A.G.E's Joint

And now a word from our sponsor... Hello, My name is Christopher Mitchell and my Internet handle is Another Government Employee. I am the proprietor the blog A.G.E.’s Joint and generally a quirky individual. I’ve been a member of the group since season 2 and I’ll write about almost anything. As the name implies, I used to work for a large State Government (since mutually retired) and now split my time between Employee Benefits consulting and writing.  This has been a weird summer. It started out great. One of my hobbies is hiking, especially in urban areas, and I was racking up miles. Then my wife and I’s work schedules looked like they were going to synch up for a trip up to the mountains of North Carolina. I no sooner got the reservations made when I came down with appendicitis and spent four days hooked up to IV antibiotics, which also caused me to miss my first deadline ever (Covered in Blogophilia 16.9, Starting Over). Then, while preparing to have surgery, I h...

The roller coaster made a sharp turn.   Watching her bridges burn at the point of no return after her confession scared her. Going back to Buffalo seemed certain. But Bart’s affirmation of love and faith came and it was overwhelming. Psycho and the past was gone and she felt light as a feather. Scattered lights illuminating the sweet round face, speckled with sweat and eyes twinkling like stars. Kissing the last of her makeup off, they made love in the front seat as the rain poured down outside. It could have lasted all through the night and forever.    She was home at last.    It was after midnight when they finally got home. A shower, bed and a long cuddle was the plan, but not what they got. The gasp came just as they got in the door. His knees buckled throwing all of his weight on her weak side. With a shriek of pain she managed to get to them both to the couch. She didn’t remember calling 911, just the two paramedics appearing on either side o...

Blue moon  You saw me standing alone  Without a dream in my heart  Without a love of my own         Billie Holiday’s dulcet voice drifted in the dark car like a misty Minnesota Morning. Flashes of light illuminating the rain covered Buckhead streets. Almost like a rock in his shoe, an unease came over Bart. A storm was coming. He had rode them out before, but this one was different from Amy, somehow. At the next light, he gently brushed the bangs of her wig. With a small purr, the head fell toward the touch and her eyes fluttered open.    “Amy, have you come for me?”   As if he had touched a live wire, he pulled his hand away.    “What did you say?”   Slowly, Holly awoke. Looking at the shocked face, she began to laugh.   “You look like you saw dead people.” Putting a hand on his leg. “It’s O.K, I was dreaming. An angel with beautiful black hair was next to m...

 Everytime we say goodbye  I die a little Every time we say goodbye  I wonder why a little  Why the gods above me  Who must be in the know  Think so little of me  They allow you to go  Tuesday night was always light, a small crowd wanting slow music and good drinks. On the half-filled floor, the mismatched couple drifted contently in each others’ arms to Tony Bennet’s voice. Shag cut platinum wig reflected red and green stars under a floppy blossom covered bonnet. The sunflower dress cinched her frail body at the waist in such away that it appeared she had a stunning figure. He dressed in his best suit with a little cologne.  It had been a long day at the hospital, with tests and a session. Some news was promising and other things that were concerning. But there were no false illusions. They needed a diversion from the darkness. Out of the blue, she said she wanted to go dancing. Exhaustion and exhil...

And she was like a starry night Like a Ferris wheel, full of blue-green eyes And a heart of steel, always on her own  Almost never real  Lazy morning light projected shadows diagonally across the grey hairs of his chest. Noise of a hand mixer and punk rock music had finally woken Bart. As he rubbed his eyes he wondered, when was the last time it had been used? Before Amy’s last chemo, he guessed. This roller coaster ride was real. Everything seemed renewed, even though he knew would end sooner or later. With a prayer of gratitude, he slipped on a robe and went to the kitchen.   She didn’t hear him pad in. Cream cheese wrappers were lined up like solders on the counter. The sugar canister was open and he could feel the heat of the oven. Her back was to him, totally focused on the task at hand. The tattered flower apron accentuated her thinness, but he didn’t care. The bird like features of the face more than made up for it. This place was a home aga...

The mourning doves dozed in the sun, basking in the orange glow of the morning, a picture of true contentment. Bart was staring at the ceiling, wearing only the blond wig. No one could see the steel wool coated paunch. And even if they did, he was with this amazing lady, so it didn’t matter. Holly, elfin head covered in baby fuzz, was snoring quietly on his chest. The tumor and subsequent surgery had been discussed while they summoned their courage. The chemo badge was worn with no shame. During the night, the wig was passed from head to head, bringing laughter and more loving. It had been a dream full of surprises.    But it almost didn’t happen.   But it did, and he would answer for it. His finger traced along the thin pale scar above her ear and eyes fluttered.   “Mmm….Hey, Baby.” blue veined hand glided over the gray paunch.    “Hey, back.”    Kissing deeply, they looked into each other’s eyes. A question began to form on...

The tenth floor apartment was not far from the park.   Limping, she leaned heavily on her cane as they entered the building. Inside the door was a modest unit fit for a single. A couch and coffee table sat on the opposite wall angled slight toward the corner where the TV was hung.   A door to the left was open, his made bed visible in the shadows. To the right was the galley kitchen.    “So, come on in.” Dropping the suitcase next to the couch. “It ain’t much, but it is home.  “Coffee? All I have is some decaf.”    “Ooh, that sounds good. I’m freezing.” “Did you want to change?” Red formed along the edge of his cheeks. “I can go back in…” “Oh, hush. I’m not modest.” She grabbed a quilt that was on the couch and wrapped it around her. The hands disappeared and with a whoosh, the wet top flew over her head and landed on Bart’s head. She laughed as his face grew redder and frightened. A pale pink bra appeared next. Looping it arou...

The sugar maple shrugged its shoulders against the night breeze, not caring at all. The midtown skyline splayed out behind it, projected light bouncing off the gathering clouds. Another couple sprawled on the grass, another small romance. It was like the others it had seen in the fifty years since it was planted. Couple either came together, or didn’t. To the tree life went on. Bart and Holly didn’t notice either. Their eyes locked on each other as the wooded edges of the park faded into the dimming light. As the temperature dropped, a sweater appeared out of a bag to fight the chill.   A piece of chivalry not unnoticed.   Empty Chinese food boxes piled next to her cane and across the cheap blanket kept in the trunk of the Lincoln for emergencies. An impromptu dinner on the ground qualified as a good emergency. Time paused. Nothing mattered except the moment they were in, foreign and scary to each of them in different ways.  Holly had been a preemie and...