An Emotional Weekend

Don’t worry. I’m fine. My family is fine.  The emotions I am talking about run the gamut from happiness to sadness and from contentment to fear.  Let me explain what I am talking about. I am sure you are totally confused by now.

This weekend the arts have once again did what they are supposed to do. They are supposed to make us feel things and they are supposed to make us think.  The arts I am referencing are writing and movie making and music.

First, I read a wonderful book “The Tao of Muhammad Ali” by Davis Miller. It was written around the time that Ali’s health was beginning to fade. Muhammad Ali was always one of my idols. This book by Miller, a friend of Ali’s, taught me so much more than I already knew about the man.  It made me idolize him even more. It made me happy to recollect all of fights and the hoopla and the controversies that made him the most famous face on the planet. It made me sad to read about his decline. His decline, though hastened by too many punches to the head, is the decline that we all face as we age.  My contentment comes from the fact that my decline has not shown any major signs of an imminent appearance. My fear is that it is just around the corner. Scary stuff!

Second, I saw the movie “Yesterday”. It is a feel good fantasy about a world blackout making everyone not knowing about nor never having heard of the Beatles. All except one man, who uses their songs as his own. I don’t want to be a ruiner, so that’s all I will say about the movie. But wow! So happy just being reminded of the wonderful music and how much influence The Beatles have had on my world. Sad to think there are only two Beatles left and they  are both in their late seventies.  Contentment comes from knowing that I will always have their music. If you come to my memorial service, some thirty years from now, expect to hear John, Paul George and Ringo… a lot.  The fear, after seeing this movie, is wondering what I have done in my life that will leave a legacy.  My kids for sure, but did I waste an opportunity to do more? Who knows?

So now it is Monday. The emotional weekend is over. Back to the everyday routine. But you know what? There is a lot to be said for that too! Happy that I have my health and family and friends and a career I love.  Sad that time is growing shorter and moving way too fast.  Contentment comes from knowing that, for the most part, I have control of my life and the way I choose to live it.  Fear of the fact that that could change in an instant.

Well, that was quite the philosophical post! Time to treat myself to a butter pecan iced coffee from Dunkin!  Ahh Dunkin’.  It’s great to be alive at the same time as the Dunkin Corporation! I kid. I kid.