:23:58.943-07:00<p><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>A deep blue horizontal trauma<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>(or maybe sympathy overkill)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">But that’s how bad <i>my </i>childhood was.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Somebody gave me a Slinky,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">and I had no stairs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 27px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-13897870751557571332022-09-04T20:59:00.007-07:002022-09-26T11:57:13.284-07:00<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><b style="font-family: Cochin;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">No shoes, no shirt, no (funeral) service</span></i></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t<b> </b>even<b> </b>do anything<i> </i>if it’s not going to be fun. </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Refuse. Walk away. They’ll go on living without you. </span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This brazen philosophy may put a lot of churches out<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">of business.</span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You may need to unlearn a lot of that stuff, that stuff<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">they said to you from the start, in Sunday school.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not to mention Monday school, Tuesday school, </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday school, Thursday school, Friday school, </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and Saturday school; landing you back around in a </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">dull stifling circle to Sunday—the same. Time to get out of orbit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span>It’s no good getting up in the morning if what’s </span></span><span>coming </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">isn’t going to be fun, and this includes dying. </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But not yet, please—I’m having way too much fun!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is it bad taste, or mean, to bring up death, as fun? Nope. </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember? School’s out, the church service is over, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">bright bouncing misbehaving even bilingual babies are carrying the collection plates </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">loaded down with sushi, disco records, strawberries and cream on tiramisu, </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and yes, <i>those </i>kind of beautiful (first class, one-way ticket) mushrooms! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Death will be fun (<i>hey,</i> not yet!) because<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">all things new </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">anything surprising</span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">whatever you didn’t see coming—</span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">hasn’t that always been nothing but fun?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The churches mopily prepare you for decades, your </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">grades and transcripts follow you around tediously, </span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">your </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">parents look at you like you’re out of date yogurt.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But <i>fun—</i>you can do it,<i> </i>and I’m behind you all the way.</span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you ever do die, some people will say,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in their rubber stamp language<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to some <i>other </i>people you might have known, “Sorry for your loss,”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but won’t even know how much fun you were and are having.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It can start now. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But you’ve got to get out of orbit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There’s so much room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Go get a lot of colorful, inappropriate, sensually out of control plus artistic </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span>clothing, </span></span>put it all on, then—take it all off! </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; 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-converted-space">Your nakedness has never skinned up such sacredness, </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; 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-converted-space">not that it</span></span><span>’</span><span><span class="Apple-converted-space">s all that precious ... but it <i>is</i> </span></span><span>all that free, finally. </span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And fun. You can do it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-9149447226970905902022-08-19T12:16:00.060-07:002022-09-03T14:49:19.876-07:00<p><i style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;"><b><br /></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>PTSD </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">The waves keep coming in. I don</span><span><span style="font-family: times;">’</span><span style="font-family: times;">t care.</span></span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I think I’m gonna towel off, mop up, mope not;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">say fuck it, then go find me a new and starlit beach. