Insolent Innocence

Saludos my friends and you know who you are. It is a bit after two in Los Angeles. I haven’t shaved in two days so I have a healthy shadow running across my face. Dark circles beneath my eyes and a serious expression make me look a bit weathered and worn.

You wouldn’t say that I am dressed to impress. I am barefoot and sporting a worn pair of denim shorts accompanied by a fine white T-shirt from the classic designers at Tar-jay. Might I add that the t-shirt sports a very fine photo of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

It is far more comfortable than the suit, tie and wingtips I once wore and far more my style. And today of all days it is not just well deserved but needed, this comfort line of clothing that is. 2010 may be the Year of Jack but this past week was not.

I woke up today and felt like I was the star of a Neil Diamond song. Don’t ask me what that means because I haven’t a clue. Went to bed late and woke up early and that my friends is a recipe for a half crazed and cranky Jack.

Some of you are asking the obvious question, what is the difference between you today and any other day. And the answer is that I don’t know. No one told me that there would be any math or science on this test. I didn’t pull a Sarah Palin, there is no crib sheet in my palm. No answers tattooed upon my thigh. I’d wink at you but you’d probably think that it was some sort of twitch or something.

Right about now is when I’d like to pull out my guitar and start strumming. I’d do my best impression of Bruce Springsteen. I’d sing a song about the working man and how he fights for his family. I’d sing a song about the executive that puts in 60 hours and coaches his kid’s soccer team. I’d sing about the man and woman who love each other with the sort of fierce intensity that you hardly see and rarely experience.

You’d find yourself singing along with me. You’d stand up and clap and wonder why you never knew that I had this talent. Later on you’d come up and ask me why I am not doing this professionally and I’d tell you that I am not a musician or a rock star. I am just a man who has a little life experience that you can relate to. But then again maybe I can take this energy, these thoughts and feelings and turn it into something concrete.

That is the name of the book, the movie and the band that I want to read, write and start. Insolent Innocence is a name that came to me earlier today. To the best of my knowledge it doesn’t exist yet, that is, no one else is using it. Now don’t go getting any funny ideas because if you take it I will find you and do something.

Don’t ask me what something is because I won’t tell you in advance. Ask my kids and they’ll tell you that this daddy blogger has a steely eyed glare that will make you flinch. If you are ever the recipient of it you’ll know. Or maybe you’ll think that I am squinting in which case I’ll have to take steps to disabuse you of such a silly idea. I can be quite persuasive.