Gets Me Every Damn Time

Last night I got home from the grind and plopped my ass down on the big leather couch. Rough day in the trenches and a motherclicker like myself needs to recooperate. Melissa was on the web and said, “Aaron, turn to channel 53…trust me.” Usually, her recommendations end up in quarrels…but this time, I took a chance.

Grumpy Old Men. Oh yeah.

Totally made my night. The hokey humor, sure, a laugh here and there…but, that Minnesota winter backdrop…man, that always does it for me.

Mark my words: I will make it back there.

I will spend my winter ice fishing. I will wear a giant coat, all the time…with a giant hat. I will own an old truck. I’ll have cold ones with Ryno, PJ and Kurt down the street at the local shithole tavern. Ryno and I will suck down ‘witches tit cold’ Grainbelts while PJ and Kurt will suck down rice milks or something. We’ll be lucky enough to have honest women allowing us to take port at their sides. My parents will be down the street, in a small cozy house. Good times will be had by all.

Or, maybe I’ll get into loggin’ and make a living deep in the Oregon woods. Maybe I’ll head back north to Alaska to take a brakeman position on the Alaskan Railroad. Maybe I’ll take root in Nashville, designin’ honktonk posters. Hmmm.

Movies like “A Simple Plan”, “The Straight Story”, “Fargo”, “Beautiful Girls” and any of the “Grumpy Old Men” series always get me. Midwestern Gothic, or something.

I grew up in small town, and upon leaving found myself caught up in the neo-hillbilly wave that was overtaking the community.

I love my Portland home, damn straight. I just itch for a Midwest fall/winter combo. Miss it bad.