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-40149959513236454012022-07-04T12:00:00.005-07:002022-07-06T17:23:04.388-07:00<p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Cells and Cells of Skulls</i></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I couldn’t sleep, you probably get that way too,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">so I went out, sleepy-eyed driving </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">around, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">under the stars up and down the Turquoise Trail. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Driving up on the prison south of Santa Fe, I slowed down. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I thought of all the brains lying in there ... <i>thinking. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lying in the dark, trying to dream, trying at least to sleep.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I felt bad for those brains in the dark, forever ditched </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">in their neural grooves, so I pulled over </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">but didn’t cut the ignition. Or turn off the headlights. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had it in my mind to go in and help them all,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">all those brains rotating in circles in the dark. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Someone told me once and maybe more </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">than once </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">that I’m a sweet man. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I must not have cared when they told me that, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">hadn’t thought of it since, had shrugged it off, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">though I sweetly thanked them at the time, when they told me that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I flashed my high beams up over the front prison gate,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">over the razor wire, up on those long hard walls suddenly </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">reflecting the strawberry moon, clear of the silky clouds. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">They said I was sweet. <i>Well, let’s find out,</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I thought, lowering my high beams </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">but aiming them at the front gate, at the guards. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I’m sweet all over, from head to toe, and so </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">my head is a big chocolate mousse, and if my head is </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">a cake, I’ve got a file in it. Metaphoric, I mean. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I drove toward the gate, the moon beamed bright, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">beamed all the way down into the waves in my gas tank </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">and the gasoline got absolutely <i>high tidal </i>splashing </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">causing the car to go faster and faster and faster, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">25 … 35 … 55 … 70 miles an hour, maybe even faster! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>The crossbar at the gate splintered, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the guards </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>dove </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>sideways safely </span>(cussing me fiercely) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">into the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">roadside ditches, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">while inside the prison, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">all those brand new, glow-in-the-dark brains</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> jumped <i>out</i> of theirs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-75032316408257495532021-07-12T12:46:00.003-07:002021-07-12T12:47:58.571-07:00Deer in the spotlights <p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">I saw a dead deer in the ditch</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">legs stiff in the air<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">reaching out for <i>something</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I pulled over out of the dark night traffic<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the deer was face down, eyes open<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in a roadside bag of old, antsy hamburgers. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I began to cry, but then it hit me<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">that while the hamburgers weren’t everlasting<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the deer <i>was!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I cried anyway (for a <i>new</i> reason), went home </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">after I kissed the deer on the forehead<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">got in bed, got face down<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">in my bedside bag of mushrooms<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">then got deeply down into my pillows so that </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">maybe, </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I too</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">could be everlasting. