Life Continues
Life continues to age us. I attended a surprise birthday party for a friend this past weekend (the party was the surprise, not the birthday,) and frankly, *I* was surprised that at our great age people still threw surprise parties. Complete with balloons and cake. But, obviously, they do. The interesting thing was that the look on the surprisee's face was not one of "oh wow, thank you all so much, I'm so surprised and excited!" rather, it was "what the hell are you guys doing here? You all told me you were to busy to hang out with me today. It's my birthday, get out." I'm not kidding about that either, it's captured on video.
Luckily, the night concluded without incident.
Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been subject to a surprise birthday party. Then again, I'm not the type that would properly appreciate this kind of thing so it all works out anyway. As I was telling a co-worker, hell, I'm happy enough when someone just tells me "happy birthday" and it actually is my birthday.
From the same department of life and aging, another family member is having a child soon. The amount of pro-creating is getting a little out of hand. At our next family get-together I'm not entirely sure if there will be more diapers or dentures in the room. Still, it is a momentous occasion and a celebration of the miracle of life. It makes me really stop and realize how old I am getting though. These are people I grew up with, played with and horsed around with while the "old people" spent all night talking at the dinner table.
Now they're getting all responsible on me. And I'm finding that more and more, I'm starting to sit at the dinner table for more and more of the night. The last vestiges of my childhood are being ripped away from me before my very eyes and I cannot do anything but protest. I can't even do it openly, I have to be *happy* these people are getting married and having progeny. Sure, they're estatic, but what about me? I'm not ready for this reality yet. I'm still watching TV with a bowl of cereal and staying up late playing games on my Xbox.
I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean that I don't want to meet someone that I fall in love with, make large sacrfices for and make myself more vulnerable to than I've ever been before and with nobody to protect me.
... Of course, I make the last statement in open jest. I am actually quite fond of romantic notions, as evidenced by my collection of romantic comedy and Disney DVD's in juxtaposition with my copies of Bad Boys, Die Hard, Independence Day, etc. What can I say? I'm a sucker and corporations that can manipulate and capitalize on human emotions have me hook, line and sinker.
I can admit that I'm a sap and I'm at peace with it. I love the idea of love and I never lose sight of hope, regardless of my predicaments, because I believe that without hope there can't be anything good in the world. So yes, I cannot and will not resist the pull of life as it ushers me onto the next scene in this comedy that is my life. Who will be there to laugh with me? I do not know. But I am ready, as much as I am not, and in my heart I am happy becuase I know that whatever fortunes or misfortunes life has yet in store for me, the child in me is impervious its effects. Saturday morning cartoons will always be better with a bowl of cereal in hand.
Luckily, the night concluded without incident.
Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been subject to a surprise birthday party. Then again, I'm not the type that would properly appreciate this kind of thing so it all works out anyway. As I was telling a co-worker, hell, I'm happy enough when someone just tells me "happy birthday" and it actually is my birthday.
From the same department of life and aging, another family member is having a child soon. The amount of pro-creating is getting a little out of hand. At our next family get-together I'm not entirely sure if there will be more diapers or dentures in the room. Still, it is a momentous occasion and a celebration of the miracle of life. It makes me really stop and realize how old I am getting though. These are people I grew up with, played with and horsed around with while the "old people" spent all night talking at the dinner table.
Now they're getting all responsible on me. And I'm finding that more and more, I'm starting to sit at the dinner table for more and more of the night. The last vestiges of my childhood are being ripped away from me before my very eyes and I cannot do anything but protest. I can't even do it openly, I have to be *happy* these people are getting married and having progeny. Sure, they're estatic, but what about me? I'm not ready for this reality yet. I'm still watching TV with a bowl of cereal and staying up late playing games on my Xbox.
I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean that I don't want to meet someone that I fall in love with, make large sacrfices for and make myself more vulnerable to than I've ever been before and with nobody to protect me.
... Of course, I make the last statement in open jest. I am actually quite fond of romantic notions, as evidenced by my collection of romantic comedy and Disney DVD's in juxtaposition with my copies of Bad Boys, Die Hard, Independence Day, etc. What can I say? I'm a sucker and corporations that can manipulate and capitalize on human emotions have me hook, line and sinker.
I can admit that I'm a sap and I'm at peace with it. I love the idea of love and I never lose sight of hope, regardless of my predicaments, because I believe that without hope there can't be anything good in the world. So yes, I cannot and will not resist the pull of life as it ushers me onto the next scene in this comedy that is my life. Who will be there to laugh with me? I do not know. But I am ready, as much as I am not, and in my heart I am happy becuase I know that whatever fortunes or misfortunes life has yet in store for me, the child in me is impervious its effects. Saturday morning cartoons will always be better with a bowl of cereal in hand.
posted at
8:06 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home