I can not take credit for the title of the post so thanks EZ E.
Sitting in LaGuardia this early afternoon, I came to appreciate the form of travel I loathed for so long. To think on the first Saturday of February vacation that I would leave my little home in the burbs, come into Boston, park at Logan, go through security, and be in a rocking chair waiting to depart in an hour and 10 minutes is basically unheard of. Yes, I printed my boarding pass before I left home, which helped, but overall, it was quick, and painless. And yet sad.
This might sound strange, but I am sitting in a little sports/rocker bar outside of a corridor leading to area D, and there is no one here. There is a guy next to me on a laptop, a girl reading a book, and one family in this restaurant. There was a family that considered getting some chicken nuggets to share for their 3 kids under 7, but that’s about it. WHERE THE F$%# IS EVERYONE.
At home.
It’s tight out there, and it sucks.
Too many friends and acquaintances getting the axe. Reading way too often about some poor Mom or Dad who ends it because the home is going to be foreclosed on. Or worse, taking the whole family with them. Too much news about how executives are bristling at salary caps if they take bailout bucks. And way too much about the market, the doom, the drops, and the length of time it will take to get it back. Or let’s even talk about A Rod, Bonds, the 103, spring training, and the fact that Manny and Boras are somehow surprised that he has not landed somewhere yet. It’s over. The new mom with octuplets is getting screwed by pampers and Enfamil! ( She may have a screw loose and the fertility doc is a moron, but those eight bums and mouths could use a little dry comfort and some powdered based goodness – so step up!)
Go Simple. In your own way.
I have to say I am having more fun with simple things. Family time, family swim, the Y, a little HBO, friends over, and thinking of spring. There are a lot more frozen meals in the office, a lot more fruit, and a lot less dining out. There are more trips to the gym and less trips to Target. Hide and seek is a perfectly acceptable way to spend an hour outside and damn, that blue building in the center of town is called a LIBRARY, and it had lots of things called BOOKS!
Don’t be afraid to say no. Or “it’s not happening right now”, or, “Dude, meet you at my place- bring some Tangueray, I got the juice! No need to go to Estate/Plaid/Vive/palace/manland/Club Zero – you were not going to get any anyways, and now I just saved you 150 bucks and more therapy” (this one might need some editing based on your friends and your ability to be direct and honest but you are at least thinking it…).
Yes, I believe our President wants to do good and is trying damn hard to steer this great nation in the right direction, but while I am hopeful, I can’t be putting my hopes in one basket, and I don’t expect any personal trickledown bailout. I know I need to be a little more self aware and responsible.
You might need to also.
Good luck.
J and BJ – welcome to the beginning of a great life! Cherish, guide, and nurture…
