ikon

atm0

If I remember correctly, this was how you turned
a computers sound off when in DOS mode
back in the day before Windows.

That always stuck with me. I even wanted to draw
a comic character once that had that as a tattoo on
their forehead. I don't know why I have thought
about it again after so long.
I think it's because I just wanted things today to be
silent.
No noise.
No aggravation.
No bullshit.

Guess it wasn't meant to be.

I have been getting calls for about 3 weeks
on my cell phone from a number I didn't
recognize.
No messages.
I hate that.
Just a reminder for anyone that knows my
cell number. Don't call me and not leave a
message. Pet peeve 167

So after some internet investigating, I find
that it is a number from my old home town.
Pet peeve 288, I left my old home town for
a reason. I have not the slightest desire to
reminisce.

Now that it has been established that I don't
like reliving the past, I started to wonder two
things.
Who's trying to contact me and for what reason?
Now the simple answer to this boggle would be
to just answer the phone the next time I see the
mystery number. But there are reasons why I
don't want to talk to anyone from way back when.
First reason is, that's not my life any longer.
Second reason is, everyone I knew, family included,
are not worth remembering.

So how did anyone from back then manage to get my
cell number? I haven't spoken to anyone from there
for longer than my kid has been alive. I haven't visited
that area in just as long.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

MOTHER.

She loves to feel "connected" to everyone in her
family. Even to the ones she can't stand. She
loves the gossip way too much to avoid the
drama that are my relatives, and I wouldn't put
it past her to fold under the slightest pressure
from a family member who may have threatened
to cut off relations if they didn't get my number.

So I make a phone call, and after a bit of teeth pulling,
I finally get the answer I was fearing. Mother gave
up my number to one of the relatives during her last
trip up north. And to make matters worse, she knew
the number was going to go to my father, whom I
hate more than anything, and anyone alive.

What the fuck was she thinking?

She knows I can't stand the guy. She knows I want
nothing to do with him. When asked, her thought was
"he isn't in good health and maybe he's trying to make
amends"

Better off dead is my motto.

Then my mother brings up the house he still lives in.
The house we all grew up in.
I tell her that I couldn't care less about that place.
If it burnt right down to the ground, I couldn't be
happier.
My suggestion was if the old guy is looking to give
his house away, I got a brother in Colorado that
would love to have it.

The end result of all of this?

I text this back to the mystery number
"Look, don't be offended, but I don't even like
talking to the relatives that I'm fond of. Do urself
a favor. Forget this number. I don't need or want
anything from you".

Now my day is over.

atm0