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last stop for a resolution, end of the line, is it confusion?
by mg at 07:36 AM on January 07, 2005
Now that I’m someone’s parent, I don’t get to go out quite as much as I did back when I was only someone’s child. I’m okay with that because I don’t particularly like leaving my house and the idea of going out never quite appeals to me (until I’m actually out and enjoying myself).
Last night I got together with some friends to wish one of them an appropriate bon voyage as she heads off to seminary. Of course, such an event would require a significant amount of drinking to be involved. So, since I don’t often get a chance to post drunk anymore, I thought I’d let you all see the scribbles in my notepad as I was sitting, quite a bit buzzed, on the subway home.
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And the train conductor, eyes closed like a prophet from up high, said “The W stops running at 9 o’clock.” I listened, trying to comprehend exactly what such a statement might mean, and how that meaning might effect me.
She repeated, eyes still shut tightly, but somehow staring directly at me, “The W stops running at 9 o’clock." Still not consciously knowing what this might mean to me, my body decided I should board this “R” train and made my limbs carry me aboard.
Now, having departed the “R” train only one stop later at 34 street, and waiting for the next “N” or “W” to take me home, I contemplate the strange path my life has taken.
Two years ago, sitting and waiting for the subway to take me home, drunker than I should be with a 9 am presentation the next morning, would not have seemed so strange.
But I’m a husband now. I’m someone’s father now.
---
That was all I got before the next train came along. I wanted to continue writing, but instead just sat and appreciated the feeling when the way the drink makes the world start to move on its own syncs up with the sway of the train to counteract each, and in stead of doubling the motion (or perception of it), the world just seems to stop completely.
comments (17)
On Lou Reed's New York album there's a song Romeo and Juliet. One of my favorite lines is, "The Earth squeals and shudders to a halt." The end of your post reminded me of that. Great album, BTW.
by Anna at January 7, 2005 7:44 AM
MG, I think I saw you at 34th street terminal... nah, probably not :(
by LOCKHEED at January 7, 2005 9:36 AM
I could do worse than to have my writing compared to Lou Reed.
Lock: What time?
by mg at January 7, 2005 1:09 PM
1230am est? I was late to work.
Anyways, I just bough myself at least another season of life. Peace ofo Mind is Proportionate.
I am through with the Providence mafioso. This took 5 fucking years of running juice. And I just squirted cider in their eyes in the form of Crude oil!
I'm safe now.
by LOCKHEED at January 7, 2005 4:30 PM
MG, did you corner your friend about her decision to go to seminary or just drink, get drunk, and laugh the night away? Just wondering.
by Ezy at January 7, 2005 4:49 PM
There was a point early in the night, when I was still thinking clearly, that I thought to ask about it, but I was having too much fun to get into a religion conversation.
by mg at January 7, 2005 4:57 PM
That's usually my default too. Religious conversations and send off parties usually don't mix. Now, if you're just sitting around your apartment with a group of friends that's ok.
Your post was funny though. Not much time to drink with a child huh? That's when I, originally, decided all drinking and partying would stop for me but Amy and I aren't into having kids right now so I quit for us. I couldn't imagine the guilt I would carry with me if somethig happened to my child and I was too drunk to make the correct decisions to help them. It's just not my MO.
by Ezy at January 8, 2005 9:47 AM
Once I was a little, shall we say, dazed and confused. I went in the grocery store and forgot that my infant son was asleep in his car seat. A crowd had gathered by the time I got out. No feeling quite like that one.
by Anna at January 8, 2005 2:48 PM
Here I was, thinking that having a child would be a reason to drink and go out more.
by snaggle at January 8, 2005 3:38 PM
Oh and PS, that was a beautiful post. I always enjoy your posts like that.
by snaggle at January 8, 2005 3:39 PM
Hi. This is my first time to the site. It caught my attention with a tale of a g/f with a past rampant in promiscuity. The advice i found extremely helpful and insightful. I read your post tonight, and as a 22 year old, and an aspiring author wrapped up in his own fantasy, I can not really relate to your words, but more take interest in teh lines between writing and alcohol. For many years America was known for producing classic novels, by classic alcoholocs. Hemmingway is the most famous and obvious, but the list includes others such as James Joyce and Faulkner. So my question is what is it about teh drink that makes us so poetic. Does it really allow people to free our inhibitions, and write what we really feel? writing is a lonely life, and at times i feel i relate more to the characters i create than my closest friends.
by dominathan at January 9, 2005 11:52 PM
I don't know what this means. I do have a question though: What were you doing with a notepad and pen while getting drunk at a send off?
I hereby declare this Thursday night I will be carrying such stuff with me... And I'm gonna get random drunk skunks to write what they will in it. :D What a cool idea. Thanx MG.
by Ex Crimson Guard NCO at January 10, 2005 4:09 AM
I don't think drinking helps improve writing. But it might cure dislexia. Welcome Dom. Can I call you Dom?
by Anna at January 10, 2005 7:36 AM
They alawys say alcohol is a social lubricant. It lowers your inhibitions. It allows you to do things you normally wouldn't. I'd guess it probably allows you to write things you probably wouldn't either.
But, though writing and alcoholism are connected, I'd wager that most of the writers you mentioned did their best work sober (or at least not drunk), and then just got plowed on their off-time.
I'm pretty sure James Joyce wasn't American.
by mg at January 10, 2005 7:59 AM
Thank you for the welcome.
and MG you are correct... upon inspection James Joyce is Irish not American. Thank for the correction. Better i find that here than usuing it in a project to be graded.
by dominathan at January 10, 2005 9:40 AM
Well Nate, if Google search referals are any indication, you wouldn't be the first person to use information from this site for a school report. I'm sure there will one day be someone who searching for Joyce and ending up here to find out he is an American. I wish there was a way to read all the bad papers people write based on information they find on Google. Maybe I should purposefully start seeding the site with bad info - further corrupting the minds of English speaking youth the world over.
by mg at January 10, 2005 10:18 AM
I've used it for school projects. I just asked everyone what country they liked the best and why. I think it earned Ian an A and got me a buttload of comments. Oh wait, that didn't come out right. I'm alawys doing that. Christ now I sound like Charo.
by Anna at January 10, 2005 6:49 PM