Thursday January 10 2013

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In a subway station. I’m in possession of multiple things that make it difficult to keep track of. Trains zoom by but never the one I’m waiting for. Josiah saunters off to find a restroom. Meanwhile our train pulls up. I can’t leave him behind. He returns just in time. We board the train and sit down in the corner of the front car.

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Waking up at 1 p.m.


Oranges. Instant Oatmeal with Blueberries. Orange Juice.


I drive over to Art Walker’s, Jimmy’s old workplace, and pick up my mom. First stop: City Lights, to get some special bulbs and ballasts for the DeKuyper sign. Then, to the Salvation Army thrift store to browse. I find this killer Virginia Beach picture.



 
Sharing Papaya.

A friend calls her on the phone.

Mom: “I’m happy as pie cause I’m with my son!”

...

We decide to visit my sister Dana’s grave at the Woodlawn Cemetery off Newtown. It’s been a few years since my mom’s been here. I remember coming here when I was younger – melancholy memories. The vase built into the gravestone is stuck inside. My mom wants to get purple flowers to place there so we get it fixed by one of the maintenance guys. I never connected it until now but I realize my affinity for the color purple is related to my sister. Her favorite color was purple and the significance is even greater as she was wearing her favorite purple L.A. Lakers jacket when she was found, as well as the skin of her body was completely purple. Maybe it’s my homage to her in a small way.




Back home. Mom makes fresh Guacamole to dip Quinoa Black Bean Chips in. I make some Eggs and warm up some Focaccia Bread. Sharing food at the table and digging into a deep discussion on some intense behind-the-scenes things that she’s been dealing with. Growing up you always think of your parents or guardians as living these sort of flawless lives, lives without any major complications. You just don’t think it as a kid. But now that I’m older, and whenever I sit down with my mom and confide in each other, you discover things are more fragile than you thought. Not everything is always all right. But one thing is for sure...my mom and I will always stick together...we will always lift each other up through the thick and the thin.


Going for a jog around the neighborhood.


James Graves cooks up a meal in the kitchen using whatever resources he can find. I partake. Chicken Sausage, Potatoes, Carrots, and Rice in a delicious Tomato Sauce. Sipping on a Peroni Beer.

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After Anthony and his band finish practicing we had planned a Nintendo Revival. Someone donated a bin at Kelley’s thrift store with a complete Nintendo system and a nice collection of games. We’ve got a nice lively bunch hanging out in the living room as we play through games like Duck Hunt, Mario Bros., R.B.I. Baseball, etc. There’s an outburst of OHHHHH’s and AHHHHH’s. Somehow it turns into a Pillow Brawl.



Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk.


Sleep 4:30 a.m.


[i] All images by me or mom.

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