I'll Keep Digging For Fire

When I was 17 years old, I took a course on human biology that basically amounted to a university pre-med class. We'll leave aside the reasons for that and just acknowledge that I did not belong there and did not finish out the entire year. The first test centered on early humans and their trek from Africa to other parts of the world. A key question on the test asked "What allowed early humans to leave Africa?" The answer, of course, is "Fire." My response? "Feet." Like I said, I didn't really belong there.

But fire is a pretty damned important thing to us. As far as I know, humans and humans alone set out to create and control fire. Without it we would find ourselves even more at the mercy of predatory species and the elements than we already are. From an evolutionary standpoint, having fire is like having a cheat code. Once you get that key, all sorts of doors open up. Advancements like cooking, and seeing things after sundown are easily within our reach. Societies begin to form around these pockets of warmth and safety. And other, more deadly creatures suddenly shit their animal pants when they see that we command the awesome power of fire.

I've been questing for fire lately.

Sure, there's the physical quest for warmth in my chilly apartment. Since the complex switched from heating to cooling last week I've been a bit cold, and very glad that my living room has a fireplace. But it's a metaphysical quest, too. And hopefully that's the only time in my life I will admit to being on a metaphysical quest.

Just like the hairy manimals that walked out of Africa all those years ago, we have to follow our own paths. And the fire we carry with us pulls us along, keeps us alive, and keeps the monsters at bay. I lost my fire this week, and not because of any comedy contests or lackluster showing at an open mic. Fortunately I found it again. The how and the why of the story lacks gravitas, but let it suffice to say that I dropped my fire because I forgot how important it is. I'm just glad it didn't go out before I realized what a mistake I had made.

So, I hope as you move on to where ever you go that you keep your fire. Keep it burning and it will keep you moving.

Spring Came, Rain Fell

This is a time for rebirth, apparently. My television started working again last night after six months of stubbornly malfunctioning. I have no idea why it did, but I'll take the boon. I've become more interested in my thesis lately, partly out of financial necessity. And then someone I overheard yesterday declared that today was "Jesus' rebirthday." I thought that was pretty clever, actually. I went to church services this morning, which rarely happens. It was nice, but all of the fidgeting children around me made me feel like I was at the chapel in a pediatric insane asylum. Something about repetitive, pointless motion makes me think a person has gone crazy. It reminds me of those animals at the zoo that just completely lose it and spend their entire waking existence running in a well-worn circular path around their tiny enclosure. A kid at church this morning was doing something very similar. And maybe he was a bit stir-crazy, but it's not entirely his fault. That's what kids do. They've got a lot of energy that they need to expend, and very few are able to do that through quietly contemplating the mysteries of the universe. Also, there is just the slightest chance that these children were hopped up on kiddie goofballs (also known as Jelly Beans).

I'm feeling rejuvenated lately, and not because of the weather. My apartment complex controls the heating/cooling, and they chose Friday to turn us from heating to air conditioning. Consequently I cannot turn the heater on in my apartment. That wouldn't normally be a big deal in April, except that it was 34 degrees yesterday morning. So, it's been a bit chilly in the old homestead. I tried to buy a space heater, but no one has any in stock, since it's April in Oklahoma. So, like a true pioneer, I burned a Duraflame log in my fireplace last night. Considering my luck with fire and accelerants, that was a big step for me.

So, I'm not sure why I'm feeling so chipper these days. I will tell you that I'm excited about performing this week. Tuesday at Othello's and Wednesday at the Loony Bin. I hope you all are enjoying these shows (or recordings thereof) as much as I am. Your feedback, criticism, and support have been invaluable. So, thank you. Thank you for listening, for sitting through shitty performances, for putting up with smoky bars and for driving to Midwest City.

By the way, you should listen to this song Club 8 - Spring Came, Rain Fell. It's a free download from Club 8's website, so it is TOTALLY LEGAL. I know that might be a turnoff for some of you. Anyway, if you like The Cardigans, Moonbabies, The Weepies or The Sundays, you'll probably like them. They're all Swedish and shit.