Thats What You Get

Back in the late 80s , early 90s, I was spending a lot of time in bars.  Good times, bad times, you know I saw my share (cue the Jimmy Page), but many good memories, many gals I took home for a night, and I apologize if I forgot their names. I remember my Teutonic redhead (ouch) and a few others. But other than the after-bar pleasures, there were many good nights. And glimpses of places I dont want to be or go.
Par example, I was standing in the lobby of the Commie (Whyte Ave biker blues bar, with rooms above) waitin for a cab with my off-sales  and some stumbling drunk skinny kid was lippin off at the 'clerk' who was a strong warrior -lookin Bosnian cat. He leaped over the counter, dragged skinny boy out on the sidewalk, and gave him a good boot-fuckin. Then spat, and said, 'thats what you get'.  I said 'Hey, hows it goin' to some other barfly folks while this was going on virtually under our noses,  they replied, 'oh good, just off to buddy's place' then I got in my cab and went on.

Another night, me n Sam and Lightfingers Larry went out behind the Strath to smoke one; there happened to be a ladder up to the roof of a neighboring building, under reconstruction. We figgered, what the hey, lets smoke it up there. Went up the ladder, then along come some frat boys yellin up at us 'hey what are you guys doin up there', which we answered with a hail of snowballs. Turned into a good little snowball battle, with us having the upper hand, but of course the Po-leece showed up, just beat cops. We found a hatch on the roof and dropped into total darkness, the windows of the reno being boarded up. Three blind mice (coyotes) found another hatch to the main floor, then kicked out the plywood over the front windows, kicked it back into place and went for a walk till the cops were gone, then resumed our pool games in the bar.  Good times.

I am not that excited about the 21st century, but I have earned some middle aged grouchiness, and find these kids with their constant cellphones etc, to be trivial in many ways. Not my kid, I hasten to add. I think he will find his gravitas and earn his grouchiness, and he will be 18 this week.  I am happy about my life and developments in it, and I am having a good time.

Have some adventures, find a good woman who is as smart as you and has similar interests/priorities, even if it takes a few decades.  But take some chances. Have some times.

Happy 18, Ed.  Success in all things, and write it down.