2004-08-02 - 12:08 p.m.
A Rough Night
James Brown kept me awake last night. Not the God-father-of-soul himself, of course, but rather, the cd that my father wouldn’t stop blaring in the backyard. Through my slightly-open attic-bedroom window, I had to listen to my drunk father’s drunk friends expound on how correct James is—this is, in fact, a man’s world.
I went out several times and begged and pleaded for him to turn it down, but “Papa Don’t Take No Mess,” and so, I had to close my window. The attic is cold when it’s cold outside and hot when it’s hot outside, so sleeping was difficult, as it was in the 90s and humid yesterday. I’m having trouble sleeping these days (or rather, nights), and this didn’t help any. Woke up this morning at 3:30 am and then at 4:45 am, but couldn’t handle it, and before I knew it, it was 5:15. Jumped out of bed, got ready, and then it was on my bike for the 16 mile ride to work.
At the entrance to Olive Park, I saw an old man changing his adult undergarment. Right there! Right at the gate! I suppose it was inevitable, considering all the women I’ve seen breast feeding and changing their babies on park benches. I tried to convince myself that if this man was secure enough with himself to change right there and then, then more power to him. I was, however, overcome by the feeling that maybe he wasn’t so secure, but, rather, suffering from dementia. Still, maybe one day I’ll fully undress at Olive Park and people will think that I’m courageous instead of thinking I’m a pervert and quickly calling the police.
