In a Bar Somewhere Outside of Phoenix, Arizona

 

Living out of a hotel room

The size of a tool shed

Wondering aimlessly for a

Bite to eat, or at least a

Drink

 

9 o’clock and it’s till 98 degrees

My blood is much too thick for this place

“But it’s a dry heat,” my a*s

It still feels like I put my head in an oven,

Which I would gladly do to get out of here

 

I want to find a hole in the wall

A little off the beaten path

They always have the best food

And ambiance, so to speak

 

I found the counter

“What’ll you have, hun?”

Ugh, I hate it when people call me hun

I ordered and immediately the door opened

A man of about 50 came in

He had the type of face that made him look much older

Deep wrinkles and unhappy eyes

Like he has seen way too much in this life

 

He ordered a beer and a shot and we got to talking

“Are you here on vacation or for work?”

I guess he had me pegged the moment he walked in

“Work” I said.

His name was Tommy and he was a regular

A shot of Wild Turkey and a Budweiser chaser

Every day he came in

Which was every day but Sunday

 

His wife died about a year ago

A heart attack

Dead before she hit the ground

He was working in Alaska at the time

A six month contract for a construction job

He didn’t hear about her death for 3 months

She always hated when he left for months or even a year at a time

But it was how they got their money

He took jobs no one else wanted

Dangerous jobs in isolated areas of Montana or Washington

Even Iraq, but he hated that one, said he would never go back

He’s been drinking every day since her death

He goes to the bar because he says there is nothing to go home to

It’s surprising what people will tell complete strangers

Someone they have never met and will never see again

Or maybe he was just lonely

Everyone in the bar knows his story, but

He has to relive it every day and night

 

I thought about our conversation while in my hotel room

I thought about just how fast our perception of the world can change

Earlier today I hated my life, my job

The s****y hotel I was staying in

The six hour flight I had to get here,

But now?

Reviews

[Joe Shetina]

I like the imagery here, emotional and engaging.

[Kenneth The Poet]

Brilliant, like a scene from a neo-noir film.

[Lily Mae]

It's always an eye opener when these aha moments in life happen.. but it's also ok to want better for your self.. I think.. Yet then again...being happy in the moment for who we are with what we have is what it's all about. You've got me thinking.. :) excellent write..xx