A week from today, I’ll turn 36. That’s 315,569.26 hours of living. That’s as long as LIFE magazine existed as a weekly publication. That’s the same age as the city of Tagbilaran, the capital of the island paradise of Bohold in the Philippines. I’ll be the same age as Ice Cube, Steffi Graf and ‘adult’ star Gina LaMarca.
On June 9, 1969, the day of my birth, the U.S. Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio held that a state may not penalize speech that is not intended to cause immediate injury. Thank God. Where would I be without that ruling?
A look back in time on the same date reveals some interesting facts – Nero, emperor of Rome, died in A.D. 68 and Charles Dickens fell silent in 1870. If reincarnation does exist, chances are I’m Nero… with much nicer legs.
I’ve been thinking. I wasn’t nearly as speculative last year at this time. Thirty-five would seem the prime time for that. But, no -- it’s thirty-six that’s making me quiver. And not just in the sense of shaking with fear. There are things quivering all over my body that just were not meant to do so. I’ve chosen to refer to this phenomenon as quivering instead of jiggling. It somehow sounds a bit sexier. And these days, I’m grasping at sexy like a life raft in shark-infested waters.
I can’t really think about anything I’ve done in the past 36 years. There were those 4,300 days of sleep. I vaguely remember working at a myriad of jobs – all just to keep me able to manage the really important things in life. You know…men.
I didn’t write the great American novel. I didn’t find a cure for cancer. I didn’t run for office. I didn’t make the silver screen. I didn’t serve the poor and sick in Africa. I didn’t rescue a well-trapped toddler. Really, it’s enough to make you want to jump out of a plane.
And so, I think I will. A tandem jump for sure, safely attached to a chute and an expert instructor. But, wild and dangerous and thrilling all the same. This will be a leap into the next segment of my life – a life of fearlessness, focus and commitment no matter what comes at me.
*Shannon and her love, James, are scheduled to take the plunge (out of a plane!) at Skydive Dallas the weekend of June 18.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Falling Fast
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2 comments:
It's because you're on the downhill slope to 40. It's a reckless and bizarre slide and at least you can watch the wreckage of my entry into the next decade and see what you're in for! I applaud your "no fear" solution, although you're completely on your own with that airplane jumping thing. I'll think of some other "no fear" mid-life crisis thing when I'm ready to do my pre-40 insanity.
By the way, you suck for not giving me more details about your love life and this guy. Said suckage is something you need to remedy immediately!
Thank you for reminding me about that downhill slope thing. I really appreciate it. I'm keeping an eye on you --- to see how it's done.
I've been keeping James a secret. Every time in the past when I've shared every little detail and raved on and on about someone to you -- it ends up crap. It must be your fault.
Kidding! I've been trying to come up with a get-a-way for you, me and ginny and our lesser halves. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about James when you meet him.
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