Mickey Z

Cool Observer

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Saturday, April 28, 2007

A way of marking time

(One post for both Saturday and Sunday)

Plenty of days—after a full afternoon of playing ball—my best friend Frank and I would stand in front of my building and rehash the half-court action we just perpetrated. Every weekday—like clockwork—a guy in his 40s would walk by…dressed like someone who did manual labor and had very little authority.

The years passed. Frank and I still tried to play as much ball as we could...always ready to recap the action afterwards. When we did, this poor sap would still be walking by at the same exact time. He looked more and more tired: gained weight and lost hair, skin grew wrinkled, eyes receded into his skull. Eventually, he’d be moving his lips as he slouched by...talking to himself. It was Eleanor Rigby in real time.

Frank looked at him one day and surprised me by saying: “Boy, that guy’s sure gone downhill, huh?”

Until that point, we had never mentioned him. I’d glance at him but didn’t realize Frank was also using this lost soul as a way of marking time and learning what life has to offer for us if we aren’t careful…perhaps even if we are.

Ethan Hawke sez: “Don’t you find it odd that when you’re a kid, everyone, all the world, encourages you to follow your dreams. But when you’re older, somehow they act offended if you even try.”