One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing at all that monumental happens but by the end of it you have no idea who you are anymore or what the hell you’re doing with your life? Do you ever have one of those days?

Have I ever had one of those days? Are you sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody told you it was a happy little tale, if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary kid - not a care in the world - somebody lied.

When I was young, I had one of those Yamaha drum machines, and I used to practice to that quite a bit, just to practice soloing and being in time and completing all my phrases.  I wanted to do something innocuous, like become a drummer in a rock and roll band.

I guess that all changed when my father died. He was out delivering Christmas packages like he did every year. My mom said that after he delivered the packages, people looked down at him from the buildings and he always turned around and waved, but he didn't that day. He got in his car, had a heart attack or something, and died. He was buried on Christmas Eve. I had no brothers and sisters, so I was all by myself. For the rest of my life i was always expecting something bad to happen.

My mom always told me: a thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. I vowed to follow her words and ended up working at the local McDonald's for three years. I'm not sure why they kept me: I am something of a daydreamer and a dawdler, so they would only let me be the 'friendly voice' that greeted you when you entered the restaurant. I’ve had to deal with employees of the month who come up to me screaming up and down that their sister’s expecting  a baby and they don’t know if they are going to be an uncle or an aunt. I use to admire  clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

I wouldn't dream of working on something that didn't make my gut rumble and my heart want to explode, but when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...and try to find someone whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.