Tom Catting

There are those great moments in your early to mid 20's where you can't help turning to gold all that you touch. They don't last long, days, perhaps a couple of weeks but everything you do is a wild success. I was reminded of them not too long ago and how great these memories can be. Is this sitting on one's laurels? BS! These are trophies you still keep on the mantelpiece! Every 20 Something guy should have at least one memory like this. 

An old college friend, of Polish extraction (and you know who you are!) once told me a story a while back about his tom catting episode involving a Katarina Quitino. He had been gone from his home for a few days and when he finally came back, his Dad swung open the door and had this knowing smirk on his face. He knew where his son had been and what he was up to. The next is paraphrased but it's close enough as the conversation stuck with me. 

Upon seeing his Dad's condemning look, KM tells me: “I just walked right by him, straight into the house and shot him a mile wide grin.” 

I tell him: “Yeah, your Dad knew exactly what was up. He was young once too! He recognized the look!” 

I go on: “Yep, you come home disheveled, hair a mess, smelling of cigarettes, beer, sweat, a bit of girl's perfume and you're probably missing socks, a jacket and you desperately need a shower! But you don't take one as you just go to your room and crash because you've been up for 36 hours! You look exactly like an ol' Tom Cat. Hair all ripped up in tufts, dirty, hungry and you finally walk into your owner's house, ignoring him as you go to your favorite napping place.” 

“Best feeling in the world.” KM says. True! He's right! 

You can do this because being in your early 20's affords you all the freedom you want, w/o having to pay for any of it! You are still living under the wings of your parents. A house, insurance, laundry and food are there for free. You DO of course, pitch in money and help around the house but you also own your freedom to do pretty much what you want. It's a great time to be alive before full adulthood takes over and YOU have to pay for everything....then suddenly start to get serious as cancer about managing your own life. Fun's over! But hey...beat the shit out of it while it lasts! 

 **

 Roy Carpenter's is a beach and summer home block down by Matunuck. They have homes that are the size of very large sheds and smell pretty much like one too. I had heard about this place but never seen it up close. That until one summer in '89 after seeing the B-52's in Miquamicut, which is further on down the road. We had spent the day on the beach, D'arby and I, getting buzzed before seeing the concert. 

After it all, we had gone to the Ocean Mist, my first time, to finish off some drinks. After they kicked us out, we spent some time by the retaining wall while she rolled up a joint. Even then, pot could blow my socks off but I partook anyway. It was another humid, sort of light foggy night there. We talked for a while and then D'arby says, “Ok...I'm ready to go back.” Then a short walk back to Roy Carpenter's and the fun that ensued there. 

The next morn she had driven me to my car in Cranston. I drove home around 7ish AM when everyone else was killing themselves to get to work while I was free. It was one of those great humid, sunny August mornings and I felt like nothing could ever, ever go wrong in my life again. Things were perfect! Everything fell into place w/o even trying! This is 100% confidence, but not a swaggering kind, this was real. 

I pull up in front of my house and my brother hadn't left for work yet and I walk into the front door, say “Hi” to him and go past the kitchen where Mom was when she chirps out, “Where were you? Did they have problems at work? Have to pick up a shift?” 

I thought, “Wow! Great! I didn't even have to spend any calories to come up with an excuse!” I kept walking, to the bathroom, when I answered her, “Yeah..two of them never showed up...I picked it up!” The whole time the confidence just flowed from me naturally. So natural that I barely closed the door to take a piss and let that OBVIOUS noise filter out to the rest of the house. I didn't care...I RULE! (Fist pump into the air!) 

After, I go upstairs, lie on the bed. I was dirty, covered in beach sand which was now getting into the sheets and I could feel my skin was tight, dried out and stinging somewhat from the sunburn I had gotten at Misquamicut. Also, that fine salt that collects on your skin from being in water had dusted me head to toe. I felt like scorched sandpaper. My hair smelt oddly of Obsession perfume and I had a slight hangover. Small time injuries from having too much fun. 

Much later, I get up, and I pass by the mirror. I see the sunburn, the salt stiffened hair that's pointing in every which direction and all I can think is that this, “is a perfect look.” I almost didn't want to shower as that might wash away all the memories, salt, her perfume and return me to “normal.” I liked the pollution that was all over me. I think you have to be a guy to understand this. It's a form of scarring, battle injuries...you want to keep them. I did however shower up and look virginal again. 

I hope, every 20 Something guy gets to experience this, at least once. It's a great time before you have to finally leave the nest or take on heavy responsibilities that always pervade your mind and keep you from completely having free, uncontrolled, abandoned fun...and get good and dirty while having it. The trophy from that MUST sit in the center of the mantelpiece above the fireplace!