My cousin Simon

is totally awesome. I love that dude. He's all in the middle of raising a family now, whereas I'm just getting done. He's a few years younger than me, better looking (but only physically), and nicer, though he doesn't seem it at first. He comes off as a dick at first, but as you go along you realize what a nice guy he is. He's just blunt.

Give him some time.

Me, I come off as a nice guy immediately, but as you go along you realize I'm a pompous dick who probably thinks you're stupid. My head nods are empty.

I've always considered Simon my brother, even though he's my cousin. We grew up together and neither one of us had brothers. So.

He teaches English for a living. In high school. To inner city kids who have no interest in school, let alone English. He fights a losing battle every day and is often demoralized, the poor little bastard.

Day in and day out he does it, even though he feels like he's doing nothing.

Recently, he was back here from Arizona and I was very excited to see him. I even showered. Seriously, I was stoked.

We hooked up at the bar and just got BLASTED. I mean, shots, beers, shots, beers, drinking, drinking. I'm telling you, we got puke-out-car-window-piss-the-goddamn-bed drunk.

And now it's like I never even saw him cuz I don't remember it. I still miss him!

Weird. They tell me I was with Simon, but for all I know they could be lying. Was it just a dream?