And! It relieves us of the burden of
original thought.
Plus! We took a
mid-week day of leave (for the good of the service) and played a not entirely
discreditable round of golf at Red Hawk in Temecula (a very challenging
course) with one of our playing partners that, for the most part, routinely
beats us brutally.
And we beat him
instead.
By nine strokes, precious.
Courtesy in part to an eagle on the par 5 18th with a five wood shot that would
have made you shiver with delight, so it would, had you only been there to see
it. As pure as it was, and itself following after a drive that Tiger himself
would have envied, it being over 320 yards and into the
wind.
So we're feeling generous,
aren't we precious?
Oh yes, precious. Yes we
are.
Here's the list: If I
could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I
could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I
could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I
could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a
librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an
inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be
a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If
I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in
the world...If I could be married to any current famous political
figure...
Pick five, we are
instructed, and carry on smartly.
So.
Scientist:
I'd be the guy that tied it all together, the unified theory of everything, the
one who figured out how gravity wells, and light bends and space folds and what
exists beyond the border of the infinite universe. Muons and quarks and Dark
Matter would all equally fall prostrate beneath my supercilious gaze, and I'd
track the big bang back to the beginning and determine who kicked the damn thing
off, anyway? And how exactly all of this come from nothing at all. And having
done so, I'd find my way to a locked door in a library in some parallel
dimension, and peeking through the keyhole would see the Prime Mover (aka God,
Y-hway, Eloihim, Adonai, Allah, etc, etc) looking back at me beneath a hairy
eyebrow, saying, "What are you doing there? Either enter and have a chat, will
you? Or else get the hell off my
property!"
And then I'd run home to
give all my scientist friends the witness, but because I am a scientist, they'd
lock me out or lock me up, and say among themselves, "the poor man, he used to
have such
potential."
One.
Musician:
I'm tempted to say sax, daddy-o. Bill Clinton wore wayfarers and played sax. I
think because he thought it might maybe make him some special friends. But the
truth? Piano - it's the only instrument I can think of that does it all. You
play guitar, you still need percussion. Play the winds? Still need a voice.
Piano covers all your bases - and you can sit at the cocktail party, wearing
your tux, and sing "Lilly Marlene" at the end of the world and not feel the
least bit ironic about
it.
Two.
Doctor:
I'd solve cancer. Mom died of cancer. Died hard. I would have liked to have been
able to prevent that. Pops died of heart disease, and although I loved him and
love him still, he earned it.
Mom
didn't.
Three.
Athlete:
Golfer. I love the game anyway, and would be willing to take the chance that I'd
love it still even if I had to earn my living agonizing over 10 foot putts.
Plus, a talented individual can make many millions of dollars between the ages
of say, 20 - 45. After that, he can design courses until he turns 50 and start
raking the cash in again as a member of the senior tour.
Just try that in football. Or
basketball. Or even baseball, unless you're Dave Winfield. The
bastard.
Four.
Professor:
I'd unrepentantly teach Western Civilization at the University of
Chicago, dammit. I'd give the lie to cultural relativism while thumbing my nose
at the cynical voices of self-loathing abnegation.
And after classes, I'd coach women's
volleyball.
Because I love the
sport.
Five.
See?
That wasn't so hard.
And though I'm
loth to do so, I'll pass the torch on to Tammi , Gary (sorry dude - it isn't you, I know - but
it's only because I love you so damned much)
and...
And Skippy-san? For
dragging me down into your chain letter underworld? To the last I grapple with
thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at
thee.
Well, no. Not all that. That
might come back around at me
again.
But do say hi to Kenny-san
over at the Atsugi Club, if he's still
there.
Posted @
08:27 PM
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Posted in
""
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Sendit
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Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." - John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Ceasar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friederich Nietzsche
