What I'm Thankful For

Keeping with the theme of the last post, (family) I'm gonna let you in on a little tradition I have with my pops. Every year on X-mas eve, (this year the event will make it's Thanksgiving debut) my mother and sister usually go to my grandmother's house or whatever aunt's house is next in the rotation, to exchange presents, eat, and other things of that nature. Usually, everyone from my mother's side is there and a good time is had by all. Well except for me and pops. You see my aunts and grandmother have always this demeanor about them. Quite simply put they hate men and all things male associated. It guess it started with my grandmother and her father. I don't want to get in to it but there are some major daddy issues . Then I guess it snowballed with the fact that none of my mother's sisters has a husband and the one that does is severely mistreated. So when my father and I make that rare appearance there is always an uncomfortable tension in the air. When I became old enough to stand up for myself I decided that I love that side of my family but I don't need to be there. I told pops we should start our own tradition. We should drink. Heavily. At first he laughed at the idea but when I said we should drink seven sevens' he immediately became interested. So while my mother's side is burning men in effigy, my father and I drink while discussing various topics ranging from the current political climate to Bruin athletics. Now again I don't have anything against that side of the family but I rather take a timeout and spend some time with the man who showed me the holy trinity of seven sevens', Tripas, and UCLA.

Cheers to you pops.

The Force is strong with this one

There's this female cousin of mine from my Madre's side of the family whom I've never really gotten along with. We were born a month apart and ever since then it seems like we've always been in competition. Oh yeah, she intimidates the hell out of me. (Another story for another day) We never really go beyond the requisite exchange of pleasantries so imagine my surprise when I recently found her oldest son playing with Star Wars figures. My Nina, who was also there at the time remarked to him "Go ahead Dezmon, ask Michael he knows everything about Star Wars." So this child of seven or younger (again we don't talk much) asks "Obi-Wan taught Anakin so who taught Obi-Wan?" So I told him it was Qui-Gon and he handed me his toys. As I fuddled with Mace's lightsaber and Dooku's detachable Force lighting (very cool) I told him I have all kinds of figures like these at my house. His eyes lit up and he told me we should play sometime.

Oh, it's so on now.

210 Freeway

A couple weeks ago I went to go see my cousin play a show somewhere in San Dimas. I must admit, I didn't really want to go. I rather much hit the sauce on a Saturday night at the Burgundy, but he is like a little brother to me so off I went. I decided to pick up a bottle before we hit the freeway. I didn't know what type of venue it was and if they had booze who knew how much it would cost. So on the sixty to the six 0' five. It was raining and the night had officially begun.

We were making good time. The freeways were pretty clear (it was early) and I guess you could say so far so good. But looming in the distance was the two ten. Now let me stop right there, I have nothing against the two ten. I didn't see a horrific accident there or something like that. It's just I get kind of nostalgic whenever I travel on that road. It's just that particular on ramp off the six o' five north that always gets me.

Years ago that place, that little intersection, played a huge role on who I was and who I now am. During that time I was living in Rialto and then Victorville with an ex-girlfriend. It was a pretty good relationship for the most part accept she was really pushing me to move in with her. I decided to go on with it because 1) I liked her (obviously) 2) She SEEMED like she had a good head on her shoulders 3)She said it was time for me to "grow up" (i.e., leave your friends and all that you love behind) Truth be told it was more like a forced situation. As result of this I became bored and angry. (honestly there's not much to do out there unless you have a healthy Meth habit) So more than often I would travel back home.

I had a female friend who lived in the Pasadena/Altadena area. We used to talk for hours on end. She wasn't perfect though. She came from a huge sc family. (she even tried to put me in an sc sweater once, didn't happen..lol) As result of her interesting opinions and similar tastes we grew to be pretty close. Sometimes, on the way back to deadsville, I would be selfish and instead of making a right to take the two ten east I'd make a left and go west. It was a decision I never regretted but it was one some didn't agree with, namely the woman I was living with at the time.

Nothing came from either relationships. Well. I guess you could count the personal growth, and knowledge I gained from the experience. I always sort of chuckle when I near that road and always wonder how much different my life would have been if I would of just stayed to the right.

(I should of stayed right more often. The Miller brewing company is there. Have you seen the silo of High Life they have?-M)