the unmitigated freakshow

[eor]

I have never belonged. I belonged so little in high school that I turned not belonging into a fine art.

The trend continues. At work people talk about TV shows and sports. When asked about the former I reply, "I don't have cable." For the later I don't even bother to answer. I like watching women's soccer and figure skating, although I've seen neither in years. No other straight guy in America watches figure skating willingly. I just don't get into conversations about sports. The only people I converse with at all are the other outcasts, which really are the only interesting people anyway.

If possible I put my headphones on, work hard, and let the day kind of fly by. That's easier in some jobs than others, the easiest is Packing. When I'm doing that job I have my own little spot and I rarely get interrupted. I put my headphones on and groove. The day is fun is hell. I'll get going and start dancing to the music. Pick it up a package in beat, turn with a little foot action, pull the back off the shipping window with a quick flourish, turn with the obligatory head bobbing, slap the window on the box, check once more to make sure it's right, and push it out onto the conveyor "in tune, in time, with the backing vocals."

People laugh at me. I don't belong. But man I love any day I get assigned to packing. Mornings are The English Beat, POTUSA, or something equally fast. Afternoons I might slow down to The Smiths or go to the islands with Jimmy Buffet.

"I've learned to fake it,
and just smile along." --- Kate Pierson from Iggy Pop's "Candy"