Friday, January 13, 2006

PROLOGUE | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5

I have a routine when flying. I’m the last to board, I ignore the flight attendants, I sleep, then wake to eat and write. On the fifth of July I boarded a plane for Denver in the morning and began it. It was as any other flight; predictable, familiar, comforting. I looked out at Mount Rainier and remembered how my biggest problems always become manageable when put into perspective. The fatigue, the emotion, the pain, the drugs, the alcohol, the ultimate. Everything had been so intense and so searing that it cauterized the wound shut even as it cut me.

When I arrived at my house in Boulder, I placed my bags in my room and went directly to the hot tub. The dogs came and licked my face, I had a jug of iced water, and over my backyard fence I looked at the foothills of the Rockies. It was time to think of this place like home, I thought. I had the week off from work, mini-camp that weekend, and an entire Ultimate season to think about. I dunked my head underwater and smiled at all the ass-kicking still left to do on the field. I thought of my friends in Colorado and the teammates that would do anything for me, even pick me up from my own despair if I needed it. Sick. I was home.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

feels like you pulled back--i'm sort of shocked at your brevity. where are the lush descriptions? pain has no voice all of a sudden? i must admit i was hankering for more.

if you're all dried up for words, i suggest you close the circle by topping the red-truck incident with a Mac truck collision.

Anonymous said...

seriously hector, you built the whole story up so well...and then left us hanging...

to make the obvious analogy here, but i can she why your gal left you. you gotta finish what you started.

but don't take it too harshly. find solace in your mountains. perspective.

Handy said...

I would just like to thank Bruss. Hector's story has made me think and I like his prose but Bruss' awesome post really made this final one for me. The Zips Tips reference had me on the floor and yes, the box wine always wins.

Friends forever, in Franzia,
Handy

Anonymous said...

I didn't understand your 'Mac truck' comment at first, Anonymous. But now I know exactly who you're talking about. Clever (and sordid), indeed.

Hh said...

Don't be fooled by Bruss'em. He'd love to take credit for the witty banter but that has Bryn's fingerprints all over it.

Thanks Bryn.

Hh

Hh said...

And no, Dar. I am not going to Goaltimate. I hate that game.

Anonymous said...

HH and every other Ultimate player that is bored in the off season and following this saga, ya gotta check this film here called "The Bike Ride" because I think the guy had it on point. Great soundtrack too.

Elizabeth said...

Hot mess! R. Kelly has got nothing on you, Hector. Talk about a cliffhanger! Have you thought about setting this story to music?