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We were <i>shining.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></i></span></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-18066754649593223022021-02-17T20:37:00.001-08:002021-02-19T21:38:59.877-08:00He put the Fun in Funeral <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cochin;">The alarm clock went off in the dark<br /></span><span style="font-family: Cochin;">and we woke up in the mourning in the black sheets. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cochin;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We pulled off our black pajamas </span></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">pulled back the black drapes </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and looked out </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">side by side, tears in our eyes<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">at the dark sky — </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">black clouds smoldering over<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">like charcoal briquets, too cold to burn.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We took our showers in silence</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(separately, <i>naturally</i>—out of respect)</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">dried off, made some black coffee and toast<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and we burned it black.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We let the Black Lab out back to pee<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">then it was time to go to his funeral.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We walked out together to the car<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">but I couldn’t open the doors<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">let alone start the engine<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">because, as I told her,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I couldn’t find the keys. I’d lost them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Sorry for your loss,” she said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The keys were found of course so we<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">drove off toward some kind of a church.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Along the way, down the street, me<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">driving the speed limit, both of us<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">respectfully, appropriately (etc. etc.) silent,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I tastefully selected “Amazing Grace” for music.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Next, I suggested “Hallelujah” for the CD player</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">but she opted for “Paint it Black.” She got it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I drove gently into the church<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">parking lot, we tiptoed inside.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Up front a man in a black suit and all of us in a black</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">mood did what we were supposed to be doing in a </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">church </span>like that then we all went on out to the grave.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The sky was changing. The earth was moving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">His tombstone rose out of the earth as we approached<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">because it’s round and then—<i>and then!—</i>we read it. </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Under his name and the dates was the one sentence</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="text-align: center;"> IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We heard something and looked up.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The sky was suddenly bright blue corduroy pants</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">with a silver (in the lining) zipper, WIDE WHALES </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">full of hungry, happy, horny fish, swimming wild and </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">when the sky unzipped all the way across the world: </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> There they were,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> we saw them. In the blue bubbles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Swimming right to us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We saw all of the people that we had ever loved, </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span>all </span></span>the ones that still loved us (<i>had never even stopped!</i>)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and all the other ones who had always wanted to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">but somehow couldn’t get quite close enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span> Now everything was close. But n</span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span>ot too close, </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> like a grave. Or a church, God forbid. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Wide open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The funeral homes and churches were converted <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">into cocktail lounges, Japanese restaurants, </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and Deep Sea Dive Shops.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even the Black Lab turned blue and ran off<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">with a school of fish because it’s never too late.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Cochin; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034534989137309835.post-38127884325331802302020-06-09T14:56:00.000-07:002020-06-09T14:56:54.165-07:00Beer, a Bear, and Bly There’s a bear deep in the north Minnesota woods tonight<br />
