| 9~9~99 Summer is over. Yes, I know it's an obvious statement. The technical end of summer is still on its way, but nobody acknowledges September 21st as anything more than a formality; the stage of summer already lies barron; the 21st of September pulls the curtain closed across emptiness. The green that remains bares no resemblance to the green of spring just as a toothless, incontinent old man displays little similarity to a gum-mouthed, self-beshitting infant. Going in carries anticipation, excitement and wonder. Pulling out involves a return to the mundane but not without a sense of relief. People anticipate summer. Make plans for summer. People 'go in' to summer in a way they do not 'go in' to winter. Winter overtakes, overcomes and overwhelms. It is the active agent. Winter does unto us. Winter is cold. Cold causes high electric bills. Cold causes icy roads. Icy roads cause accidents. Accidents cause traffic jams. Traffic jams fill us with rage. Rage makes us unkind. The unkindness of others depresses us. Winter causes depression. Winter does this to us, whereas we do things to summer. We enjoy summer. Summer does not in any way on any day enjoy us. In short, winter depresses us; summer is enjoyed by us. In L.A. the leaves stay green. The water doesn't freeze. Insects buzz in January. The sun shines and there is no snow to melt. I won't even ponder what this does to people. Diminishes their sense of humor to be sure. If you can't take a joke, then you sure as shootin' ain't takin' winter. This'll be my first year without winter. I'm missing the winter as the nineteen-hundreds pass into the twenty-hundreds. Note: That is all that happens; the millenia changes next year. Note #2: Noone really gives a fuck. What, if any, significance is there to bypassing winter. A real winter that is, a wisconsin winter. I don't know. How the Hell should I know? Why even think about it? Hey, summer never ends. I don't need to do a meditation on winter. I'm free! Back yard barbeques in December. I already know where to buy brats. That was a difficult find since all inquiries to locate the spicy sausage required a definition as to what they are. The Packers have won all four pre-season games. Bratwursts grow in L.A. Summer never ends. I'm in love. September 21st? what is it? 9~9~99 edition #2
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