Obvious not many.
A few weeks ago a couple of friends and I went to a Hookah bar in Hyde Park. Now I am not a smoker--never have and never will be. I don't smoke cigarettes or any other narcotics, yet I don't have a problem with smokers or being around smoke. But I went because I find that just about anything that involves getting out the house has the potential to turn into good writing. About an half hour into watching my friends routinely pass the hoses to and from, I decided to join in, considering they had explained to me that Hookah does not contain the addicting stimulant of nicotine, but it may give you a little high. As Middle Eastern music played in the background, we sat on the floor surrounded by deep red velvet pillows discussing issues surrounding education in Chicago: the lack of resources that goes into Chicago Public schools, the overworked teachers who can't control outside socioeconomic factors hindering their students ability and capability to learn, etc, etc. Then, my friend sitting next to me transitions into a one on one conversation with me. He looks at me, face blurred by smoke, and says, "Man i can't believe it's already 2009, that shit sounds crazy to say...you know the Mayan calendar only goes up to 2012." I turned to him after taking another puff of Rawen flavored tobacco and said, "Wow, that's crazy what they gone do after that?"My Friend: "Huh, I don't think nothing...they're dead..."
