Two Generations

[nfotxn]

They say sometimes it's helpful to look at the past, but never stare.

My Aunt and Uncle are visiting Hamilton on their way from Saskatoon to their summer home on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Driving with my cousin past my old house and neighbourhood on our way to have a drink. The girl I used to baby sit is driving a car and is often drinking at the same bar I do. Tomorrow night before she leaves for NYC again to go do some more modelling.

Any of my NYC gays wanna hang out with a really hot and smart 19 year old girl? Seriously, I think she need to meet some cool people. She drinks real good too.

But my old neighbourhood. It was head-spins and heart aches tonight. The houses of friends I've lost track of and every crack in the pavement. This isn't the first time I've been in the area and felt somewhere between ecstatic relief and heart popping sadness. I think I need to spend an evening just laying on the sidewalk, feeling the heat of concrete on my back and watching the ants. It'd probably be strange for a grown man to be seen doing that. But most everyone in the neighbourhood still knows who I am and maybe they'd understand?

It's best not to stare.

Spent last night in TO with two of my cousins and Uncle. I'm addicted to that big city energy as the hispters on Queen West prepare their hair for NXNE. My Uncle is a funny man. British, grew up in North Africa, almost died of malaria, English Professor and budding abstract expressionist painter of sorts. I see him rarely as him and my Aunt teach in the North of Saskatchewan in places like Uranium City. We enjoy the evening in Toronto with dinner and drinks here and there. Challenging my youngest cousin to painting canvas himself and piercing his ears.

I really like my family.

Comments

I hear you...

[thereisnofear.livejournal.com]

You should do it...can I join you?.....I moved about every 2 years growing up and those kind of thoughts make all the sense in the world to me...Bearhugs ;-)

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

They sound like great people. They remind me of my mom's stories of her aunt and uncle, who are still happily living in Holland. Both are artists, quirky and loving, the kind of people that make you happy to be in a family.
Sometimes when I return to the house I grew up in, I'll lay in the backyard (my parents still do live there, so it's not as weird as it'd otherwise be!)
If you look in just the right places, there are things that are still exactly the same, and that's where some of your childhood hides.

[notofthisworld.livejournal.com]

It'd probably be strange for a grown man to be seen doing that. But most everyone in the neighbourhood still knows who I am and maybe they'd understand?

Heh. Yeah, I can imagine them all going, "Oh, it's okay, it's just that Brodie kid. We all figured he'd have a nervous breakdown."

[thekingoftoday.livejournal.com]

We're not coming to Toronto now. I'm super bummed. I would have loved to hang with you when I'm not completely trashed. Though, seeing how I'd be playing a show, I'd probably still be completely trashed.

[efesar.livejournal.com]

"They say sometimes it's helpful to look at the past, but never stare."

***blink***

***blink***

That's a revelation. Wow. Best quote I've heard in years. Thanks.

[colin.livejournal.com]

I'd be willing to hang out with the girl. But I don't have the gay thing going for me.

[colin.livejournal.com]

I'm also not cool.

[colin.livejournal.com]

But I do drink real well.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Then you have something in common!

[colin.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention... I also have a cool and smart model friend in NYC.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I'll have a word with the lady tomorrow before she goes. It'd be funny if like my internet designy smartener friends meet a family member first!