speak//listen
i can’t hear,
i can’t hear!
please speak up,
but not so loud,
let’s be civil,
let’s be servile,
but if all else fails,
let’s please not fight
Fred Aiken Writing
July 9, 2024
Sir Cyrius’ Commute
Sir Cyrius the Serious of the Serious Sort found himself ensnared in the labyrinthine clutches of the city’s morning traffic. The clatter of honking horns and the ceaseless hum of engines surrounded him, a cacophony of the modern world’s unending hurry. His steed, a sleek black sedan with the nobility of German engineering, idled impatiently beneath him. Cyrius’s grip on the steering wheel was firm, his gloved fingers drumming a steady, measured beat to a song he did not know he knew.
Through the narrow slit of his helmet’s visor, he surveyed the scene before him: an endless queue of vehicles stretching into the horizon, a serpentine beast of steel and rubber. To his right, a minivan emblazoned with a gaudy decal advertising a local pest control service. To his left, a diminutive hatchback, its rear plastered with bumper stickers proclaiming a hodgepodge of political allegiances and half-baked witticisms. Cyrius’s jaw tightened beneath his visor. Sweat began to pool around the neck of his knight’s helmet.
With a measured exhalation, he addressed his steed, “We shall advance, noble friend, and reclaim our rightful place upon this thoroughfare.” He pressed down on the accelerator, nudging the sedan forward by mere inches, a knight’s charge stymied by the ignoble realities of urban gridlock.
The seconds stretched into minutes, each tick of the clock a reminder of his encroaching tardiness. He felt the stirrings of a battle-hardened resolve; it was time to employ more assertive tactics. With a flick of his wrist, he signaled his intention to change lanes. The hatchback beside him, oblivious or perhaps simply indifferent, remained steadfast in its position. Cyrius’s eyes narrowed to slits behind his visor.
“Very well,” he muttered, “if they will not yield, then we shall force their hand.” He edged his steed forward, the sedan’s bumper mere centimeters from the hatchback’s rear. The driver, a young woman engrossed in her smartphone, remained blissfully unaware of the impending incursion. Cyrius gave a sharp blast of his horn, a call to arms. The woman started, her eyes wide as she glanced in her rearview mirror. With a sigh of resignation, she inched her vehicle forward, granting Cyrius the narrowest of openings.
Triumphant, he eased his steed into the coveted space, a small but significant victory. He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction before turning his attention to the next obstacle: a hulking SUV directly ahead, its rear window emblazoned with a decal proclaiming the driver’s allegiance to a nearby CrossFit gym. Cyrius regarded the SUV with a mixture of disdain and determination.
Once more, he signaled his intention to overtake. The SUV, however, appeared resolute, its driver a burly man with the neck of a bull and the disposition of an irate badger. Cyrius, undeterred, edged his sedan closer, his horn issuing a peremptory command. The SUV’s driver glanced in his rearview mirror, his expression a mask of incredulity and irritation. For a moment, it seemed as though a confrontation might ensue, a clash of modern-day titans upon the battlefield of the freeway.
But then, with a huff of resignation, the SUV’s driver yielded, granting Cyrius passage. As he surged forward, Cyrius allowed himself a rare smile. He had navigated the perils of the morning commute with skill and determination, his honor intact and his steed unscathed.
As the traffic began to ease and the city skyline loomed ahead, Cyrius pondered the peculiarities of the city’s landscape.
And so, Sir Cyrius the Serious of the Serious Sort continued on his way, a figure out of time yet undeniably of it. Onward, he mustered his trusty steed of a sedan, onward to work, where there be dragons lurking in corporate offices.
July 8, 2024
gone fishin’//into the future
I’m looking forward to having the freedom to explore my passions and interests without the constraints of a 9-to-5 job. Imagine waking up each day with the possibility of doing something you love—whether it’s traveling, spending more time with family, pursuing hobbies, or even starting a small business just for fun. The idea of having the time to truly live life on my own terms is incredibly appealing.
Of course, financial stability is a big part of the equation. I’m actively working on building a solid retirement fund to ensure that when the time comes, I can enjoy my retirement without financial worries. It’s about striking the right balance between living for today and planning for tomorrow.
But I’m hoping to not be annoying about my investment strategy. Nothing like Wallstreetbets or a hedge fund manager, but rather just someone that consistently doesn’t spend money on things I don’t need, but rather puts it away in a savings and/or retirement account. I think my favorite thing to invest in is bonds. Not you junk, corporate type bonds. But rather those grade A, always going to pay a consistent percentage more type of bond. I also like bonds as an investment strategy because when you tell someone you’re buying a bond, it doesn’t lead to a vast amount of questions about why you’re buying those bonds, and in fact is an easy way to get out of a conversation you don’t want to be in. Try it next time you’re in a conversation you find annoying. Just mention the fact that you are thinking about buying government bonds(it doesn’t matter which government), and that will immediately end the conversation.
I suppose healthcare is another consideration for the future. Staying healthy and active is crucial for making the most out of retirement. I plan to prioritize my well-being, embracing a lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular check-ups. At least in theory.
I probably fall short of taking care of my health as I would like most days. I tend to forget to get an annual physical done for reasons that are usually not sufficient. I still eat way too much sugar and processed foods due to how easy and accessible they are. And it doesn’t help that I don’t particularly like cooking. It’s not like I won’t cook. I will still make my own food rather than go out to eat, especially rather than going out to fast food. But I would definitely take a wild guess that most doctors would still classify my diet and eating habits as being the dreaded ‘room for improvement’.
But I suppose it’s all about making strides for improvement when it comes to personal health, both physically and mentally. Compared to my health in the late teens and early twenties, I know I’ve definitely gotten better. Unfortunately, I used to smoke, drink, and consume quite a bit of energy drinks. All of which I stopped doing when I turned 25 because I could no longer justify the shitty feeling I had whenever I woke up from doing those things. Granted, I didn’t immediately quit cold turkey, but rather it was a slow process of weaning myself off of each of them over the course of several months.
Though the part of caring for my health that I dislike the most is exercise. I know that it can improve serotonin levels and is good for the body. But it’s the part of health and caring for oneself that feels the most like work, and I have kinda gotten to the point where I really dislike working. So, I tend to do exercises that are the least impactful or strenuous, like walking or stretching. Sure, they won’t get me Hemsworth-like ripped, but I don’t want to look like that either way. I just want to be able to have basic mobility and physical functionality in my seventies without everything hurting all that time.
If you were to ask me what specifically I want to do when I finally retire, I would either have a whole list of activities or hobbies for you, or I would shrug and tell you that I have no clue. I suppose it just depends on the day, week, or month that you ask me. I know I will definitely be reading, but I already do plenty of that already. I would have more time to watch more movies, which would be nice. I might even paint, which I haven’t done on a regular basis since I was a teenager. So, sure, I might not have a definitive plan as to what I will do with my time in retirement, but I suppose I have time, you know, to figure it out.
Ultimately, I look forward to the opportunity to reflect on my life, cherish the moments, and create new memories. Retirement, to me, is not just about stepping away from work; it’s about stepping into a new chapter full of possibilities and experiences. While the future is uncertain and plans may change, the excitement of what lies ahead keeps me motivated and optimistic.
Fred Aiken Writing 