I was a wild woman set loose in the city and I had a ton of fun.  Who was supposed to come did not, who I wanted to see I saw, I got to be surrounded by my favorite bar patron and his lovely wife, my wild neighbors who I was Facebook friends with but never spoke to before, my friend since the 80′s and walking pal, a woman from Northeast Philly who threatened to have a fist fight with me if I did not stop swaying to the music and enjoying myself, my young co-worker who has amazing taste in music, and my old stalwart punk rock friends who I have known forever. It was exactly like that.  I felt so freeing to go on this adventure alone yet meeting up with people I wanted to meet up with all night doing whatever I wanted to do.  Sometimes one has to do that, sometimes even if I never leave the city a day free of kid responsibilities is important.  I ended my evening having a beer with my 89 at the bar, where as always I told him to love his girlfriend as she is or to leave her, because the only person you can change is yourself.

Alone at midnight I took the bus home.  I could not stop thinking about my bar patrons wife. She is an author.  I write everyday but I can’t fathom having the imagination to get so far into ones head to construct the alternative world needed to write a novel.  It seems disjointed to live a daily life and to have another world to escape into to complete the piece, I bet the writing process is a lot like having a double life or a sweet secret lover. For me writing is so not that. Writing for me here is the alternative to a band. A place to put it all out for the world to examine. It is a way to have community. I lived collectively till Ryan was born and having kids is often like having noisy messy roommates. This place invites those who can’t live with me into our lives and the process of living.  I liken writing a novel as complex as a symphony and this to the three minute, three chord Ramones song. It is fun, utilitarian, and does not take up much of your day. The world needs symphonies and the Ramones, so it is all good.

This morning as I woke up to my house full of wild redheads I was content and happy to be home with everyone. I was covered in hugs and kisses. We talked about the show.  We had our usual Saturday morning informal family meeting as to the events of the weekend which puts us all on the same page. We usually make a list of what we are going to do so Ryan can refer to it which avoids some meltdowns. Ryan talked about wanting to purchase a few songs this weekend having earned them with behavior and chores completed this week.  I asked which songs he wanted. He replied, Mom I want that song you have been singing about liver all week.  I was confused and said, what are you talking about, liver??  Slowly but surely I figured it out when he sang, STAAAAAAND and EAT LIVER. It was then I knew what my post would be about today. I love my family, I love that I got a break,  I especially love my family when they sing loud and wrong, and I am not sure I will ever have the capacity or imagination to write a novel.

Stand and Eat Liver is actually Stand and Deliver.  Singing along with this last night live was amazing, it was during  this song I wound up almost getting in the fight with the woman.  Damm fun police.