Echoes of the Garage

August 7, 2026 — 8:24 a.m.

Last night I was stressed…

So I went for a long drive through LA.

Ended up at Starbucks—grande hot chocolate…at 1 a.m.

I’ve been thinking about time.

Well…

I always do.

I’ve said I’m not afraid to die. If I were told I was gonna die, I’ve thought I’d say, Great. I’d celebrate it because I’ve been tired of my present. I’ve felt like I couldn’t unravel the life brought to me by my decisions.

Growing up, I always thought adults—because of age—had solved life.

That they were wise.

That they had the life they wanted.

I was a naive young kid.

Graduating high school, I didn’t feel like an adult. In my mind, I had an extension on childhood.

Becoming an adult seemed to sneak up on me like a buddy I hadn’t seen in a long time giving me an embrace.

I remember getting tickets for not moving my car for street cleaning and just crumbling up the paper.

I don’t know why I didn’t care…

but I didn’t.

Then one day, I got a letter in the mail.

It had red letters on it.

I opened it and there was a final fine of a little over a thousand dollars.

My parents helped me pay it.

Did I learn the lesson and become an adult?

No.

I would go on to get my car repossessed. Eventually, I’d get it back and pay it off.

I’d get kicked out of two community colleges because of my grades.

Cheat and get cheated on.

Get thousands of dollars into debt with credit cards and loans.

Get overweight.

High cholesterol.

Did any of it mean anything?

No.

I didn’t care.

But in 2015…

I began to care.

Why?

A girl.

I cared for her and wanted to change.

I began to apply myself. I began to want to be responsible.

And finally I thought…

Damn. Being an adult is work.

Wtf…

Welcome to adulthood.

Our relationship died like a burning building.

She would cheat and leave me.

But I got something from it.

I got to not just feel like an adult…

I began to understand what being one meant.

It can be hard.

Sometimes it can feel like endless responsibilities.

So now…

Death.

I still don’t fear it.

But I respect it.

For one reason:

I have to take the challenge of living.

And living comes with the bad…

but also with the good.

Live.

Build.

Experience.

Yeah…

Now to drink my cup of coffee.

Well…

First brew it.

Then drink it.

☕

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💭 Reader Question

When did you realize being an adult wasn’t about your age—but about finally taking responsibility for your own life?

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🚀 Stay in the Garage

When I write something new—or finish a drawing, a Street Cinema piece, or a Hood Chronicle—I’ll send it your way.