Sunday, April 6, 2014

Blogophilia 7.7 Slightly Past Tipsy

He sat at the corner cafe, at a table by the curb, slowly sipping a cup of steaming hot tea.  People chattered like birds all around him, sharing details of their lives and not caring who overheard.  In five minutes time, he knew that Pam was seeing Gary and that Jeff had broken his hand from punching a snack machine.  Oh and did you know that if you drink green tea it helps your liver detoxify?  He inwardly chuckled at that remark; his liver was probably beyond any help that green tea could give it; he would stick with his black tea, thank you very much.

The voices receeded into the background as he watched the people walking along the street, busy with their own problems and thoughts.  Did they feel as asleep as he did?  Did they go about their day looking at the world around them in wonder, confused about how they had gotten there?  He had been slightly past tipsy for the past 20 years it seemed, and now that he had been persuaded to put down the bottle....and everything else....he felt like a tourist in a foreign country.  Everything was familiar, yet different.  Time had passed him by, and he no longer recognized his life.  Or himself.

“A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”  That was for sure.  He had hidden from the harsh realities of life and in the meantime, life had gone on....uncaring that he was stuck in time.  He couldn't reconcile the fact that getting sober wasn't going to let him live the last 20 years over again; he was going to have to move forward from this point in time.  Or stay put, and forever feel lost.  It was his choice.

He brooded as he stared at his tea; the clouds above were reflected on the surface.  What a fitting metaphor, he thought.....light fluffy clouds dancing on top of the depths of darkness.  Put a happy, sane face on for the world, while inside, the darkness threatened to consume him.  When he looked at himself in the mirror lately, he wondered who it was that stared back....he surely didn't recognize this middle aged person.  "But I'm going to have to get to know him," he whispered to himself.  "It's the only way."

He downed the rest of the tea and stood up.  He felt as if stepping out onto that sidewalk was a symbolic gesture of moving forward with this new, strange life.  Then he laughed at himself....he took life way too seriously.  Just go with it, he thought.  Remember, “Yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why.” 

Smiling, he stepped forward.



Copyright Steven Clark 2014


Posted for Blogophilia 7.7 topic:  slightly past tipsy
bonus point (2 pts, hard):  quote Hunter Thompson
bonus point (1 pt, easy): incorporate a snack machine

Bonus picture guesses:

get down, play that funky music white boy, crazy, twist and shout

topic guess:  Colleen Breuning
photo guess:  Sassysue King

24 comments:

  1. I like your Insight here: moving forward as he's about to step out into the sidewalk. Just the other day a lady mentioned black tea at work....just why is it black? Or is called black tea because it's darker than say, lemon tea?

    Irene

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess the same reason why coffee is called black? ;)

      Delete
  2. Now the hot cup of dark brew with the fancy-artsy topping will hold new meaning for me :)
    Excellent piece!! <3

    -Leta

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think/hope when you get to know him you'll like him

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautifully written, tugs at the heart but without bleeding it dry. There is alway hope, and it is never too late. Loving this write, my friend!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Colleen, I am in a much better head space than I was last week!

      Delete
  5. Excellent job from start to finish. Black tea? Because it is an excellent choice of tea! Enjoyed reading this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The reflection of the clouds...lovely. ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know if clouds could actually reflect in a small cup like that, but it sounded good.

      Delete
  7. But, isn't the clarity of what you see beautiful in and of itself? And that you aren't the one with the broken hand?

    It might be a strange world, but it IS yours. Step forward with courage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting perspective....it IS my world. I need to stop apologizing for it. Thank you.

      Delete
  8. Such positivity of spirit in this write! Love the metaphors you have infused. When things seem so hopeless, a good cup of tea, the right attitude and support of friends can make all the difference. 8 hopeful points, Earthling!

    - Marvin Martian

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great metaphors working here. The light and the darkness. It's like I'm reading a roller coaster of emotions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My life has been a roller coaster of emotions lately, such is the early days of sobriety. Thanks for reading Gerard.

      Delete
  10. Absolutely awesome piece here enjoyed the read did .. :)

    Bettie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for reading Bettie.

    ReplyDelete
  12. good post but what I found interesting was: “When he looked at himself in the mirror lately, he wondered who it was that stared back.”
    This was very similar to a prompt that a friend used recently for a flash fiction piece. And I was going to use you in just the way you said in this write.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go for it.

      I still wonder who I'm looking at in the mirror, though.

      Delete
  13. So very wise. Your eloquent words touch my heart as I read. ~barb k~

    ReplyDelete