Nostaglia

Running into an old friend on the bus yesterday telling me he hardly recognized me. He doesn't stay where he used to, and that he is working on day eight of being sober. Such a beautiful moment, and so many words I wanted to say, but alas...my stop my next.

Dean-o was his name. He used to hang out with me at the bus stop while we both shivered to the bone in the dead of winter. I used to give him smokes and change for beer, food, I did whatever I could for that man, even if some days it was nothing more than conversation. Talks about life, girls, stories exchanged, warm spirits all around.

Tonight at work, I ran into an old friend, an old family member if you will. It being so long since we've seen each other, we again almost passed each other up for a conversation. My saving grace I suppose was the recognition of my tattoos. He asked how our tightly knit brotherhood that is our family is doing, and if I still talk to so and so.

I also saw regulars I haven't seen in ages. Their excitement to see me took me back to the first dishes I cooked for them and how excited they were to gorge themselves on food, on love. A family even, excited to see me. A pre-teen girl nearly shrieking once she saw me, waving excitedly. Of course, I remember what this family orders even though it's been months. Without even having to hear them order, I knew what to make.

Then I get a table of ladies who don't know what they want, but I can safely assume what to make for them. I urge them to allow me to let my creativity flow. They accepted the offer and trusted me. Now, I didn't make something extravagant by any means of the imagination, something different? Of course. They trusted me, so I had to deliver.

Not so much as a "Thank you" or "That was great" was even muttered from their mouths. Not too bad of a blow, the plate came back empty so I guess they enjoyed it, or like most women are great at faking. Who knows? If I sat here trying to figure out the complexities of the woman mind, my head would in fact explode. Hell, I have a hard enough time trying to figure mine out.

I'll have a slice of sanity, with the estrogen on the side please.