Adventures In Solitude III: Imitation Of Life

Imitation Of Life – R.E.M.

It’s been almost two weeks since my parents left and I still have no idea what it is like to be living on my own. I mean, yes I have been living by myself in the strictest sense of the term, but I don’t feel like I’ve taken on any new responsibilities. Obviously, this is because my situation is temporary but I like to think that I would have begun to develop some sense of individual domesticity during this brief period of time. All I seem to be doing is copying the moves of my parents.

I get up. I get the newspaper. I go to the basement to make sure that the water from the melting snow isn’t going out of control. I lay the newspaper out on my table and place yesterday’s in a pile on a chair in the corner. I don’t actually read it, I just lay it down so that it looks like it is going to be read. I turn on my mother’s radio and keep it on the station she always listens to. I organize the dishes and glasses that I washed yesterday. Exciting so far, no? Today I went out to buy fruit and milk. I also got my hair cut. When I go to sleep tonight, I will put on two small lights at the bottom and top of the stairs that we use to keep the house lit so people can get around at night even though I’m the only one in the house. I will go to sleep and do most of the same tomorrow. I will also probably forget to leave food out to defrost.

Angel always tells me that I feel guilt too easily. What can I do, I was raised Catholic. She usually brings this up because she feels like even though so few people in my life have pressured me into doing anything, I always factor in others when making my decisions. She’s right. All I can think to do with my parents gone is keep things in order and maintain a routine until they get back. This revelation would surely be disappointing, were it not for the fact that I am hardly known for embarking on grand adventures.

Let’s talk about your reviews a little bit…regarding “Intravenus de Milo”: “This tasteless cover is a good indication of the lack of musical invention within. The musical growth rate of this band cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry.”
That’s…that’s nit picking, isn’t it?