It’s 3:55am, and I’m merging onto a freeway that looks much like it will 12 hours from now. People everywhere; screaming west, toward the coast. Only being here for a few months, it’s relatively easy to justify this commute. Anything past that looks similar to a Franz Kline canvas, sans any meaning and beauty.

The news on the radio paints a far worse picture. Oscillating between guns and stocks. Makes the car chase in North Hollywood the other day sound pretty refreshing. No matter. It’s incredible that we never really talk about this (pointing toward the road in front). Look at all of these taillights. Huge amounts of people hauling ass toward another work day. They’re driving an hour? Two hours? Who knows. Just going to work, right?

Funny thing is, it’s easy to dismiss this. If you’ve never experienced gridlock at 5am, it’s VERY easy to dismiss it. It’s easy to say “Of course they’re up early. They’ve got a damn job to do!” or “Who cares? They’re just driving a car,” and so forth.

That’s really the point of all these scratches. We’re just moving along the surface of not just what we’re capable of, but what GOOD we’re capable of. Instead of repeating addendum about how someone shot up a school, let’s talk about the crazy shit we do everyday just to make a living or finish school or keep a family together. This happens all day, every day, and maybe once in a while, a story crops up for a few days.

Is it cheesy? Yes. Will it pay you? No, not really. Is it important? You’re damn right it is.