Friday Morning Junk Mile Musings

I took my extended junk miles commute to work today.  It takes me about an hour.  I consider it a "long ride."  It starts by rolling through some south side neighborhoods where people build houses that cost an amount of money than I can't comprehend.  They look more like Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters than a private residence.

Where was I?

Oh yeah, so I spit out of these neighborhoods onto the light rail path on the south end of town and head towards the big buildings.  There's always a lot of people going both directions.  Headed to the train, running, walking, skateboarding, tied to a shitting dog, riding bikes... it's a wonderful thing.  This morning, something dawned on me.  With so many people going opposite directions, why are there not a lot more high-fiving going on?

Back in 2006, Josh the Wonderboy and I were on our way to the Trans Rockies.  We had a long layover in Chicago, and we were killing time riding by the moving walkways.  There was a young guy coming at us on the opposing walkway, and I told Josh to stick out his hand for a high five.  The guy had time to react and enthusiastically reciprocated.  A beautiful and memorable moment.

I was happier than a kid standing out in front of his mobile home on Route 6 throwing the international sign for "blow your horn" at passing semis getting blasted by air horns all day.

I need more high fives in my life.  Not the frat bro thing I witnessed so many times in YSU's Kilcawley Center.  I prefer the slightly more ironic ones that Jesse the Dude would punish you with as he let out a passionate Ric Flair "WOOOOOOOOOO!"  I miss the days when Dude was uptown messengering.  I think George Bush was president then.  I guess I miss him too.

Unrelated, I remember seeing a guy in a gorilla suit carrying a briefcase in the mall when I was in high school.

I said, "Hi, Dad."

"Hi, son," he grunted in return.

I shoulda high-fived him, but these were different times.  Ronald Regan was president, and I didn't know the difference between Republican and Democrat, let alone proper high five etiquette.

I guess that's why I went to college to broaden my horizons.