Anonymous Alcoholics

It's hard to find people with whom you can truly be yourself. I know I have developed different 'pitches' to which I must tune myself for varying 'social situations'... otherwise i might do something disturbing...

I was thinking about one of my friends, who for economic reasons MUST leave town. She is a lovely & fun person, prone to wearing underwear as outerwear, among other hobbies - but definitely the type of personality that could easily alienate and antagonize others (shit, she used to annoy ME, before i really got to know her a little..)
I thought about how she won't have the same circle of friends once she moves, and how she will probably change, due to this as well as other circumstances...

This morning I went to get in my car, parked by the alley near my apt. As I climbed into the rodneyleemobile, a four-man crew emerged from the alley. At first I thought that they, too, were on their way to work, like me... But then I noticed the swig from the brown paper bag bottle (it was 8:30 a.m.), and their overall crustiness....
These men were just being themselves: drinkin and laughin -- -but when they saw me - they seemed to get a little serious and self-conscious, hiding the bag of drink - - but they were carefree with each other.

Anonymous phantoms disappearing into each sip . . . That's what we all are. We each have our elixirs of choice, and sip at differing hours in diverse places. . . but who cares what we do, except for the few people who might spend that time with us. . .

I'm eating an epic burger right now. But who cares, really?