Thank You For Not Sharing.

I think it's interesting how the people bagging groceries at SafeWay, or working the cash register at JC Penny, or behind the drive-through window at Burger King, always ask you how your day was.

Because really, what are you supposed to say? Everyone expects each other to say "Great!" or "pretty good," or "I'm doing fine, how about yourself?" But we're not always fine and dandy, and the person who asked you certainly isn't either, because they're stuck behind a window flipping burgers, or shoving produce into plastic bags, or putting hideous clothing on hangers and handing out receipts for a living, and for all they know, your day could have been terrible. You could have been late for work, or gotten yelled at by your boss. You could have gotten rear-ended by some idiot in a grungy Toyota and subsequently spilled your latte all over your brand new $100 tweed blazer. You could have found out that your dog died, or worse yet, a family member; you could have stumbled out of bed and broken three of your toes.

But of course, you're not going to say that to the person at SafeWay, or JC Penny, or Burger King. I mean, does anyone ever actually say "Oh, my day's been absolute GARBAGE, how about yours?"

No one cares, is the thing. No one wants to hear your life story, or listen to you rant about how much you HATE Family Guy and the fact that your husband watches it every evening when you would much rather watch the Home & Garden Channel. We're all just trained to act a certain way around everyone else; like our lives are perfect and wonderful and no I don't need your help but thanks for asking and yes, it's true, I do walk around constantly grinning like this and I AM ALWAYS THIS CHIPPER IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED.

Thank you for not sharing.

Big Stone Towers.

maybe i don't know what it means but
somehow it was there
that big stone tower, like the kind from
cinderella
or
sleeping beauty
or
romeo and juliet
or any of those nonsensical fairy tales
that trick you into believing
that dreams
can actually be
real.
and there you were, next to me
with that look in your eyes
as if to say
"this isn't worth trying to win
anymore."
so you quit, swung away
as i kept climbing, smiling
like i always knew would happen
SHOULD happen.
and as i take that last step,
the one i beat you to,
the one i was strong enough to take,
the one game i could finally win,
the rope snaps
i fall to the pavement
crushed
in every sense of the word
and you're still there
on the tower
staring down at me
like i always knew
would happen.

you couldn't lose.

maybe
now
i understand.

"Find a person who loves you for exactly who you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass.” -Juno.