just sitting there, on a fragrant wet bed of pine needles,<br />
moonlight in his hopeful brown eyes, hoping to get a glimpse<br />
of his hero—Joseph Campbell. He’s deep in the woods but<br />
close to the yelling voices and yellow windows lit up<br />
in a big wooden cabin jumping and full of the<br />
Robert Bly Minnesota Men’s Mythopoetic Meeting.<br />
<br />
The bear is a guy, and though he wasn’t invited inside,<br />
he’s trying, he’s leaning toward the cabin windows, trying<br />
to fit in. Still though, he’s not looking for Robert Bly.<br />
Doesn’t want to bond with the men, or really eat any of them.<br />
<br />
The bear is into Joseph Campbell.<br />
The bear is now on the path of following his bliss.<br />
He needs to, before he goes extinct, and to avoid getting shot.<br />
He hopes Joe has been invited, is coming, is still alive.<br />
Not sure how he’ll know him if he shows, but the bear trusts<br />
his ancestral instinct and his big, wet nose.<br />
If Joe is here tonight, he’ll know; the bear will follow his piss.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, inside the cabin, there’s a guy, Christopher Blue,<br />
calls himself Blue, he’s seated and ostensibly fitting in,<br />
but he wants a beer.<br />
<br />
He’s so desperate for a beer he’s not even in the cabin.<br />
The bear is focused, zen-grounded in the pine needles.<br />
How did <i>this</i> happen?<br />
<br />
Only ten years ago from this night, Blue was brand new<br />
clean and sober, living inside again, in a place somewhere<br />
south of these deep woods called Kansas City, in a place called<br />
the Country Club Plaza, in his big, mostly empty, victoriously<br />
contented third floor flat in a mansion; rent and all his bills<br />
paid on time, a bedside table stack of tapes of Robert Bly,<br />
Joseph Campbell and Malidoma Somé, and a new used<br />
toaster in his big, mostly empty kitchen, to cook up his<br />
cinnamon toast all those nights cozy, healthy and wholesome<br />
in his new used bed with a window on the Plaza lights;<br />
toast and Perrier, tapes of wisdom and bliss, and<br />
philosophically indirect directions about what to do<i> next. </i><br />
<br />
Now that he had finally come to rest.<br />
The rest didn’t last. That’s how <i>this</i> is happening, tonight.<br />
<br />
Blue is not really in the cabin, like he wasn’t in the jobs,<br />
the conversations, ever still enough to stay in love, although<br />
he loved to fall, always hoping love would bring him to rest.<br />
Once a great woman affectionately (quite understandably)<br />
commanded him to <i>heel!</i> but he kept chasing his tail so<br />
here he is, having miraculously gotten himself so far north,<br />
so deep in the woods, in the cabin with all the wisemen<br />
from his bedtime tapes<br />
come to life waking up, and walking up<br />
onto the stage, inside the big wooden cabin.<br />
<br />
But he still wants the beer.<br />
<br />
The wisemen all sit down and begin to make announcements.<br />
<br />
Outside, his nose in the air, deciphering that Joseph Campbell<br />
will not be one of the announcement makers,<br />
the bear gets up and lumbers deeper into the trees.<br />
<br />
“<i>Welcome, </i>guys!” growls Robert Bly, warmly, like a<br />
Shakespearian bear. “Welcome to the first of seven days and<br />
nights all us mythopoetic warriors in the woods! You guys <i>ready?</i>”<br />
<br />
“Ready!” Everyone eagerly answers, everyone but Blue,<br />
checking his watch, calculating the time (he saw the <i>open until </i><br />
<i>closed</i> sign) to the closing of the tavern he saw coming down<br />
the country road to the cabin about an hour ago.<br />
<br />
“Now listen,” Bly continues, “you may have noticed that<br />
tavern up the country road. We’ve all agreed to no alcohol<br />
during the conference,” Bly pauses and scans the hundred or<br />
so men and sees one down front not looking in agreement,<br />
checking his watch, “but good hamburgers if anybody needs a<br />
break from all this. Anyway, though they’re open until I think<br />
midnight, it is <i>no go</i> walking through these woods after dark.<br />
Bears! Woods full of them.”<br />
<br />
Blue is moved that Robert Bly is right in front of him, ten feet<br />
away, he knows what this should mean to him tonight; the<br />
voice he heard in bed, all the books all the poems all that Iron<br />
John that filled him up and kept him up all night way back<br />
then, on the Country Club Plaza; a brand new life with a<br />
clear and ferocious direction—maybe his seventh second chance.<br />
<br />
He doesn’t hear a thing, though all the men around him are<br />
laughing and hugging. The cabin windows, though reflecting<br />
back the communal fun inside, are black. His watch says ten.<br />
He sees an exit, past the bathroom doors down a dark hall.<br />
<br />
During a standing ovation for something, Blue goes away.<br />
He is so sure, like always, that no one will notice him go away.<br />
<br />
Outside in the dark—pine scent in his nose, fireplace smoke<br />
in his eyes, cold night air up his blue jeans, and maybe bears<br />
in the woods—Blue walks into the trees.<br />
<br />
Hearing footsteps and horror movie cliches in the woods, he<br />
