(no subject)

[mallorys_camera]

The Maxer dropped by yesterday on his way to SoCal.

"Beau's really gotten into climbing," Max said. "So we figured we'd try to lure Dad out under the pretext of Father's Day –" Max laughed.

"Your father's very into climbing," I objected softly. Indeed when I first met Bill, he was a veritable mountain goat. One of our first dates, in fact, was scaling Indian Rock in Berkeley. I am desperately afraid of falling – from any height, even wimpy heights – so I'm afraid I was a washout at the climbing. But I was a pretty strong cyclist (for a girl) and I'd already made up my mind to sleep with Bill that night.

And twenty-four years later, Max stares at me from across a booth at RG's.

It was good seeing him. Max has always grounded me. I backburnered much of my own weirdness in order to be a good parent to Max. It is odd and regretful that I haven't done the same for Robin, but then I haven't been a single mother to Robin so I guess I felt I didn't have to.

News? _______ has finally gone off to rehab. That was only a matter of time.

I've always really, really liked _______ – watched him evolve from basketball prodigy at age 12 to slacker par excellence at age 21. I feel badly for him now. He has a really good heart, is bright too in his own _______ way.

I'm also a bit mystified as to how _______ came to have a drug problem. I mean – I have no problem with drugs as long as their use is recreational. They are illegal, of course, and "justice" here is highly discretionary – if the person who nabs you is an asshole, you're cooked. In that sense illegal drug use is always a cost benefit analysis so these days I don't do it.

I don't know what drugs got _______ busted this time but I do know he had quite the predilection for opiates at one point.

I had quite the _______ habit myself way back when. Which got me into a huge amount of trouble.
When the trouble was over and I was staring at the ashes and twisted metal beams of a burned bridge – once a major transportation artery but that road was closed forever now – I had a revelation: opiates are analgesics; people who take them may think they're taking them to get high, but really they're taking them because they're in a huge amount of pain.

But how could _______ be in pain? His parents are rich as Croesus, they've given every indication that they will continue to support his slacker lifestyle for another fifty years –

It is a mystery.

After I interrogated Max about his grades, his health and his love life, we started talking politics.

"Mom and I are against each other again," Robin volunteered.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "It's true I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries. But now I'm a proud Obama girl. An Obamatron! Want to see my robot dance?"

"That won't be necessary, Mom." Max.

"But I'm not for Obama anymore," said Robin primly. "Now I'm for McCain."

"What?" I shrieked.

"Mom. Keep your voice down." Max again. Oh, dear. I'm going to be one of those embarrassing old ladies, I can already tell.

"Why do you like McCain?" Max continued.

Robin squared his shoulders. "Because I'm for the war in Iraq. Gigi's brother is in Iraq. And he wants to be there, he wants America to win."

Oh dear, dear, dear, dear. The Gigi family, paradigm of stability, Dad a fisherman, Mom in the kitchen cooking – probably she collects ceramic roosters.

"You know honey, just because I'm against the war doesn't mean I'm against soldiers. I love the military. I give a military discount at the store – I think we're the only business on Cannery Row that does. Tons of military people come into the store. I like them a lot. But the war is just bad."

"No, it's not," said Robin stubbornly. "We're bringing democracy to that part of the world –"

Max laughed. "Democracy can't be brought to that part of the world! The people there have no model for it. It's all about tribal warfare, think red states and blue states only with plastique explosives instead of hanging chads."

"Well what do you care what I think," Robin asked. "I'm only thirteen, I can't vote."

"Of course, I care what you think, honey," I said. "You're my son, you're one of the people in the world I love the most. And honestly – if I thought you'd thought this through and you had reasons for supporting the war in Iraq, I'd respect that even if I disagreed with you. But I don't think you've thought this through. Supporting someone politically because your friends support them politically – well. That's not a really good reason to support them."

Robin shrugged defensively. "Obama isn't even black. He's Muslim."

"What are you talking about? In the first place, Obama's not a Muslim, he's a Baptist or a Methodist or something – I can never tell those Protestant sects apart. In the second, why couldn't he be black and a Muslim? Haven't you ever heard of Malcolm X?"

"Yeah, but – " Robin stopped.

Max hooted with laughter. "He thinks Muslim is a race."

Robin blushed. Robin does not blush easily.

Way to make Robin a Republican for life, Max! I thought. But all I said was: "My, aren't these onion rings delicious?"

###

In other news, yesterday was the worst Friday the Little Store had had since January. People are just not spending money. Or at least – they're not spending money in my store. All the other stores were customerless too although there were some people in the restaurants – ya can't eat $4.50/gallon gas, after all.

I'm not really sure what to do at this point.

I'm cranking out a ton of work for Gatsby and JDK and trying to ignore the Little Store as much as possible. My problem child. Is there such a thing as retail rehab?

Comments

[pageeater.livejournal.com]

I have a mixed family. My brother is a Republican. My daughter is an anarchist. Eldest son won't tell me who he votes for - which tells me he's not voting for any Dems I know. Youngest son sent money to BO. Mixed families mean it's best not to talk politics unless you like emotional explosions. Robin's misconceptions are mind-boggling. Your restraint is nothing short of awesome.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Mixed families mean it's best not to talk politics unless you like emotional explosions

Heh.

I think it's pretty common for kids to buy into the politics of the adults around them. What I didn't have time to write in the above exchange was that Robin watches Jon Stewart obsessively and is apparently unaware that what Stewart does is satire -- he takes it at face value, and he's absorbed from the great pop culture miasma thaat Stewart is cool so...

[a1icey.livejournal.com]

my brother's going to be working in northern california this summer and i was lookng for tips from my few friends on the coast. he's working in downtown san jose, and living on the border of Menlo Park and Atherton - i see on google maps there's a train that goes from palo alto through there - are there any good things along that train route?

he will have a car, too, so quiet beaches, fun stuff to do on the weekend for a 22 year old boy? especially day time stuff - if there is any fun thrift/market/open-air shopping in that area that you recommend - he's there from july 12th onward i think.

anyway, any ideas? if you could ask max his perspective would be quite helpful - i have no boys to ask.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Don't you think it's more a matter of finding people to hang out with? Does he know many people here? What does he like to do? Somehow I'm remembering he's a physicist... am I making that up?

Max is doing a fellowship at Stanford (Palo Alto) this summer but living in San Francisco -- maybe they'd like each other. There's loads of stuff to do in San Francisco.

[a1icey.livejournal.com]

maybe! would max be willing to show him around a little bit? i know max is a little younger but my brother is quite a gentle soul and very much appreciates good guidance.

my brother is doing a masters in theoretical physics but he is very interested in politics. i think what he likes best is to drink beer and hang out and play video games, like most guys his age. lol. but since he does that all year, its probably nice for him to explore a little bit in the bay area. we have some relatives in berkley, but they are very old (i think 95 ish now) so thats not so great.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

I think I can bully Max into showing him around. :-) The irrepressible Aaron might accompany them -- he's an interesting character in his own right. Plus doesn't yr bro go to school in Britain? Who doesn't want to develop that network of overseas contacts!

Let's match them up!

[a1icey.livejournal.com]

lol ok!

well i just emailed my brother about it - his name is edward - i think they'll probably want to do this via facebook.

it would be so cool if they became friends. lol, i feel like such a dork saying that.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

There's always that frisson of... something... when online and offline worlds collide!

Max is in Southern CA till Thursday. I'll call him when he gets back.