Observations

Michael texted from Spain a few days ago. He was boarding a train. I don’t know where he was going, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t either. I don’t know where he gets it from. The empanada doesn’t fall far from the oven.

**

Mark Z is in a hearing and META is being sued by hundreds of parents across many cases because FB and Instagram might be “dangerously addicting,” with bad influence on their tweens, including suicide. Question: Where the hell were the parents when the kids were nose deep in tech? Why aren’t parents of fat kids suing Hershey’s? Why aren’t the parents of wired kids with enlarged hearts suing Red Bull or Monster? Why aren’t the parents reading to their kids when they’re toddlers and teaching them the value of imagination? Why aren’t they instilling in them the value of life and individuality? Oh, that’s right, they’re on Facebook talking about who they saw at their college reunion.

**

Three months ago on Facebook I said Trump is not interested entirely in Venezuela as an endgame, that it was solely a means to and end, that he wants Cuba. Yesterday they announced their support of the current interim president in Venezuela, and it won’t be long before a deal is cut to get their oil at rock bottom prices. Meanwhile, no fuel or food has entered Cuba and they are quite literally dying, with no tourism, not business, no nothing. But wait, “we” can save them. Putin doesn’t care; especially if in exchange djt backs off his barely-there-anyway support of Ukraine. I think djt and the hotel side of his life has been Havana Daydreaming for quite some time.

**

I now have about forty pounds of Hershey’s chocolate. I use the cup holder on the treadmill at the Y to hold the wrappers.

**

Michael is now in Prague. I told him about the strudel; he told me about the Pilsner.

**

Ilia Malinin came in eighth place, falling twice in his free skate. Good. Here’s why: I support the US team, of course, but not his outrageous ego. He is the self-proclaimed “quad God,” and in one interview before the games he wondered not in any joking way why anyone questions his excellence. He dropped to eighth place; hopefully he dropped his ego as well.

**

Conversation a few days ago at Big Johns, a convenience store about twenty miles from here:

Guy eating chicken (I kind of know him so I felt comfortable responding) : “It’s those fucking Antifa’s. They can all fuck themselves.”

Me (I stopped eating all meat, including chicken, but that’s neither here nor there): “Holy Crap! You support Hitler! Stalin!!”

Guy: Fuck no! (laughs) Hell, no I don’t support them!!

Me: But…but…they’re fascists!!

Guy: Damn right they are!

Me: So you’re against them and people like them?!

Guy: Damn right, Bob! What the fuck?

Me: So then you’re against those fascists???

Guy: Yeah (chicken spray).

Me: You’re…you’re Anti Fascist! Antifa!

Guy: Not the same thing! (silent) Is that what Antifa means?

Me: Yes.

Guy: Fuck, I thought it was the name of some radical anti-Trump group!!!

Me: Well, yeah, it is.

**

When the fog starts to lift but is still in the trees and resting above the pond and river, my mind is focused and everything in my life seems clear and obvious. We need nature to clarify that which is muddled by cinderblock and drywall. We need nature to remind us to breathe.

**

The last thing Dave texted to me was “And we’ll all be together again.”

The last thing Fr. Dan said to me was “I’ll call you tomorrow night, Bobby.”

The last thing Letty said to me was “I love you, Bawb. Look for me with the birds on the porch rail.”

The last thing my mom said to me was “I’m so confused.”

The last thing my dad said to me was “What hotel am I in? HA! Hotel! I wish I was at a hotel! What hospital am I in?”

The last thing Eddie said to me was “I’ll call you this weekend.”

The last thing Cole said to me was “I hope your journey on this earth reveals itself to you.”

So now I wonder on a daily basis what the last thing I say to someone is. I’d hate for it to be something negative or down, something benign or flippant. Despite my Roy Kent tendencies, I’m determined to keep Ted Lasso in mind when I’m with others, especially when I leave others.

The last thing I say to most people is “see you soon,” or “talk later.” That’s normal I suppose, and somewhat hopeful and mostly about right.

Mostly.