Reflections

I'm sitting here reflecting on people in my past (distant and not so distant) whom I no longer have much contact with for one reason or another. There's certain folks that needed to be left behind and others that just drifted away for one reason or another.

There's something strange about coming across someone you've tried to block out, and facing the very real prospect of interaction. Usually, I'll do my best to ignore them if it's someone I really can't stand and don't want to see (as happened this past Tuesday, see if you can guess who THAT was), or, if feelings aren't that severe, just manage a quick "hello" and move on (this reminds me of a few lines of "Good Friday" by the Black Crowes:)

We've been avoiding this for so long
Luxury is temporary than its gone
I thought that we would happen
I guess I'm wrong
We'll say hi on the street, Then we'll move along
I know this will be awkward
But not for long
Cause soon you'll have a new boy
To sing you songs

I will not forgive you
Nor will I accept the blame
I will see you on good friday
On good friday

I've been saying lately that the worst year of my life has ended. The exact dates would be October 31, 2005 - October 31, 2006. 10/31/05 was a major change of employment, and I figured my trip to San Francisco last week would be a good bookend to that. I did meet some good people over there, most of them in fact I still consider to be friends.

What's scarred me most in that time period ended at the same time as my employment with the evil empire, and if you know me well enough to be reading this, than you already know what/who I'm talking about.

Other than those two (fairly significant) things, I should reaccess the "Worst Year Of My Life" title.

In the past year I got my condo, solidified some great friendships, and finally got a good paying job I can tolorate. I've been to California twice, seen my favorite band 4 times, and some other great stuff.

It's time to kiss the past year goodbye and embrace what's coming down the line. There could be some exciting possibilities coming down the pike, and I want to be emotionally and physically sharp to meet them head on.

I'll close out the past year with some Neil Young. Significant quotes are boldfaced.

They were hiding behind hay bales,
They were planting in the full moon
They had given all they had for something new
But the light of day was on them,
They could see the thrashers coming
And the water shone like diamonds in the dew.

And I was just getting up, hit the road before it's light
Trying to catch an hour on the sun
When I saw those thrashers rolling by,
Looking more than two lanes wide
I was feelin' like my day had just begun.

Where the eagle glides ascending
There's an ancient river bending
Down the timeless gorge of changes
Where sleeplessness awaits

I searched out my companions,
Who were lost in crystal canyons
When the aimless blade of science
Slashed the pearly gates.

It was then I knew I'd had enough,
Burned my credit card for fuel
Headed out to where the pavement turns to sand
With a one-way ticket to the land of truth
And my suitcase in my hand
How I lost my friends I still don't understand.

They had the best selection,
They were poisoned with protection
There was nothing that they needed,
Nothing left to find

They were lost in rock formations
Or became park bench mutations
On the sidewalks and in the stations
They were waiting, waiting.

So I got bored and left them there,
They were just deadweight to me
Better down the road without that load

Brings back the time when I was eight or nine
I was watchin' my mama's T.V.,
It was that great Grand Canyon rescue episode.
Where the vulture glides descending
On an asphalt highway bending
Thru libraries and museums, galaxies and stars

Down the windy halls of friendship
To the rose clipped by the bullwhip
The motel of lost companions
Waits with heated pool and bar.

But me I'm not stopping there,
Got my own row left to hoe
Just another line in the field of time
When the thrashers comes, I'll be stuck in the sun
Like the dinosaurs in shrines
But I'll know the time has come
To give what's mine.

It's now that time.