2003-03-28 - 10:55 p.m.

Yo, Jimmy Usual

Many years ago, when I lived in College Town, I had a little apartment that I loved, a low paying job managing a movie theater, a semi-normal dating life, and a bunch of friends that I loved.  I was poor and anxious to start my "real" life.  Ha!

Around that time my sister gave me an answering machine.  It was the kind that used a cassette tape (not the digital kind we have today).  That tape could hold 30 minutes worth of messages.  Ok.  Fine.

Well, one day I came home to my cozy little apartment and saw the light flashing on the answering machine indicating that I had a message.  I pressed the play button and listened.  The message was from some kid I do not know, he sounded like he was about 10 years old, who made a series of threats against me.

First he called me a "sum ma muh bitch" and told me he was going to beat my ass.  He went on like this for several minutes.  It was hilarious.  Some bored kid picked my name out of the phonebook, I guess, and pretended he was a grown up and used all the curse words he knew.  I played it over and over for my friends. They all laughed their asses off.

I saved the tape. For reasons that escape me, I made a duplicate of the tape and gave it to a friend of mine who is a musician.  He is pretty well known in certain circles and completely unknown by most.  We have been friends since middle school.  It has been interesting to watch him grow up from a fat little kid to a celebrity.

And he is a genius.  Musically he is a genius and intelligence-wise he is a genius.  His music affects people on a very personal level.  He puts on a great show, too.  Anyway, he sent me an email today telling me that he is turning the answering machine message into a beautiful song.  And the title of the song is "Yo, Jimmy Usual."  Only he used my real name.

This makes me very happy.  I am to be immortalized in the title of one of his songs. I don't know if it will ever be on an album.  He just tells me he will post it on his internet site.  I can't wait to hear it.

Today I got a chance to talk to Kevin about what he thought of last night's showcase.  He told me he thought I was funny and wished I had spent more time on stage.  Kevin picked out all the people in my class who he thought were not funny. He was pretty much right.  I could tell he wondered what it would be like if he had taken the class.  I think he wants to now. And I think he would be very good at it.  Maybe after he gets married.  And has his honeymoon.  And finishes getting all his lovin'.

I told David about the show.  Invited him to the next one.  Perhaps I will invite more people to the next one.  Now that I know what it is.

My sister packed her bags and headed off tonight on her trip.  She is always happiest just before she leaves on a trip. And she is always unhappiest when she is heading back home.  That is her prime grouchy time.  I don't blame her.  I feel the same way.  I don't mind leaving, taking the plane, driving for long distances, etc., but I hate the long drive back. I long for the day when teleportation is available.  I would always beam back home.

I know, I know.  It's not the destination, it's the journey.

Jimmy
 

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