When I was 16 years old, I worked at Erbert’s & Gerbert’s in West De Pere. Right at the heart of the St. Norbert college bars. I learned a lot of life lessons from my co-workers, many of whom were much older than I. I’m not in touch with any of them anymore, but sometimes I really with I was. They also enabled me to have an occasional cigarette while on break. I never smoked more than a pack a month, but every now and again it’s nice to have one. Any ways, on break, I went out to the side of Erb’s and had a cigarette. Someone yelled from their mini-van “Put out that cigarette young man!”
“Ha,” I thought, “they should MTOB (mind they own business(typo intentional))!” Ma calls me not one minute later, “what are you doing smoking!” Turns out that mini-van had my parents in it, my uncle driving, and a couple other relatives, as they drove to a restaurant near Erb’s. What are the odds of that?
I don’t want everyone to know that I smoke an occasional cig. What if I want to run for office someday, know what I mean? Much like, I don’t want everyone to know that on a Tuesday night, I might have more to drink than I should watching the Brewers. It’s tough when the neighbors below have a persistent, very adorable, seven year old who will make frequent unannounced visits (door bell – “ding, ding, ding, ding, ding”).
If I want to have a cig now, we have a balcony from our apartment. This ‘man-cave’ area of seclusion overlooks the entire apartment complex. There is no seclusion in this man-cave. In all honesty, it’s probably a good thing because it may end up stopping me from smoking entirely. But it probably won’t.
I got back inside this morning after having one, brushed my teeth (not in the kitchen sink), washed my hands, and then enjoyed a piece of gum: Ice Breakers Spearment Ice Cube, to be exact.
It is all about perception.
Well, now it’s time to finalize my fantasy football picks and get ready for the Pack!
Kevin
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