pops back out onto the gravel driveway the airport van drove<br />
him in on a couple of hours ago, follows it a couple of hundred<br />
yards to the country road, and looks right then left.<i> There. </i><br />
<br />
Way up that road he sees lights, red and blue neon cursive<br />
and the glow of the coach house lamp, swinging in the wind.<br />
<br />
Maybe a mile away, and a long one in the dark, but Blue<br />
walks briskly, thinking of beers not bears.<br />
Tries not to think of what he may be missing right now of Bly.<br />
<br />
Through the door of the tavern called <i>Dave’s Stagecoach Inn </i><br />
Blue’s glasses fog up, turn everything blurry orange, and<br />
it’s the usual sour beer smell and self-pitying country music,<br />
but he’s glad to be in here and orders three Budweisers.<br />
<br />
“ ‘Spectin’ two others?” asks the bartender, bloodshot eyes<br />
magnified behind thick, greasy eyeglasses in the dark. No face,<br />
Blue can’t see a smile, doesn’t hear one. But<i> he</i> smiles.<br />
<br />
“Nope! All three for me, short of time. I’m at the Men’s<br />
Conference down the road, and I’m not even supposed to be in<br />
here drinking, so I’m on a tight drinking schedule!”<br />
<br />
When he says <i>Men’s Conference</i>, low snide laughs burr<br />
somewhere in the bar, somewhere in the dark orange blur.<br />
<br />
Blue pays, drinks the three beers quickly, his body grateful,<br />
but his soul and spirit need more satisfaction. So, he walks<br />
slowly down the bar toward the light of the jukebox.<br />
He hears breathing along the way, but no one says hi.<br />
<br />
At the jukebox, the bright song menu on top lights Blue up,<br />
exposes his face to the room, and he begins to scans the songs;<br />
the usual again—all the tough and tortured misunderstood<br />
men singers who of course just <i>have</i> to get back on the road<br />
or down to the tavern since nobody <i>especially women </i><br />
don’t understand them—<i>those </i>songs.<br />
<br />
But then, up on top of the juke menu, <i>C7</i>. “I Can’t Breathe.”<br />
Somehow, someway, <i>C7.</i><br />
That song, by Pussy Riot.<br />
<br />
Blue smiles again, walks back to the bar, hands the bartender a<br />
five dollar bill, asks for quarters, the bloodshot eyes stare, blink,<br />
Blue says ok, and <i>another beer</i>, gets the change, feeds all of it<br />
into the jukebox, punches in <i>C7</i>, a lot, probably too many times,<br />
slides the Budweiser into his jacket pocket, turns and starts slowly<br />
walking—moseying, as they might say in <i>Dave’s </i><i>Stagecoach Inn</i>—<br />
down the bar, nods goodnight to the dark, whoever’s there, out the<br />
tavern door, and Blue runs, fast, straight across the road, almost gone,<br />
but stops beneath a streetlight and pulls out his beer (priorities)<br />
and drinks it all down, foam and all, nonchalantly walks back<br />
across the road and drops the empty bottle into a green recycling<br />
bin by the side of the tavern, then Blue<i> runs. </i>Into the woods.<br />
<br />
But he’s not too deep in the trees before he hears the glorious<br />
unstoppable voice of Nadya Tolokonnikova<br />
shearing the needles off the pine trees all around him, also<br />
a rumbling inside the tavern, headed toward the front door.<br />
<br />
Blue keeps running, like a fullback, weaving in and out of<br />
the pine trees like they’re tacklers, except the trees’ last thought<br />
would be to tackle him, rather, they are welcoming him,<br />
embracing him, sheltering and perfuming him as he flies<br />
through their low lush branches<br />
brushing his face and shoulders with sticky, friendly resin.<br />
<br />
Ahead, he sees something breathing.<br />
Vaporous puffs of breath, like the ones coming out of him.<br />
Only much larger puffs, puffing out of something leaning on<br />
a tree. Something much larger than Blue.<br />
<br />
He stops running, out of breath,<br />
bent over, hands on knees, puffing up<br />
a wall of vapor between him and<br />
whatever’s breathing by the tree.<br />
<br />
Now walking towards him calmly<br />
on two legs, coming out of the darkness<br />
making profound eye contact; brown eyes,<br />
big, round and square into Blue’s blue eyes.<br />
<br />
“Robert Bly is looking for you.”<br />
The calm, resonant voice of the forest,<br />
all atavistic.<br />
<br />
“You’re a talking bear?”<br />
The jittery, anemic voice of the airport,<br />
a couple of hours ago.<br />
<br />
“... I mean, I’m down with Myth,<br />
the Mythopoetic, and I’ve never metaphor<br />
I didn’t like—get it? never mind—but<br />
a talking bear in the forest is pushing it.”<br />
<br />
“Do you want to follow your bliss or not?”<br />
<br />
It’s late, it’s dark, but whatever color comes out of the intense<br />
blending of brown and blue, out of the intensity of Blue and<br />
the Bear staring at each other, whatever<i> that</i> color is, it’s bleeding<br />
together, pooling and lighting up this whole section of the forest.<br />
And now, as if someone clapped their hands, it’s dark again.<br />
<br />
“Wow. What was <i>that?</i> I’m Christopher Blue, by the way.”<br />
<br />
“I know. Hello. I’m the Bear.”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Well. So you know about Joseph Campbell?”<br />
<br />
“Uh huh. I was hoping he’d be here, but I think maybe he<br />
died. Still, I need to get close to this, close to whatever’s<br />
happening with those guys at the cabin. I’m alone<br />
out here a lot of the time, Blue. Walking around.”<br />
<br />
“I was in an airport bar before I got here, full of people and<br />
three football games on, but I was alone there, too. I need to<br />
get close to this, too.”<br />
<br />
“Why aren’t you in there? I’d go, but I don’t think it would<br />
