Ten: From a standing start

Hey beautiful.

I have a thousand things I've promised to take care of; promised to myself and/or to others. I've made a dent or two in that list but I feel run ragged even though, superficially, I've got nothing much stopping me. Maybe the season's got me down. I just feel by off a step.

I woke up this morning at 11:30, proud for allowing myself to get a more-than-decent night's sleep Two minutes later the phone rang. I have a policy - which I frequently break - of not leaving the bed for the phone. I did anyhow, because I wasn't gonna hang around under the covers much longer anyhow, and I had a hunch who was calling. I was right.

It was CB, calling to quickly confirm details of giving me a ride that afternoon. He said he'd swing by around five-to-one. From there I showered, shaved and sat around doing my usual computer routine, having a quick breakfast of Golden Grahams to hold off my apetite. Amanda said last week how cereal doesn't really fill you up and that before too long you get hungry again. I was counting on it. Sometime after 12 I got an MSN message from Emma, talking in her particular temporally-displaced dialect. "Hey doll, how are ya? You coming this afternoon?" I explained that I was, and she asked if I had a ride. I said yes, it was that incomparable wheelmeister CB and that she oughtta ring him up.

Promptly, mere minutes until 1:00, I heard a faint but anticipated knock on my front door. In olden days, it would have set my dog into a barking frenzy, but he doesn't exactly have his weits about him these days. I love him anyhow. I rushed upstairs and flashed the visitor the "1 minute" sign. I grabbed my jacket and downed a spoonful of Buckley's to ease my CB-style cough. I set my MSN to "Away" and bounded excitedly down the driveway to see a sight for sore eyes; CB's van, with Emma and Cary in tow.

A few weeks ago I had gotten a Facebook invite listing many of us once-and-former drama kids, the class of 2005 to be exact, out to a gathering at the Mandarin. Pricey as Mandarin was, and as loathe as I am to eat in public, I wasn't going to be a lameass. There are a lot of people out there I don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like. The day arrived today.

After a car ride during which Cary and Chris detailed their rading week scheme to road trip down south somewheres, and Emma philosophized on the notion of guys peeing on campfires ("Because we can," I explained. Cary added, in that tone that he's long since perfected, "One more way men are superior to women." Emma lamented the female anatomy's lack of ability to piss on fires and I remarked "Well that really changes the meaning of 'Burns when I pee.'") we arrived at the restaurant first of our party. Vanessa and her gang arrived next, followed lastly by Becky, Ryan and Doug. There were a few key faces missing, people I damn sure would've liked to catch up with, but these things happen I suppose.

We were eventually shown to our seats, a party of 11 or so. After CB, Emma and I ordered beverages (two soft drinks and a glass of "Killer Kool-Aid" Emma was very excited about) while the rest stuck with the free water and we all headed for the buffet.

We all talked on excitedly about whatever. Doug and I traded stories about commuting while I somewhat unexcitedly answered what Doug knew to be the belabored obvious questions about how school was. I mostly just traded schtick with Emma. I'm not sure why but the the two of us tend to talk a lot at these gatherings. Maybe just because she banters well and is, at times, a very interesting person. Of course, I was also seated next to her at the end of the table, so it was either that or turn left and have a conversation with CB, and we didn't not; after he grabbed me a slice of Lemon Merangue slice at the dessert table, I mused to anyone who could hear, "Am I the only one who remembers that song Jesse Cree recorded?" The table burst out laughing at the memory, those who did know. Doug, upon hearing this, demanded, "I must have that CD!" There are always laughs when Cree's brought up, maybe not for the right reasons, but we ain't malicious people.

After much laughter and merriment, the cheques came and we dispersed with Fortune cookies in hand. I consoled myself that sometimes a random piece of paper does not know the future when it declared, "Your car will be trouble-free for the next 50 000 miles." Shouldn't be hard, given I don't have one.

We headed for home and I bummed around all afternoon, ate dinner, went grocery shopping, then bummed around all evening, confronted by the remaining Christmas shopping I have left to take care of. Last night dad called and asked us if we were planning on sending Grandad a card, strongly implying we should. I groaned. We never had before, and thought it isn't that we don't care for Grandad, it's going to arrive late and seem like an afterthought.

Nobody should ever accuse me of having my shit together.

So I've got some errands to run tomorrow; probably going to meet up with Amanda for some java and said errands. I shouldn't feel like there's a chain around my neck; we're all wearing the same one so maybe I ain't got right to complain.

I should compile various stray thoughts like that one for my next poem.

I'm still looking for you: someone to look out for me.

Keep on rockin'
--Scott