A.G.E's Joint

Slap. Slap. Slap . The sound of rubber against rubber was echoing through an empty gym. The pale orange shoes were unusual. They had been bought on a whim off of a clearance rack.   They quickly reached their rhythm and the breathing began to labor. Sweat poured through the dark grey shirt and began to drip on to the running surface. Two AM and Jeremy can’t sleep, too much energy from a too productive day. He didn’t come here often, but it was open 24 hours a day. And the few other desperate diehards in the place concentrated on their own routines.  Exercise bored him. It was only useful for the times he couldn’t stand still. It was used at the Hospital to fill time, or in his case, as punishment for not following orders.   The orderlies would have him do military drills over and over.   Compliance to the drills was a matter of rebellion for him. Sore and soaked with sweat, it would continue until he could no longer stand. And the next day, the same thin...

I'm sitting here and it is time for a rant. First Saturday in a while I haven't had to run all over town. My yard is a mess and I'm too lazy to deal with it. My Yuppie neighbors can just deal with it. Spent the morning working with my son's car. A 1981 El Camino that had spent some time being a low rent low rider.  Mechanically, the car is pretty sound. The interior looks like Gaza.  I think it's going to be a fun project.  One of my son's friends was killed in an apparent sour drug deal the other day. The kid had been one of my Cub scouts back in the day, but had drifted off track like a lot of Hispanic kids. They see the flash of the Gangbangers and think that is much cooler that what I have. Easy pickings for the evil.  All I can do is shake my head. I had a couple of close calls back in the day and buried friends, too. Eventually we wake up. But for some of us, the revelations come too late.  Then you have the Yuppies who have gentrified the neighbor...

I don't carry cash. The reason for this is my wife doesn't trust me not to spend on frivolous stuff like candy and beer.  She's cheap like that.  But, I don't mind.  That attitude has kept me out of debt (mostly) and better able to handle the shifts in business and life. But occasionally it puts me in a quandary.  Last night, we ordered a pizza and I went down to Chambodia to pick it up.  As I was leaving, I was approached by homeless woman looking for change.  I put up my hands and told her I didn't have any and she went on her way. As I said this, I got a good look at her face.  She had been pretty once. Petite and slender, her blonde hair put up on her head in a messy knot.  I saw the ravages of Methamphetamine all over her face.  As as she walked away, I felt a tinge of regret.  I knew in my heart any money would immediately go to the dealer for another 48 hours without sleep.  But I also knew she needed something or someo...