When the weather starts to cool in Minneapolis, we begin to pull those Fall clothes out of hiding. For me, it was more about looking at those clothes and saying "It's time to retire you". Which led me to my voyage to the Mall of America yesterday. It's funny that people in the Twin Cities rarely frequent the mall, but it is the MUST SEE attraction for out of towners. As I'm strolling through Nordstrom's, arm full of clothes, I had an unshakeable question pop into my head: "Have I sold out"?
I don't know how or why this ponderable question kept coming up. But I had to dig a little deeper into the notion.
By all accounts, I'm actually pretty successful. On my own, I out earn most couples I know. I have a pretty well respected corporate job at one of the most popular companies in the country. But how did I get here? I look at my upbringing, and I was never pegged as an overachiever by my schools. When it came to delinquency, I was just as involved (if not more) than all my friends. I graduated from a public high school in Minneapolis, went to a public college (paid for by only me) and graduated with an education degree. I grew up with the notion that being organic, eclectic and individualized is the way to go.
Most of my friends barely graduated high school. Most never went to college. Most never attained a legitimate "career". So how did I, by all accounts the same as them, end up where I am? Between the ages of 15 - 25, I spend more time riding my bike, illegally hanging out in train yards, and taking every step necessary to not to be a corporate sell out than actually taking the proper steps in life to achieve any social success. But here I stand in Nordstom's with an arm full of suits and over priced sweaters, and not even caring what the price tag is. Maybe it's true: The times are a changin', and I just need to adapt. But truth be told, I would be most happy in a small apartment downtown, working in a coffee shop or record store, and riding my bike or taking the bus everywhere. Growing old is inevitable, but growing up is optional. No matter my place in life, or the price of my pants, there will ALWAYS be a scribe in a pocket somewhere in case I come across a nice clean mirror. I'll never get up in this city the way I used to, but I will always remain known.
In a very unrelated note, I got into a heated discussion with some friends the other day over local music (specifically rap). It seems that people can't understand why I'm not on the whole Minneapolis bandwagon when it comes to hiphop music. But please get one thing straight, I was hanging out with Sess off Dale Street back before most of you knew what local rap was.
The whole discussion came about by seeing an Atmosphere ad for the U's homecoming. Someone asked if I was going to go. I replied that I haven't seen an Atmosphere show since 9th grade, and if my bucket list holds up, I won't have to see another one. They couldn't believe that I wasn't an fan. "Blasphemy" they say.
I have every Headshots tape since the inception (and yes, even Atmosphere records). I didn't buy them when they re-came out, I have the originals. Never question that I don't support the locals. I put more people on the Abstract Pack than anyone I know. But I just can't get behind the recent influx of newer artists, and heck, even some old ones. In the words of Common "If I don't like it, I don't like it/Don't mean that I'm hating". Maybe it's my age, maybe it's my overall taste, but I still can't bring myself to buy a Doomtree song. Maybe one day I'll get the hype, maybe I won't. But until that day, I'll just keep this Soulja Boy on repeat--that last part was a joke. I also don't own any Soulja Boy songs. It's 4:30am and I know where my head is at.
And it's Sunday. And you know what that means? Yes, another Twins loss. Hopefully next year will be different.
Sidenote/rant:
-When did Facebook become real life? I can't even count the amount of times I hear "Well I heard on Facebook....". Facebook is supposed to be an informal way of keeping in touch with people you don't see on the weekly. But some people use it as real life. I mean, they're on there 40 times a day (literally). I log in, at most, once day. Also, people don't care where you are. Stop checking in at your house. Unless you are having a party with some tasty cheese fries, I don't care. And people, stop putting your feelings out there. Those of us in the real world, look at that and think you're the most depressing person on the planet. It's sad. Be a grown up. Cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it. But don't tell everyone on the planet that you're depressed about spilling coffee on your pants.
People wonder why I don't have 500 friends on FB. It's because I don't know 500 people. Let alone that I don't care what the 387 people I don't know are eating for lunch. If I meet you at a function for only 15 minutes, don't look me up on Facebook. I will not be your "friend". If you want to set up time to go get coffee and talk music/books/sports/whatever-else, that's great, I'll give you my mobile number. But I'm not going to be your FB buddy and look at uploaded pictures of your cat Mr. Mittens, or the batch of Ramen Noodles you just cooked.
JB, doing my part to enlighten the public since 1982.
