AS I sit on the tail gate of my truck, placing a small symbol of satisfaction and addiction between my lips, I glance at the rare clear and blue sky; with only a few wispy, white puffs thrown through the vastness, I begin to feel quite small. The cool air would rush past my face and my hands, the only exposed part of my body, and my fingers wish they had gloves and my head wishes that it had a hat to warm my ears, but I don't have a hat or gloves and I'm not really concerned about it, I simply don't care. Not only do I not care, but I think and wonder if anybody cares. Often it seems like nobody even realizes that I exist, except for the people that have to, like... my family, or my best friend Zach. I know that they care, that leaves me with the small shread of happiness that I cling to, that I'm clinging to right now. Just as that thought sweeps through my fleeting mind, a white dog speckled with black, not very large or intimidating runs up to me and places her paws on the tailgate beside me. She looks at me and wants attention, she nudges my arm with hopes of a behind the ear or belly scratch. I reward her with both. She then preceeded to jump up beside me and lay her head on my lap. She was content. I'm not content. I look at this dog with not a single care in the world except to have a fun time and to get it's stomach scratched and I wonder... "how can I be so unhappy?" How has this come to be? I'm not qute sure, but I do believe that I need to be grateful for what have and not get worked up over the small things in this life... I need to be reminded of the giant blue sky that for the past week was dark and dreary, but now it is blue and beautiful. Where did that blue sky go when it was raining and snowing? I have come to realize that we have good day's and we have bad day's, but no matter what, underneath, is a blue sky.


NATHANIEL DREW KIMMEL