BSO

BSO

Monday, March 10, 2008

My Day


Doing what I do.

In the UMass Campus Center this Indian guy was selling a lot of stuff. I see him in downtown Amherst too, always doing a brisk business.





Amherst folk seem to have a fondness for all things Native American. Maybe it's a guilt thing about the alleged crimes of Lord Jeff, where the flag was flying this afternoon outside the historic Inn named in his honor. 





There's a fierce debate over whether Lord Jeffrey Amherst was a brave colonial general or an evil mass murderer. Some say he is the victim of leftist historians who are exaggerating the historical record. Others have suggested that the town's spelling should be changed from Amherst to Ammerst so as not to be linked to the English Lord.

In downtown Northampton my pal Motown Bennie was doing his thing all decked out in his spring finery, despite it being quite cold and blustery.





He was shouting out to everyone, "Think Spring!"

As I've said before, Alcoholics Anonymous has evolved into an all-purpose substance abuse program - it ain't just for drunks anymore. Yet I still enjoy hearing some of the older members talk about the AA of yesteryear, before the floodgates of dope broke loose in the '60's and nearly every member was a pure alcoholic. Today AA is influenced by all the modern psychology and self-help movements, but it used to be based mostly on strict discipline. I like the name I was told an old Holyoke group used to have: Die You Bastard But Don't Drink!

Today I went to the AA meeting at UMass, and noticed while looking out the window that on the balcony of the frat house next door there was a little beer bash going on. Afterwards I took this picture.

 



At first I thought, "Good grief, drinking at noon!" but then I chuckled as I recalled how I've done as bad or worse. On some fishing trips I'd be cracking the first can of Bud at 6 in the morning, and I would not be doing so completely sober, because while waiting for Jay Libardi or whomever to come get me I'd usually smoke a joint! So who am I to judge those kids? I don't regret my stoner days, they were good times in the beginning, but I wouldn't want to go back to them, because of what they were at the end.

I used to be a hopeless dope fiend, but now I'm a dopeless hope fiend.

3 comments:

Bill Weye said...

That dude you think is an "Indian" (from India?) is actually from Ecuador, I believe.

Tom said...

Ha! Could be, but that would only make him a South American Indian, as opposed to a North American one, but still a suitable guilt relieving substitute for those who aren't choosy.

Mary E.Carey said...

Thanks for the explanation, Tom. I think I'm going to start using that saying in conversation.