The Grid

The day before had been a hot one. San Burn Gnar. It lives up to its name. I stretched out and ran. My lower back hurt and I felt old. After my workout, I figured I would do some grid work. Concrete miles. Foreclosures. “Are you down with OPP?”  Yeah,   Other People’s Properties. You know me… I drove a few streets and squinted into the sun. The problem with getting up at 4:30 am…  is that by noon, I’ve already done everything that I need to do. It makes the evening feel almost out of reach. I drove and drank water. Katatonia growled from the speakers. “The Dead End King is here…” It seemed fitting. An old lady sat on a porch and stared idly into the morning sun. She had an oxygen tank beside her and the thing was sending oxygen to her nose through a clear plastic tube. In her hand was a smoldering cigarette. Dangerous. She was one of the doomed. A shadow passed across her face. She looked up startled and caught my eye as I drove slowly past. I felt for her. Her house was old and paint-blistered. An old car sat dusty and rusting in the driveway. She looked rumpled. Her life had passed her by and I was reminded of something I had read. “It’s hard to answer the question “What’s wrong?” when nothing is right.” I continued on. I found a few good pools. The yards were a mess. Most of the people had pulled out and left. Most of what was left remaining was junk and trash. Detritus. The Obama administration doesn’t seem to ever see such sights. I step around children’s clothing, family photographs, mattresses and plants wilting in the hot sun. Maybe our government should take care of us instead of themselves for a change. I drove on into the sun. It was time to think happier thoughts. The streets were surprisingly empty. Weekend. Early. I thought of my friends…  my real friends. People that love me for the person I am. I thought of Angelo and his pool. I laughed to myself as I remembered something Lance Mountain had said. I took phone calls from TA, Jim Howell, Jerry Valdez and Jonathan Spooner. I reflected on life and all that is good in it. In the end, I made it home. I found some new things and spent the morning in an  introspective way. Perhaps by seeing the bad in the world, I am reminded to stay positive and send good vibes out on a constant basis. I will not be one of those that get stuck in the stagnant pool. Complacent. I don’t own a television yet I still would refuse to believe its lies and nonsense. “While there’s life, there’s hope.” - Cicero

Skate and stay positive- Ozzie