Finally got to see Metallica in the mid-90s,
a bit after I would have liked to – but hey.
My aunty was keen, too, so drove her down
from Hawke’s Bay. We stayed in my flat
for the weekend – dug the show because
it was good enough, and sometimes great.

And then we hung out with my mates, we
had all these movies to watch – like Spinal
Tap – and had planned a lazy Sunday session,
few beers, some weed…

One of my friends wondered if it would be
okay for us to maybe have a smoke with
my aunty there – and I wasn’t totally sure
about that either; drugs and parents don’t
mix – that was the rule another friend  had
taught me. But we soldiered on.

And when our pipe barely passed muster
my aunty went to her bag and pulled out
an old bed leg – she loaded it up with
her own stash and blew our minds.

Everyone was impressed with this
carpentry, the way everyone is with
weed and wood.

She explained her dad had made it for her:
beveled it, drilled a hole through the middle,
attached a big cone – brilliant. We all laughed
(and laughed). And as the movies rolled on,
and the beers ran out I thought about my
cool grandad eh…

Drove home after the long weekend, listening
to Metallica from the ‘proper’ era.
A little Ride The Lighting, yo!