I was driving earlier and saw a kid of whatever age (y’all know that’s not my area at all) walking along Dedeaux Rd as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was still young and I hope his parents (or whatever he is lucky to have) knew where he was.

Let me just say, it’s been a bad day and my state of mind isn’t cheery. I had the thought that I’d like to pull over and get out of the car and say, “Hey kid, sit down a minute and let’s discuss some things. Life things. Big stuff you need to know and probably don’t.

First of all, you know that feeling when you don’t get the present you hoped for? That’s called disappointment. And, you need to adjust to that feeling very quickly. You only have a short period of time before everyday feels like you didn’t get the present you asked for.

Speaking of presents, most of your life is a sham. A complete lie if you want full blown honesty (that you didn’t ask for). Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy…they are ALL in on the charade! Every last one of them. And truth is that no one brings you presents on Easter so stop expecting that. As for losing something, like a body part, well you don’t get money for it. You get bills for it, kid. Cancer isn’t free and I was one of the very luckiest ones. Others–people you love–don’t have great insurance and doctors to help them.

Speaking of people you love, and look it hurts me to be the one to tell you but you need to understand it, they start dropping like flies out of your life for one reason or another. You know how hard it is to make new friends sometimes at camp and stuff? Well as an adult I have to go through that every single day. And then sometimes those same people hurt you. Sometimes you’ll hurt them. Sometimes they hurt themselves and you watch. There is a myriad of reasons for the coming and going just be assured it is constant and never feels good.

Not to be overly morbid but sometimes people leave us via death. And they say you do this thing called ‘grieving.’ Well honestly, that’s just a term for something that means you will always miss them. And you aren’t really prepared for a lot of it. A LOT. It’s natural for your parents and grandparents to die before you and that’s what everyone wishes for I think, I’m not really an expert in case you haven’t figured that out, but when they do get sick it makes you feel just awful. You don’t really want it even though you know that’s how it all works. Sometimes it’s our best childhood friend that’s taken. Sometimes it’s a guy or a girl you used to date and had been meaning to say hi to and see how they were but you missed the opportunity.

And if you want really, really good advice here, don’t watch the news. It’s all about people bullying one another, arguing over who is least wrong, other people’s suffering is announced to the world, and overall it’s just real shitty. And yes, you can say bad words. Just kinda watch where you do it and who you call what, ya know? There are some consequences but hell, say shit and damn, especially to yourself, all ya want. It helps sometimes.

So that’s the foundation of what is really going on. If you want more where this came from, look up a guy named Charles Bukowski. He’s a little more poetic on some of these things than I am. Oh and I’m sorry for ruining you day, kid, but get used to it.”

Instead, I drove past and ate my Burger King with my dogs. So rest assured no one’s innocence was stripped today because of me. But it did cross mind. He looked like a good kid.