“happy halloween, dude. Get it in.”

Msg from my formerly religious-right friend who became human again after he started smoking weed

October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off on

He took a cake from me. Said these were his favorite. A year ago, I couldn’t even get him to take food from me in a dream.

At the potluck, he asked to sit next to me. He was on my right and Bill, the one he’s quietly and privately deemed his nemisis on the left. Twin Tauruses, born 6 days apart. Both married and to be married in the same location.

Can’t they see who brought them into orbit.

I was more comfortable talking with Bill. Found my arm draped over Bill’s chair, casually, the universal display of territorial ownership. Dropped my arm as soon I realized. Last thing I need is that caught on tape.

He told me my meatballs were the hit. Later, he told me he ate 7 of them. When he left, he thanked me for the cake and the meatballs.

1. You are just starting to understand how well-fed you would be with me.

2. Elvis has left the building.

3. Don’t worry. We’re still friends.

October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off on

My coworker comes up to me while I’m sitting in the car. He’s got a plastic bowl of potato salad his mom made, and the sky is a rich, lazy blue around him.

He asks me all kinds of questions–where I live, what I do, if I still write.

“What about personal life. Are you seeing anyone?”

I stumble for an answer. Somewhere bouncing between no, kind of, I don’t know.

Why?, he asks.

People always move too fast with me. My insides don’t match my outsides, and people don’t always understand that or expect that. I move very slowly.

What’s slow for you, he asked.

I need to know you as a friend or have worked with you. Otherwise, it’s hard to get close.

October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off on

Lesson one:

Use some of that 20/20 hindsight as foresight. Practice predictive foresight.

October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off on