I had/I have

I had a cousin who was big and masculine and forced to flee the country.  After which he became a woman and died in a fire.

I had a conversation with a girl in which I relayed the cool things I had done.  I could see her face get all twisted up with excitement, then melancholy, at the prospect these things were unattainable to her. 
I feel that way a lot, when people tell me about all the cool things they've done.  It's like a drug - you get real high hearing about travels and nights out and accomplishments, and then you get real depressed thinking these things are out of reach; that they require all sorts of impossible hoop jumping.

I have a plane ticket to China for June 16th.  Now don't go twisting your face.