Simple Things

Once in a while you reach that place where all the clouds seem to pass in front of the sun. The sky is still blue, but somehow right where you need to feel the warmth of the day there's nothing but shadow.

You know what's causing the chill,
But it's still hard not to ask "why?"

Days like these, it's the little things that help the most:

The unexpected smiles. The joke someone can't wait to tell you (because you're the only one who will get it). The shiny new replacement ATM card that showed up a day earlier than expected. Upgrading the cel phone and actually having some sort of choice between the crappy free phone and the not-quite-as-crappy free phone. Falling asleep on the couch watching a basketball game knowing that someone up in the luxury boxes is smiling because of you. Leaving for work early in the morning, and on your way out as you put the OJ back in the fridge you catch a glimpse of the steaks you're marinating for later, when you hope to have company over for a fancy home-cooked dinner that would impress even the toughest of quickfire judges. New batteries in the mp3 player. Walking the Rufus. Two days in the water, two days in the sun. Getting past that freaky peeling stage with your new tattoo, and already knowing the design you're getting for your next one...

Simple things.

In two days my play will open, despite the fact that it's still not quite ready.
In three days I'll be out of a job, still not sure what I'm going to do next.

Clouds hovering. Sunlight obscured.

But then again, I just got a new alarm clock that plays CD's instead of beeping

And we all know what that means...

I'm waking up to Bad Brains.

How could anything possibly go
wrong after a start like that?

[Listening to: Yoko Kanno/Origa, "Rise"]