Angry and Broody
A few days before we left for Chicago, my friend Doug came to visit me and to meet Jude for the first time.
I met Doug when I was in 8th grade and he was a sophomore. He was best friends with my then best friend. The truth is that at first, I was scared of the dude. He had a Bic’d head and wore a lot of black and combat boots. He looked angry and broody. He liked horror flicks and had a weird obsession with Stabbing Westward.
After about a week, I came to realize that this guy was a teddy bear.* He was sweet and kind and had a weird obsession with Stabbing Westward.
So, our friendship grew. Even after my best friend and I parted ways, Doug and I kept in touch, though we often allowed months, and eventually years, to pass without talking or getting together. Life happens… there weren’t any hard feelings.
About two months before Jude was born, I found out that Doug and I had a friend in common and used that connection to get back in touch with him. We met a Slackers show when I was about 8.5 months pregnant, and it was like no time had passed at all (though it obviously had because I certainly wasn’t pregnant the last time I saw him). After the show, we exchanged occasional messages through MySpace. He called once and left me a voice message, and I did the same to him. Finally, with less than a week until our big move, we got our shit together and, well, got together.
Jude LOVES Doug. They had a great time playing together. Doug roughed Jude up a bit, and they shared a lot of laughs. Yes, ladies, he is available.
I hope Doug will come and visit us in Chicago. It’s a great city, and I know he would love it. However, I know that chances are I won’t be seeing Doug in person for quite some time. While I’m saddened by that fact, I look forward to our next meeting where we’ll sit down, share a drink, and talk like only a moment has passed since our last encounter.
*Please don’t punch me, Doug! I just call ‘em like I see ‘em!
Wow, I forgot all about Doug. I was afraid of him when you introduced me to him also, but you are so right, what a nice guy.