Hugo Torres – Page 11

Flashing

Because of my lack of preparation and general malaise I’ve not purchased a Halloween costume. This means that come Monday I’ll probably be wearing something from the left-over bin at the Halloween store 🎃. I apologize to everyone in advance.

You Can Say That Again

So I sit here and I listen intently because my friend is telling the story with such delight. She’s gesturing and pausing for effect. You can sense the excitement as she relishes in the details. Funny thing is she told me the exact story just two days ago as I sat in the same spot. But I’m enjoying the double-feature and wondering…will I in my later years apologize to folks for bugging them with my tall tales twice…have I done so already and haven’t been the wiser?

When Snail Mail Counts

My parents were Catholic, Conservative and proper so we didn’t really talk about it. I had a lot of questions but it was better to stay clear. Was super interested in High School but outside of a few opportunities here and there I didn’t partake too much. College was different and I experimented. Maybe too much. My late 20s and 30s cemented a lot for me but there’s always wiggle room and who knows what changes my 40s and beyond will bring. Politics are my sport though and even at their grimiest I still seek the rush of Elections, debate and how Democracy evolves

Give me a Break

My dad and I got on the 60 Freeway going east at about 5:00 pm one day. I was 16 and it was a driving lesson. Back then our family had an old Ford Econoline van and I was in charge of it’s 5,000 pounds. Traffic was light as I got on the road and I was having fun feeling the van taking speed as I pressed on the accelerator. I kept on looking down at the Speedometer, proudly conscious the effect of my pressing foot and how it then moved the needle. I was so mesmerized that I didn’t really see the red lights in front of me and the traffic that had begun to stall. Right under the 710 freeway my father yelled at me to stop and by luck I found the Brake. The van’s wheels screeched and I felt my dad’s hands at my chest. When we were stopped he looked at me for a while and then we had to move on. I didn’t drive again for a while and I can’t say I blame him.

Boy and his Dog

My boy fell ill. His little body aching and tears streaming down his cheek. We put him to bed because he needed to sleep. As I turned off the light to the bedroom and urged him to rest I noticed his dog sitting right next to him. He was looking at his kid and would not move. He laid there most the night. My kiddo is tough and is alright now and for the record his dog and I don’t always seem to see eye to eye. But he loves my tyke unconditionally and that’s all I need to know.

Conchas

The closest thing my sisters and I had to Poptarts were Conchas. We had to beg my mom to buy them just like my kids ask us. Both a terrific treat in the morning but the likeliness that you’d get sugar-dust all over your sweater was certainly higher with the latter.

Coach Torres

Someday, and that day may never come, I’ll be able to sit down on the sidelines as a grandparent with no need to set up nets, haul cleats, fill up water bottles or buy pizza for the team. But until that day you’ll find me coaching my kids’ teams on and getting sunburnt on any given Saturday.

Give My Regards

Those who I hold in highest regard are the ones who in spite of our disagreements in points of view still seek me out to break-bread or empty a bottle of wine.

Salt Lick

It happened to my pop and now it’s happening to me. (No not the receding hair line but thanks for bringing that up). I’m taking about the need for salt. We used to get on his case about it and now look at me pouring it on!

Morning Chores

My favorite part of the morning wasn’t waking up relatively late to the hot coffee she re-heated for us, or the sausages topped with syrup, the steaming mount of colorful hash-browns mixed with ketchup or the eggs scrambled at my plate. Nope my favorite part was watching my son’s face grimace while doing his chore and cleaning out the chickens’ coop. Him yelling out “nasty” was a highlight in every sense of the word.