2011
What the fuck is up with 2011? Seriously, it seems like it's been nothing but tragedy all around- not for me or my family (knock on wood), but definitely close enough to rock my self-centered little self-centered bubble.
Late in January, I heard that an old friend of mine had committed suicide. Since I'm being honest here, I'm not going to claim that he was a particularly close friend (hadn't seen him since high school), or an excessively great person, but who is, really? I knew him fairly well- we did theater together in high school, and gamed in Watson's basement, and if that doesn't confer some degree of bro-hood, then I don't know what does. I liked him, and respected him, and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual. I know he'd had emotional problems in the past, but I thought he'd gotten past that, gotten his shit together (as much as anyone ever can). He'd gotten advanced degrees, had a career on track, and a fiancee he seemed very happy about. And now he's gone. So there's that.
Early February, I get a call from The Ex; her mother's cancer has reappeared (two gut checks in one phone call- efficient). And not just reappeared, but reappeared in such a manner as to make the prognosis super-shitty. And by 'super-shitty', I mean, 'shitty enough to call the guy you haven't talked to in 3 years and tell him that if he wants to see her again, he'd probably better do it before spring makes too much progress'. Now, Ex I don't talk to. Ex's family, I've stayed closer to. And I mean, this is a woman I felt comfortable enough around to call 'mom'. Plus, she's already had to had to fight off cancer like 5 times. Where's the fucking justice in this?
And tonight, I get a phone call from my best friend up here in Chicago (and one of my closest friends anywhere)- his mother had a heart attack and passed away suddenly. Seriously? I've gotten drunk at this woman's house. She liked to grill for her son and all his friends. I didn't call her mom (we were still on a first name basis), but some of my other friends did. Hell, one of our mutual friends pitched a business proposal to her earlier this week.
I suppose 2011 hasn't been 100% shite. In happier news, it looks like I've gotten a second job (still pretty shitty, but I need the cash flow). I survived the worst blizzard Chicago's seen in like 40 years (it wasn't that bad). I've made a new friend (who likes to randomly make cupcakes- bonus). And I no longer quite feel like head-butting anyone & everyone who's ever said 'If you love someone, let them go, etc., etc...' Possibly more on that later.
Late in January, I heard that an old friend of mine had committed suicide. Since I'm being honest here, I'm not going to claim that he was a particularly close friend (hadn't seen him since high school), or an excessively great person, but who is, really? I knew him fairly well- we did theater together in high school, and gamed in Watson's basement, and if that doesn't confer some degree of bro-hood, then I don't know what does. I liked him, and respected him, and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual. I know he'd had emotional problems in the past, but I thought he'd gotten past that, gotten his shit together (as much as anyone ever can). He'd gotten advanced degrees, had a career on track, and a fiancee he seemed very happy about. And now he's gone. So there's that.
Early February, I get a call from The Ex; her mother's cancer has reappeared (two gut checks in one phone call- efficient). And not just reappeared, but reappeared in such a manner as to make the prognosis super-shitty. And by 'super-shitty', I mean, 'shitty enough to call the guy you haven't talked to in 3 years and tell him that if he wants to see her again, he'd probably better do it before spring makes too much progress'. Now, Ex I don't talk to. Ex's family, I've stayed closer to. And I mean, this is a woman I felt comfortable enough around to call 'mom'. Plus, she's already had to had to fight off cancer like 5 times. Where's the fucking justice in this?
And tonight, I get a phone call from my best friend up here in Chicago (and one of my closest friends anywhere)- his mother had a heart attack and passed away suddenly. Seriously? I've gotten drunk at this woman's house. She liked to grill for her son and all his friends. I didn't call her mom (we were still on a first name basis), but some of my other friends did. Hell, one of our mutual friends pitched a business proposal to her earlier this week.
I suppose 2011 hasn't been 100% shite. In happier news, it looks like I've gotten a second job (still pretty shitty, but I need the cash flow). I survived the worst blizzard Chicago's seen in like 40 years (it wasn't that bad). I've made a new friend (who likes to randomly make cupcakes- bonus). And I no longer quite feel like head-butting anyone & everyone who's ever said 'If you love someone, let them go, etc., etc...' Possibly more on that later.