for pop

this week i heard both Roberto Carlos and Leo Dan multiple times on the radio in the restaurant kitchen. i can sing along to parts of the songs while i tray up food. its funny, and people wonder how i know those songs. it brings back memories. wearing work boots. sister joy's house. attic crawl spaces. rotting airborne insulation. the old blue ford van. or maybe even the green one. cutting roof antennas like timber. laura warfel. state street. being proud of my tool belt. cat pee. plaster falling on my head. breaking trim and yelling. enjoying demolition and sledgehammers. being unable to find a tool in the messy van and not wanting to go inside and tell you. scary pit bulls in the neighbors yard. avocados in the lunchbox. no silverware. black people who got black because of roof tar. "mi hijo." joint compound and screw holes. boring long waits at Fager's on cushy stools. eating chinese food instead of mom's packed lunch. sanding into the night. failing to hold the flashlight still. muffins. hot chocolate. diners. noo-ah, noah. noo-ah, noah. "pichón." wearing dust masks to keep our faces warm. sleeping on the way home. no a/c. bowmansdale. eating mom's packed lunch in the van on Second St. before going inside. guilty. walking inside feeling manly after a good day's work. whispering to Ollie about chinese food. 20min. in the side yard with small goals. shirt grabbing and fouls. big creek or little creek.

i think about you often, miss you as much, brag about you when i can. love you.

owen