Flashbacks (677 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.25 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kL (View user info) at 2004-08-08 10:25:35 EDT
I had just finished a night of reading, playing Texas Hold'em with my four friends and their Counter-Strike clan, sleeping, and a game of Monopoly that lasted until six in the morning. As my friends dropped off to sleep, sprawled about my basement, I went upstairs. What could a guy do at six AM? I did the normal, sign in and out of MSN, hoping someone that I'd deleted, but not blocked in the past will message me. A voice in the fog. But no one does. I talked for a few minutes with a girl I used to know in elementary school, who lives in Hong Kong now. She was just leaving for a girls night out of some food and arcade. A pretty well-adjusted and cool thing to do, it would have been nine PM there. I still just couldn't rest, or at least go into bed and read some books. I'd finally gone to the library and picked up some Kerouac and a translated Japanese book, Parasite Eve. I was too restless, so I went to the park across the street. It was open very early and the weight room door was usually unlocked, so I could work out for awhile without paying. As I walked there, saw the sun coming up over the East side of Vancouver, it dawned on my: It was Sunday. No weight room until 10.
Damn.
I really should given up on staying up and gone home to bed. I actually did, but just to get my basketball. It was right there on my porch, and I didn't think I'd gone to the park all by myself to play in years. It felt good bouncing the ball on the cement. Somehow, it felt smaller in my hands. I used to play here all the time as a kid. The feelings were rushing back to me. So many memories. There's a great aroma in my mind associated with a kid, a ball and a dream. The recollection of unjaded years.
I turned the corner and took my first, happy steps and bounces onto the court. What?... There were bars protruding the backboards garishly, blocking the rims. A sign read: Basketball Court! Open 8:30 - 10! Wow, things have changed. I used to come here before school all the time in elementary. It was open to me always. Not anymore.
As I retreated back around the corner to face the community centre pre-school windows, I saw myself reflected in the glass. In so many earlier years, turning this corner and seeing myself in the glass had been such an everyday thing, I never took time to see myself grow up in the reflection. I had grown. It was a bit vain, but whenever I would dribble towards that building I'd practice moves, and see how I looked. I looked a lot bigger now. But I could still vividly see myself from the past. At nine, wearing an oversized Vancouver Grizzlies t-shirt in hideous turquoise, a matching Grizzlies basketball, the rubber dots all perfect and unused. At 10, in black shorts and jersey, feeling every inch the ballplayer, with my pump-up Reeboks and my pencil thin arms. At 12, my elbow bleeding profusely, but smiling after running home to tell my mom my stats from playing hours and hours in gams with adults. I was a little geek.
But I remember myself as being happy that day.
I don't know if this post was about growing up, or my lost sports ambitions, or about how doing something seemingly random and stupid can result in having a profound experience, so I'll just leave you with what I've written I guess. And here's a picture of me and my friend back when we were twelve, coming home from playing AAU basketball in the States. Back when we still had dreams, I think. I only realize I've lost them after I do.
User Reviews
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2007-01-07 09:24:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
As I walked there, saw the sun coming up over the East side of Vancouver, it dawned on me: It was Sunday. No weight room until 10.
WHY didn't I throw a "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA punny" after dawned.
I was oblivious to that gargantuan pun.
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-10-18 17:47:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I can't believe I wrote / posted this, what a fag picture too.
Submitted by whiskas (user info) at 2004-08-18 18:34:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WHISKAS
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-13 00:22:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I wish whiskas was my friend.
Submitted by Socialist_Joe (user info) at 2004-08-13 00:12:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
whiskas go now and make a post so i can burn you and incure your whiskasy wrath
Submitted by whiskas (user info) at 2004-08-12 23:58:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
whiskas
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-12 16:52:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
They're just like that man. No clue why, but it's all good I guess. --> http://www.ubersite.com/m/36780
Submitted by Scotsman (user info) at 2004-08-12 07:49:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No beacause it is that good but because of those assholes initially giving it -2. If this had been by one of the Uberclique it would have been raved about.
Nice tale though. There are times when I am surprised at how much I have grown up as well. for instance the wall that I had trouble climbing and yet now I am over it in seconds.
+2 for reminding me of those days :)
Submitted by apple_tush (user info) at 2004-08-12 07:25:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Question...if I may?
What happened to your left eyebrow?
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-12 07:12:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have whiskas on my comp desk and no food and I was really thinking about trying some.
Submitted by whiskas (user info) at 2004-08-11 08:13:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thought it was good...
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-08 21:14:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Socialist Joe knows everything, no joke. No more sleeping I guess.
Submitted by Socialist_Joe (user info) at 2004-08-08 20:26:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
sleep is bad it will kill you
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-08 20:11:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wow I was tired and stupid when I wrote this. Napping is my friend.
Submitted by Gnome (user info) at 2004-08-08 17:10:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked it. and i loved that movie.
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-08 13:05:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Kinda funny, everyone I talk to hates Lost in Translation and I love it. =(
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-08-08 12:24:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
This reminded me of Lost In Translation for some reason...I think it was the aimless searching for things to do and complete lack of point.
I fucking hated that movie.
Guess what that means to you.
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-08 12:02:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
*Yawn*
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-08-08 11:57:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Shit I forgot the main part.
Love,
UCP
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-08-08 11:57:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by cshape (user info) at 2004-08-08 07:28:45 (#)
Ranking: -2
Hey! Go away!
Submitted by KoolMang (user info) at 2004-08-08 11:19:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Swing, swing, swing.