Back before 9/11, before text messaging got huge, before the Red and White Sox finally ended their World Series droughts, I graduated from college and went to fucking work. It sucked.
Shortly thereafter, Brother Tom got out of school and he asked me if I had any advice for a young man about to go make his way in the working world. I told him the following:
“Live as close to work as you can and try to get free health insurance.”
That's good advice.
The City of Tampa is in mourning today (well, not the whole city but you know, like those who give a shit). Sgt. Ron Harrison of the Hillsborough County Police Department was shot for nothing by a two-time loser, who?surprise, surprise?was gunned down by the department's finest (note: don't kill cops; they have a lot of friends with guns).
The 55 year old police sergeant was in charge of a DUI task force, which in this town, is like being put in charge of catching all the rain drops. He was a family man. Went to church. Drank milk. Raised his kids right, etc. (We have to mention this stuff nowadays because being a decent human being has become something special somehow.)
And in its own way, Tampa Bay is mourning the loss of a great man right now.
The City of Tampa was polite enough to shut down parts of MLK blvd, Dale Mabry Ave, Highway 275 and 40th St. in an effort to clear the way for the funeral procession of Sergeant Harrison.
And well they should. Harrison served his community valiantly and honorably, and as such they should close down roads and fuck up everyone's commute. I can say this with the strong moral conviction of someone who never has to drive on any of those roads to get to and from work: he deserved this funeral procession and the people in the City of Tampa needed it.
And to all of you members of my community who had to take detours, sit in traffic jams and just generally have your commute all screwed up because a cop took a bullet and died, I only have one thing to say:
Live as close to work as you can and try to get free health insurance.
That's good advice.
Trust me on that.