Feb 1, 2022
I was on the boat to Taiwan. Everyone was throwing up. These waves were just killing us. I got so annoyed with this one guy, who kept needing to tell me how he felt about my outfit.
“Buddy!! Your shirt doesn’t look good to me! I don’t even think it’s fun!” He squealed.
“Oh leave me alone!” I moaned. “What the heck are you doing talking to me, if all I do is bother you?”
"I just thought you'd like to know- it's criticism that's meant to help with your wardrobe."
“Look around you!” I shouted, waving my arms about. “We’re in the middle of the ocean! What makes you think I wanna talk to you? I don’t need it right now!”
“Well-,” began the man.
“Listen, to some extent I sympathize with you. We do not choose the situation we’re born into- I understand that it’s one of those things that no one gets to choose!!” I said rubbing my clammy palms into my face. “I get that it’s not ALL your fault, but please, give me a couple minutes to get my balance back, and then maybe I’ll think about listening some more!”
“Ok,” nodded the man, not making eye contact with me. He grabbed a nearby handle to balance himself as the ship swayed suddenly to starboard.
“No- forget that, just go and bug that guy over there!” I suggested, pointing towards a man who looked nauseous and miserable. “Go tell him what you think of his clothes!”
“Ok,” mumbled the man, his eyes wide and sorta in a daze. He walked away awkwardly, trying to keep his balance and exert confidence all at the same time.
Sitting On Some Cactus
All the little raindrops float down my side onto the pavement collecting the grime. It's a roundabout way of saying I'm nervous, and bored. It's a poetic way of saying I'm over all the whining. I whine so much! I wish I would just do stuff, and not have to complain the whole time! Every time I tally up all the stuff I gotta do, I immediately cry with boredom. I wish I would not complain so much. Maybe I need food. Maybe I need less comfort or something. I dunno. I’m alone on top of a mound of cactus roots. I’m inside myself, where it’s warm and cozy, where the air is replenished once a week, with a sorta regularity that makes me feel like a car going in for maintenance.