The Joy of the Janitor

At around 5:30 a.m., Randy arrives at the municipal building to begin a normal day that won't end until around 7 p.m.  And that's just at work; for waiting at his three-bedroom apartment is his pregnant wife and 4 year-old daughter.  So after cleaning the offices of the city's most well-paid schmoozers and embezzle artists, he takes a stop at the corner store to pick up his wifes' latest requests.  When he gets home, his daughter (who should've been in bed an hour ago) greets him with a flying hug and petitions for more minutes past bedtime.  Randy caves in and plays a game she's named Castle; where they are building and knocking down her pillow structures.  In between the several rounds, Randy takes trips to the kitchen for his wife, and one out to the garbage can.  After his daughter and wife are asleep, he lugs himself back to the family room to chip away at a business plan that his cousin desperately needs help with.  Randy is taking part in the ultimate joy.

16 to 60

Yo, can somebody tell me the literal translation of the phrase 'in my feelings'?  From what I've gathered, it appears to parallel the saying 'whoa is me.' And further more, why are so many adults using this phrase?  Of course I can understand the teenage private school girl openly saying this when she's been turned down for the spring formal.  However, I have some difficulty grasping how the 45 year-old woman [frequently] uses this term.  Particularly the one that's [allegedly] more than a conqueror in Christ.  Please don't take my comments as a disregard for human emotions, because those cannot be denied.  Yet I do believe many of us allow our daily lives (at least our words) to be led by them.  Friends, allow me to introduce my 16 to 60 philosophy.

The Middle Passage

I believe the only feeling that can replace the excitement of starting something great is the happiness associated with finishing something great.  Think about it; when you got accepted into that school or got that loan to start that business you were ready to conquer the planet.  But when you graduated or started turning a profit, there was nothing that could dull the shine of your pride.  That's because at the moment that you "made it" you had that 50-picture-in-2-seconds flashback about what it took to win.  And while everyone around you was celebrating your success, you rejoiced knowing that you survived the middle passage.

Sides

The 27 year-old gang bangin' rapper struts out on the Radio City Music Hall stage with his employed friends.  His bloodshot eyes are draped with Versace shades to conceal the marijuana side effects; and also because its the look of the culture these days.  As he and his rented entourage approach the podium to receive the award for Best Rap Song, he tosses his hand in the air to signal representation of the gang he joined just last year.  Then, after he grabs the award with his left hand, daps up the male presenter with his right hand, and kisses the female presenter on the check; he pulls the podium microphone down and shouts with exuberance "what the [explicative] is up!"  The crowd goes wild.  Then he calmly utters, "First I wanna thank God...'cause you know...ain't none of this possible without the man upstairs."

Eighty-Five Year Long Party

On the eve of our first anniversary, Melicer and I had to give up our rings.  Due to maintenance and scheduled repair, our symbols of commitment were whisked away to a jeweler who the company feels should work in another location.  We completed the paperwork with the customer service reps when one of them suggested, "well, you get to be single for about 10 days."

"Nah, I'll never be single again," I responded.

"Good answer!"