Recently it seems as if I have been encountering old people more-so than usual. Last week, after leaving the gym in the Pearl, I drove my usual route home, down 14th and up Burnside as I came across a bearded old man crossing 14th st. It was the crucial moment, and in my post work out tire, I decided to brake and wave the man across. 2 mins later he had crossed. Ever noticed how much can go through ones mind in 2 minutes? If not, STOP! Seriously, stop reading and just sit for 2 minutes and think............................................................................................................................ Cheater! I know that wasn't 2 minutes. But I guess the man didn't actually take a full 2 minutes either. Count it even!
But seriously, I began to think about the man. He was about 5'8" because of a solid 4 inch slouch due to a seriously overloaded belly. He had blackish grey hair that continued into a solid foot long beard and full stash! He wasn't homeless, I assume, but sure didn't have much to live for probably at home. But I didn't think so much of him. I thought about life. I thought about time. I thought about the infinite Human cycle of age that no matter how healthy you are, how much you work out, how active you are, and how young you stay, it is inevitable that all grow old. I thought, what the hell and where the hek am I gonna be when I become that old? Portland? Doubtful. California? Unlikely. Nevada? Please no...unless I am living in a log cabin in North Lake Tahoe writing, snowboarding still, and playing golf. Fiji? Is that even a possibility? Switzerland? Why does this seem to be the most realistic? But regardless of my locale when I reach 80something, what will I be like? What will I awake every morning too? What will be my passions? Who will be my passions? Whom will I share life with....or whom will want to take the time to share little bits of their life with me?
About an hour ago, as I left my studio, I held the door for assumably close to a 90 year old woman. She was kind. Smiled, and nodded, and was holding about 4 shirts from the dry cleaner down the street. She looked tired, probably because she walked 2 blocks down to the cleaner, and then back 2 blocks. I asked her how her day was and she said ok. She said the dry cleaning was too expensive. Classic! I really hope I never make mention of how expensive things are in 2064. Here's to all that read......if I do, take away my cigar, or my coffee, or my Ensure....whatever my life luxury is at that time and scold me. But anyways. I wondered what floor she lived on in my 12 story apartment. I wondered if she had anyone up in the room she was going home too. I wondered if I was the first person outside of the dry clean worker to attempt to talk to her today. Now I unfortunately only have one grandparent still alive on this earth. Did I take the time I wished I had to connect with my grandparents that aren't around anymore? I think so, and also think not. With that, I realized that part of the reason I didn't was I was too busy, too wrapped up in my world, too worried about my life and the things I needed, no check that wanted to do. Now this isn't wrong, and I'm not guilty'ing myself by any means. Responsibility is crucial for survival in this life. Living true to who you are, and living your life is key. But does our society create a mentality of "too busy". Too Busy to stop and talk to an old lady in your building. Too busy to sit down and write a letter to your grandparents, assuming they are as computer unwilling as mine. Too busy to slow our own minds down, get out of our own worlds/worldviews, and allow ourselves to listen and see the every present world around us. I don't know if that lady even wanted to take the time to say hello and talk for 2 minutes today in my building. But I do know that I don't want to be that old one day, faced with the reality of being tired after walking 4 blocks to pick up 4 shirts from the drycleaners. I don't want to take 2 minutes to cross the street. I don't want to not be able to go to the gym and run at will, lift at will, balance and grind out the core routines at will. I don't want to face the reality of the few who will attempt slow their own busy life down to invest a few moments into yours. But guess what Seth, Life doesn't always unfold the way you want it too! Or does it? Wow, I could talk upon this subject for hours. But I won't...at least not at this time. Paradoxes abound, and this is a big one. We choose, we create, we think, we act, we love. Thus we dictate our life and what we choose to do with the time within. Yet, there are some realms we can't control. Progression in age is one of those. Thus, rather than growing old with the billions of others in this world and looking back wishing I had done more. Here's to making the most of every hour of every day. Here's to taking advantage of your mind! Here's to taking advantage of what you choose to do with your time. Here's to taking two minutes to cross the street if you damn well please. Here's to the old, the wise, and the bearded big bellied man crossing 14th and Burnside.
