Thin Walls and Bed & Breakfasts Don't Mix
February 13th, 2005"What's that noise?" asked Kathy. I followed her gaze up to the ceiling. The muffled sound of men's voices could be heard.
"Sounds like a bunch of guys up there," I answered.
"What's that noise?" asked Kathy. I followed her gaze up to the ceiling. The muffled sound of men's voices could be heard.
"Sounds like a bunch of guys up there," I answered.
She loves crosswords.
So for Christmas, I made her a crossword puzzle. I tried dozens of arrangements using Microsoft Excel, because its cells made rearranging the letters easy.
I love a girl with quirks. They're adorable.
You know what I mean. Those mannerisms that are unique to you, those behaviors that others don't do, those special things that you do. Quirks.
Look! Look at him over there. Smiling. See him? That'll be me someday. I'll be smiling again someday too.
I can't right now. It hurts too much. My skin has hardened this way, and any movement otherwise means the skin will crack and bleed.
We all try so hard to say what's on our minds, openly and honestly. Sometimes we aren't successful. Sometimes we are.
"Stop it Michael."
"What?" I asked, leaning up from the couch. "Why, what am I doing wrong?"
"You're leading her on," my friend replied.
"No I'm not. How?"
It starts with an uncomfortable knot in your stomach. Slowly it tightens and expands until your entire chest is a solid rock.
There's a phantom feeling there, as if you had your right arm cut off but can still feel it. "It can't be gone," you tell yourself, "it can't be."
"You, working with power tools? I shiver to imagine."
"Thanks man," I shook my head. "Thanks a lot, really."
"Nah, I just mean…" He sat back and tossed a gulp of beer down his throat. "I just can't see you doing that."
I didn't really have a destination; it was just a casual journey with wind in my face, music in my ears, and speed at my hands. It was great.
But it didn't feel complete.