a case of the Independence Days The lit-up church sign had letters that spelled out "HAVE A NICE SUMMER." At least I think it was a church sign, it might have been a theater company. Or maybe it was in my mind; I was driving past Thayer Street, an oasis of alcohol and conformity among the relative quiet of College Hill at night. With any luck, it was all in my mind...

It's dangerous to write a blog when something's heavy on your mind. Then again, maybe it's dangerous to keep a blog at all. I mean who in their right mind would put their words out there for the entire world to see. Other than, you know, the Limbaugh's and Franken's of the world. (shudder). But then again, probably not any more dangerous than listening to T. Bone Burnett at midnite with the bedroom door closed.

I've never been in a situation before like one of the many I'm in now, where I find myself with knowledge that someone's life will be completely shaken this week when they are laid off...and they don't even have a clue. Well maybe he does, because he's been asked to have a "talk" with his boss. But it's probably not much of a clue...which has been a large part of the problem. Tough, when you're put into situation with those you work with on a daily basis where you know more to an important matter than they do. Like whether or not they will cotinue to work there...or get paid...

'The place I go to draw my pay,
Closed the door on me today.
Told me just to stay away,
And don't come back again.

Ahh: I told my Mama: "Baby, don't you cry.
"I'll get a job before the day go by."
I don't know where, and that is why,
I'm a worried man.'--Worried Man, Johnny Cash

I have a friend here that finds herself in the midst of a little bit of a breakdown. A similar work situation to my own, but with her it is just bleeding over into many other areas of life that just get to be so...complicated. We're calling it a quarter-life crisis. I went through one several years ago now, back when I was 20. It wasn't fun. But it was life-changing. And we'll all have to do it.

Usually it is shortly followed by a drastic geographic move. And in some cases, the moving doesn't stop for quite a long time. Case in point: My "re-evaluation" occured in Lubbock, TX. I know live in Rhode Island. I don't ask.

Speaking of Lubbock, listen I've got to get this off my chest: I love the new Dixie Chicks album. It's not that I listen to it nonstop, but when that first song comes across my disc changer in the car I just dig into it so much. The first and last songs aren't too bad, and in between there's a few hits, a few misses, a few trying too hards. But all in all still better than most of the mainstream music released lately. And no, it's not because I find the women attractive--it's the music.

'And I can't say what life will show me,
But I know what I have seen.
And I can't say where life will lead me,
But I know where I will be.'--Sitting In Limbo, Jimmy Cliff

You can call all over the country, connect to friends and relatives and play catch up all you want but sometimes what you're seeking--what will fill the void in your soul that particular moment appears right in front of your face. And chances are it will appear in the form of a firework, a brief second or two of bright light followed moments later by an echoed explosion of noise. And that's it, and you're left sitting there in the silent darkness to soak it in and interpret as best you can. That's what's so hard about life...and that's what's so beautiful about life! The fireworks.  ¶ 7/04/2006 12:05:00 AM