There used to be this video store in my town called “Video Sight and Sounds”. It was in a quiet strip mall and it had a black sign with yellow letters. I’d ride my bike down there every time I had an extra $2.14. That is what it cost to rent a Nintendo game.  But really it was worth the two bucks just to walk around the place. Action movies in the back, new releases in the front and there was a room with a sheet as a door and we all knew that’s where the dirty movies were. The 80’s/90’s vibes were immeasurable. Picking out the Nintendo game was risky business. You got the game for 2 days and if it sucked you were ass out of that weeks allowance. My way around this was go with repeats of what I knew was good. Tecmo Bowl, TMNT, Double Dragon.. But don’t fall for the fancy covers. Every Star Wars game sucked shit. May as well use my money for baseball cards and a Jolt Cola.

I grew up across the street from a junior high school.

It had a football field with the old 50’s style goalpost.

Me and my neighbor and friend Jake would play football there.

One Saturday a bunch of 12 year olds showed up ”

They may as well have been gods.

They allowed us to play. Me and Jake on opposite teams so we could guard/offset each other.

I was an undersized kid.

I broke free.

12 year old QB saw me and launched a high arcing bomb.

I tracked the ball like a pop fly.

caught it in the end zone.

Touchdown.

My 12 year old teammates swarmed me with adulation and praise.

“hands, we gonna call this kid hands”.

I was open.

I just made the catch.

I watched an old Movie starring Cher Yesterday. Moonstruck was the title.

I kept thinking about it for the rest of the day.

A good movie will do this.

I gotta say Cher is a pretty talented actress.

I really love film, writing, cinema and the like.

Deniro was incredible in the 80’s

I like those good actors, there is something intrisically beautiful about the craft.

Too bad they are all such satanic cultists.

I got a job delivering pizzas my senior year of High School.

I was a decent delivery boy if I must say so myself.

No GPS, maps.

One night I got lost, it was Friday so extra busy.

I was worried sick and pressing.

I must have back tracked around side roads for 40 minutes.

Finally found it.

I was scared to death to explain to my manager why I was so late.

His Name was Jeff Watkins.

No joke, he signed in at almost 400 pounds.

His feet were so fat his shoes folded over on themselves.

Jeff I got lost and I was trying to find it and… “Mike no problem” he stopped me..

Getting lost makes you a better driver.

Still sticks with me.

Don’t be afraid.

Get Lost.

Imagine you have been in a Coma since Thanksgiving and you wake up at present moment.

You go home and everyone is wearing masks and the streets are empty.

You ask your family: “ What is going on, what did I miss”?

Family: Well there’s a CORONA virus going around it’s a global pandemic!!

You:You’re kidding me that is awful, what is the Virus??

Family: Well it transmits like the flu and you can end up on a respirator. It is dangerous. The news is reporting 24/7… Everything is shut down!!

You: Shut down??

Family: Yes Schools, non essential business, parks, beaches, restaurants, bars, theaters. Pretty much everything but grocery stores. The Cops will take you to the jail if you take your child to the park or you walk on the beach.

You: Oh my gosh!! How long do I have to survive if I catch it?? This sounds like  “The Stand”..

Family: Well you probably won’t show any symptoms or very mild symptoms. Most people recover fully. The survival rate is being reported by various Health orgs as between 97.8- 99.4. Even those over 80 are extremely likely to survive.People with diabetes and heart disease as well as other health issues are at higher risk.

You: That sounds concerning but there aren’t people lying dead in the streets?

Family: No everything is stable and most hospitals have excesses in rooms, beds etc… Several doctors are speaking out against restrictions but they are immediately silenced by the media and the celebrities.. Bad news is we are going to lose our house and millions are losing their jobs and businesses. 

You: This makes no sense, are you sure we are getting the truth?  Wake up like me!

Family: Well I just don’t know,  the politicians say it is for the greater good. And don’t say that so loud someone might hear you.

Breakfast

How are your Hands feeling

Arthritis

But you can cook

I’ll help

“Now boil the potatoes”

In the skillet

Cast Iron

Grandma is guiding me

Season the hash browns

Eggs

The kitchen

Aroma

She is so kind

Never a cross word in my presence

Bacon sizzles

We save the grease

We’re talking

Thats the best

I fill her cup with coffee

Just a half cup

Toast is last

Time to eat

“You’re a good eater”

The cats are so funny

She feeds them a bite of egg

They love her

“you did such a good job”

Thanks grandma

I miss you

I’m always thinking of you