GONE

I’m about to light up my “after work cigarette”. The first of my 3… traffic jams make me smoke more, fidget, adhd shit…. Traffic jams are good for conversations, providing you’re not too jaded about sitting still. It does help to have someone to converse with sitting in the same car as you. It’s all good – technology makes people available on demand - I’m trying to get in touch with JP, we’re on course to cause ruckus in da cut. He’s swearing loudly, louder than the NWA coming out of his speakers. He’s on his way to work and unable to get blitzed. He has the beer in his truck, tucked away in a cooler – hardcore right? Dude rolls around with a cooler in his truck, sometimes stocked with beer – most of the time you’ll find some goodies or water. Tonight he’s rocking Amstel Light, propa. Sounds better than the Natty Ice Adam left at my place…

Now that our 7pm happy hour isn’t happening I need other activities to occupy my mind. I’m thinking I’ll do something positive, not for myself though. I think I’ll take the baby to the park for an educational walk, sunshine, maybe push her on the swings and worry to death as she speeds down the sliding board – good times. Maybe I should call her “kid”, I mean, I think when you’re 3 you’re no longer a baby… Maybe I’m old and jaded about my age and wanting to re-live my childhood in the now not the past – make sensei?

I get home, the baby is sitting at the front bay window looking happy but helpless – now I’m worried. Kids are a delight – they don’t care about anything other than FUN. I’m sure that’s a lie – but – what did you think about at the age of 3? I know I wasn’t debating our current president, terrorism, economy or the new fucking xbox. I wanted my romper room, reading rainbow, g.i. joe and he-man – ohh and some milk. Anyways, I go upstairs and the kid is laid out on the couch, starring at the tele. I notice a bucket below her – I inquire – she tells me in babble-speak that she’s sick. I ask the rest of the fam and get the low-down… she’s got a fever and just upchucked some crackers.. yuck! What can do you for a kid who doesn’t know what’s wrong with them? Hell, I know adults that have the same problems… but, we’re talking about the kid, right? I get a few sentences out of her until Sponge Bob comes on – everytime I watch that damn show I end up laughing like Sponge Bob – why? Maybe it’s the annoying things he does or the joy he takes in living naïve. The baby laughs until the credits roll, she’s feeling good. I go to get her milk; in 3 minutes she’s asleep, sound asleep! I wish I could sleep like that – I lay in bed for hours waiting for my brain to shut off. So the kid is sick and asleep – What am I going to do - all my plans are squashed - I know, consume alcohol and play some music, maybe break out the synthesizer – woot woot

posted by Not Jon  # 5/11/2005 11:40:00 AM