“Not Everybody”. I said this out loud, actually startling myself. I was driving home from New Jersey yesterday with the radio tuned to hits from the 1980s, when Everybody’s Working for the Weekend comes on.
I listened to the station for maybe another hour. Then I shut it off. It seems all those songs from the decade I grew up in had lost their personal relevance. Now, just catchy tunes void of the emotion they once instilled in me.
Not that these songs didn’t take me back to a different time in my life. They did. Still, I simply couldn’t attach any emotion to them. It was like leafing through a stack of color-drained snapshots that I was somehow magically airbrushed from. It felt like the scene from Back to the Future where Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) sees himself fade from a photograph, only to look at his hands and see they are translucent as well.
<via flickr.com>
Just for kicks (and a weird sense of unimaginable hope), I quickly punched the car to eighty-eight miles per hour for a few seconds matching the required speed from the movie. I looked skyward hoping for even a single bolt of lightning to streak from the ominously threatening skies. Nothing!
When all of this was done, I eased back to my law-abiding cruising speed and was sad to realize that time travel eluded me. Really, I was upset that the impossible didn’t happen! Where’s a fluxin’ flux capacitor when you need one? Can I get one fluxin’ order of 1.21 jigawatts, please?
It was such a lonely drive.. alone with my thoughts. Strangely, these were thoughts that wouldn’t leave me alone.
Did I make any sense trying to explain all that?
[poll id=”32″] See previous poll answers here.
Get your Flux Capacitor here: http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3748&zmae=froogle&zmam=86451217&zmas=29&zmac=65&zmap=FC.121.99
hahahaha
still here. still praying.
Welcome home, good buddy!
I love the way you write, Ken. The problem is, you write too well — so well it hurts….
So much was stolen … but not everything — not the love, never the love; even the greatest evil and the worst in mankind cannot kill that — thank God!
You’ve made a tremendous difference in the lives of many people Ken, many of whom you’ll most likely never meet. You’ve instructed, taught, informed, inspired and encouraged so many who desperately need what you have to give.
Not the road you chose — who would choose it — but some are given the responsibility — and a rare few are able rise to the full height to fulfill that responsibility —
a rare someone like you…..
Love, prayers, hope, respect
Paula
Beautifully said, and so very true.
With love and in prayer, always, forever and still.
Keri, My Frankie and Family
I remember that song, “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend”. My husband is disabled (broken back, he was a lineman for Bell South), and all he talks about is going back to work (which he will probably never do). I really have a hard time understanding what he is going through since I am a full time teacher, and all I want to do is be at home. Anyway, try to enjoy those 80’s songs. Even if they don’t apply now, they do bring back some great memories of dances, making out in cars, and pimple-faced friends. 🙂
Ken, Sometimes we need that alone time to be forced to face our thoughts. When we are always working in 10th gear we push the painful thoughts away. Hoping you, Sue and Ryan can catch the WVU game this afternoon.
Ken,
We are all so happy your travels were safe! I know Ryan and Sue missed you terribly! Know how many of us love your family and are SHSP! Love, Jen
Ken , Glad you got home safe and that your sense of humor is still with you.It’s amazing how you can make us all laugh even through your sadness Hope one day we can do the same for you . Say hi to Ryan and Sue and have a calm day Love Gail
Being alone with your thoughts is over rated. I’m glad, as I’m sure Sue and Ryan are, that you are home safe and sound. Still here.
I wanted to vote “To bitch slap Snookie,” but knew that wasn’t the reason you went this time — maybe you’ll go back… …LOL
Your writing makes more sense that I can explain. It is sensitive and thought provoking. You must have impressed your college profs with your essays! That’s all a good non-fiction book is, Kenneth — chapters of essays just like yours. Missed you here, Ken (Is it possible to get hooked on a blog?) I hope you accomplished everything In NJ that was your intention. Glad you’re back safe. Have a great day. Love and prayers.
Feeling disconnected with the present and longing to go back to a time when everything made sense. If I had access to a flux capacitor, Ken, I would definitely give it to you.
Glad you made it back safe.
Ms. Blase, should we order one for Ken from Amazon? LOL
From Urban Dictionary: “flux capacitor a fictional device from the movie Back to the Future that allows travel through time. It can also be used as a scapegoat for computer problems when people ask dumb questions.
Some guy called me to ask me why his computer wasn’t working during a power outage, so I told him his flux capacitor was broken.” Hahaha!
Ken,
Glad you are home.
I have to say, you have great humor. I really laughed out loud regarding the survey answer C!
Thanking God for your sense of humor.
Jane