work out. You went to the tavern?”<br />
<br />
“Yes, Bear. I drink thinking I’m gonna get close to something<br />
but I get farther and farther away every time. It doesn’t really<br />
work out.”<br />
<br />
A cold wind rivers through the trees overhead and when<br />
Blue and the Bear look up, they see a powdery blue and bright<br />
white brocade of sky and stars.<br />
<br />
“They were looking for you, some of them. Bly, too. They saw<br />
you leave before, out of that side door. I saw you. There’s some<br />
kind of African water ritual happening tonight and everyone’s<br />
supposed to be there. Led by the great Malidoma Somé.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, I know. I love that guy. In the ritual, we all get naked.<br />
Naked, light a bonfire, and walk out into the lake in pairs.”<br />
<br />
“I wish I could go. I’m already naked. But I’ll watch from the<br />
trees and cheer you on. You’d better get down to the cabin, Blue.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, I’d better, Bear. Better get ready to strip. I can hear them<br />
beginning to sing. You going to be around later?”<br />
<br />
“You know where to find me.”<br />
<br />
Blue winks at the Bear and walks ahead on the path, his nose<br />
picking up on the bonfire smoke ahead, towards some kind of<br />
singing in the trees ahead, but he hears the Bear rhetorically<br />
clear his throat, so he turns a head back to him.<br />
<br />
“Uh, Blue? You do understand the significance of this ritual,<br />
don’t you? What it’s all about?”<br />
<br />
“Loosely.”<br />
<br />
“I understand it deeply, in my fur, though I can’t be there.<br />
All you guys get naked, exposed, together, all in a bunch—<br />
no hiding, no shame, everyone open and witnessing each other<br />
in a circle around the fire, with dignity, complete acceptance—<br />
and you each privately bring the thing or things, plural if you<br />
want, your biggest wound, and throw it in the fire. It’s your<br />
secret shame, you keep it to yourself, don’t gotta tell anyone<br />
else, but once it’s in the fire, everyone curses it, yells at it as it<br />
<i>burns</i> in the fire. Then, you guys all chant, cry, dance<br />
and <i>sing</i> the smoke of it into the sky, all goddamn GONE!”<br />
<br />
“No shit?”<br />
<br />
“You’re all naked and singing and dancing in a big circle<br />
around the fire, going out of your fucking minds with joy and<br />
freedom from your shame, then—at some intuitive moment—<br />
Somé and Bly will start walking toward the lake, pulling the<br />
circle into a line which will bisect at a tree where Somé stands,<br />
probably in a really charismatic, shamanistic way, just a bit<br />
before the shoreline, paring you guys off into pairs, and then<br />
you walk into the water to ask the Great Spirit—I forget the<br />
rest of his or her mythological name—for your own big strong<br />
personal blessing, to replace the shame you just burned up.”<br />
<br />
“Fuckin’ hell, Bear. So that’s what’s about to happen to me?”<br />
<br />
The Bear puts his big comforting paw on Blue’s shoulder,<br />
drawing blood.<br />
<br />
“That’s what’s about to happen to <i>all</i> of you, Blue. I envy you.”<br />
<br />
“Oh no. Oh damn. I’m sorry. You should be there too. But let’s<br />
you and me do it together, later on, just us chickens!”<br />
<br />
“Yeah?” asks the Bear, squeezing Blue’s shoulder.<br />
<br />
“<i>Oh</i> yeah.” says Blue.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Walking away from the bonfire with his back, his butt cheeks<br />
and his soul as red-hot and bubbling as Christmas morning<br />
sausages, Blue sees Malidoma Somé ahead at his Shaman tree<br />
looking like big trouble and bigger love.<br />
<br />
“Your <i>eyes!</i>” Somé puts it all in a nutshell, to Blue.<br />
<br />
“<i>Tell </i>me about it!” commands Blue, but not really.<br />
<br />
“I don’t think I can!” laughs Somé, holding Blue’s face softly<br />
in his hands. “Or should.” Blue is on the move forward<br />
toward the lake, but Somé sees something and says something.<br />
<br />
“Your shoulder. <i>Claws? </i>Something get ahold of you tonight?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. And the night is young.”<br />
<br />
Blue is at the end of the line, he’d had a hard time walking away<br />
from the bonfire, but now he’s on his way to the water,<br />
the line of men pairing off, and waiting up ahead,<br />
looking like <i>his</i> partner to walk into the lake with, is Robert Bly.<br />
<br />
Naked. Grinning at Blue. Like <i>more</i> trouble.<br />
<br />
Blue can’t believe it. He stops in his naked tracks and can<br />
almost hear his tapes of this man ten years ago<br />
back in bed in Kansas City on the Country Club Plaza.<br />
<br />
Blue turns around and Malidoma Somé is still back there,<br />
looking at him like—oh yeah man, <i>this is happening!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bly and Blue wade into the water hand in hand, wavelets<br />
lapping up on Bly’s furry white old body, and on Blue’s strong,<br />
sure-footed legs, walking over sharp underwater rocks<br />
and it hurts and it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t really matter.<br />
<br />
Robert Bly starts laughing.<br />
“Want to go get a beer later?” he asks.<br />
<br />
“Maybe,” says Blue. “My treat. But it’s not really on my mind<br />
at the moment, you know?”<br />
<br />
Now they’re both laughing. They keep <i>on</i> laughing.<br />
It stirs up the water. The bear, up in the pine trees,<br />
out of sight, but not too far away, predicts tidal waves.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Been Out of School Way Too Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15055720738239389371noreply@blogger.com0