Inner City Pressure

Last weekend I turned the big 2-4. I spent most of last weekend helping Chelsea eat her way around Seattle and hanging out with Jessi, who is attached to Auburn Academy with a new pair of golden handcuffs.

On Sabbath, we all went to church out in Auburn. After the service, an old man sat down and proceeded to chat Chelsea and I up.

Old Man: Where are you from?
Me: Seattle.
Old Man: I'm sorry. What do you do?
Me: I'm in law school.
Old Man: I'm sorry. I just don't know how you lawyers can defend guilty people.
Me: oh... uh yeah. Well, you don't have to do that kind of law i guess...
Old Man: How do you feel about living in the city during the end days? Or have you not gotten that far in your bible study yet???
Me: uh... i guess i haven't?

At this point Chelsea reached over and squeezed my arm with that squeeze all women have perfected that says... "This is not affection. This is me sending you a message not do anything stupid." Message received.

I had another experience with unwanted advice today while i was studying in a certain coffee shop that will remain nameless for my own protection.

I overheard an old man talking to a hipster. The old man asked the hipster what he did.

Old Man: So, what do you do?
Hipster: I'm a waiter.
Old Man: (Not impressed) Oh... Do you like that line of work?
Hipster: Well, I don't know... I don't want to do it forever...
Old Man: Well, you should go back to school and try...

The old man went on to give this hipster a bunch of stale advice about what he should do with his future. Kind of like when a basketball coach tries to encourage his players by telling them to "leave it on the court," or "want it more." The old man might have been right, who knows... his mistake was misunderstanding the beast that is the hipster. Hipsters love jobs that have weird hours and lead to lives without things like health care and stability.

Advice is a tricky thing. It's one of those things that everyone seems to think they have enough of to share. I guess it's just a chance for me to remember that one day I'll be the old guy eagerly waiting to impart some wisdom on the young man next to me in the pew.