Urfph

 

The Bipartisan Cafe / Portland, OR

6:45 a.m. I have a pretty gross analogy that describes what writing feels like to me right now. Every so often in the men’s public restroom there will be a gentleman standing at the urinal – most likely middle-aged or older – with a look of complete and utter focus. He may be leaning over the urinal, propping himself up with a forearm. I’ll walk in with my healthy prostate and free flow, while trying not to notice the sound (just the sound – eyes straight ahead, boys) of silence punctuated by a drop or two hitting the urinal cake. Such a gentleman must surely remember with crystal clarity the time when he didn’t have to pour all his concentration into peeing. What a relief it would be to return to that time. How he must resent the easy manner with which I do my business. Maybe if he pushed a little harder everything would go back to the way it was.