The Birthday Vacation. 2017 Edition. (Radio version).

Part 1.

Last Wednesday I flew out to Minneapolis and Jonathan AKA "the Dangerous African" drove three hours from Fargo to pick me up from the airport. We spent the night in a hotel 6 then the plan was to drive back to Fargo the next day. I was pretty tired and would have probably stayed at any hotel at that point but Jonathan really didn't wanna stay at that particular hotel because the last time we did we smelled cigarette smoke the entire time even though we were supposed to be in a non-smoking area. There were also some questionable individuals lurking in the hallway. One even asked us for a light. This time around while I was about to take a shower I found a needle (like the kind people use to give drug injections) partially tucked near where the towels were. Also the water in the sink NEVER got hot and it also didn't drain. Jonathan was already fast asleep by that time but I didn't wanna stay in the room anymore for obvious reasons so I went downstairs to the front desk to get them to change our room. I really should have asked them to give us a discount because that was some crazy shit.

Just getting to Minneapolis from LA was its own adventure though. I had to go to my job to get my vacation pay which I'd requested in advance the week before. I'd been told the check would have been left at my job to pick up the night before when I came in to work but I think they forgot or something so having to come out to my job threw off my schedule and the LYFT I took got stuck in traffic. On top of that I had to rush and pack when I got home from getting the check. Ended up missing my plane and had to pay $100.00 to catch a later flight. That led to me having to spend 6 hours in the Dallas airport during a layover. Grrrrrrrr....

We didn't really do anything in Minneapolis the next day. We pretty much just got up and drove back to Fargo. Jonathan works like twenty jobs so his schedule is pretty full between that and going to the gym. He's been preparing the past year for his 3 daughters to arrive next month. This is like my third time visiting The Dangerous African. The first trip he had a different apartment. It wasn't a two bedroom like this one. Its amazing how cheap the rent is in other states compared to LA. You can actually do pretty good for yourself here if you have a nice job with benefits. Its really low key and relaxed too in this state. Its a republican state. I think I saw a celebrity in one of the local markets too. Might have been one of the chicks from Charmed. I don't really do the whole -starstruck ask you for an autograph thing- but I did do a double take when I almost bumped into her going around a corner trying to find the sinus medicine.

This trip would have probably been mostly uneventful. I mean....I'd planned to do alittle writing/drawing & probably go check out the zoo because I went online and read some reviews. Figured we'd go to Denny's for the free birthday grand slam and perhaps swing by one of the comic shops yet something happened that changed everything. It was something no one expected that just came right out of nowhere. Honestly I've been so stressed out over Daughters of legend and really weirded out over the fact I very nearly got into a fight with my investor weeks ago my nerves are shot and it might would do my brain some good to not think of anything for awhile. Well except video games and music I guess. As I sit here writing its raining outside and it perfectly suits my mood. Its been raining on and off the past few days. Not so much a downer. Rain just puts me in this ultra kickback mode mostly. Right now there are alot of emotions going on inside this mind. I like it here. I do wish I had money saved up and could afford to just get up and move here. Probably would simply not work for a few months. Seems as safe a place as any to learn how to drive too. Could certainly continue my work in film while living here but Jonathan is kinda hard to figure out you know? Its like he could be good relationship material but it really feels to me he's not ready. Maybe I'm not even ready? Then theres....well sometimes I just wonder if our differences in religious beliefs could cause problems. (Sigh) Dude is a handsome guy with the perfect laid back attitude towards life. He's a catch for sure and well when you are a catch people take notice. Thats just to say I'm aware he has a fan club. Then with his daughters coming soon he likely won't have time for a relationship especially in light of what just happened the other day....

Must have been Sunday evening when Jonathan called me from his job. I figured he was just checking in on me like he does sometimes but that wasn't the case. He'd just gotten a call informing him that his mother had passed away. I could hear pain in his voice. Jonathan's relationship with his mother always seemed to me like that of a woman who very much loved her son but maybe wasn't completely happy with some of his life choices. I never got the idea that they were close but she's been dealing with some illnesses. He told me she'd even had a bout with The Ebola. Her age was late 60's I believe. Jonathan is actually one of the strongest men I know. He may be The Strongest. Really. He held it all in and fought back the tears while having to effectively work a miracle because paying for his moms funeral expenses fell squarely on his shoulders. Why? Well because no one else did it and because thats just the kind of man he is. The burial process is different in  Africa than here in the USA in that it all pretty much happens in one day. The Dangerous African managed with some help from his church to pull it all off and then when the grief came bubbling to the surface I was able to comfort him. Its a good thing I did make my trip up here because I don't even want to imagine him having to deal with this alone.