muckefuck | A bear of very small brain

Power is out in the area again. After all, a reliable power supply is the prerogative of a developed country. For better or worse, my part of the building isn't affected. As I was leaving for lunch, I bumped into two returning coworkers who advised me that the lights at the nearest crosswalk were out. After two or three minutes of walking, I reached the crosswalk. And stopped to wait. After a bit, it dawned on me, "You know, the traffic is moving awfully oddly." Then I remembered and charged out into the street. People on the other side were gazing on me in bovine disbelief, so I explained, "The lights are out." None of them said a word, but when I turned back, I saw that a few had ventured into the crosswalk themselves.

The rest of my trip downtown was without incident. But when I stepped into the Middle Eastern café where I go for lunch, I spied someone I knew, a bear friend I hadn't seen in years. We greeted each other with a warm hug and he introduced me to his companion. Then we had this exchange:

"Thanks for the card."
"What card?"
"Didn't you send me a Christmas card?"
"I don't ever send Christmas cards."
"Your partner then?"
"I don't have a partner."
"Wait...who are you?"

So not someone I hadn't seen in years, only one I hadn't seen in months. He was polite about it, but my attempts to banish the awkwardness with some joking around about my worthless brain fell flat. The other guy never said a word, and I began to feel I'd interrupted some serious conversation with my jackassery, so I beat a retreat to the counter to order.

Tonight, I'm cooking dinner. If I remember to, that is.