Like all things, the second time round may not be as sweet as the first, but it's still way awesome. Chelsea, 2005/06 English Premier League Champions. Oh yeah. Now, if they can only sort out that pesky Champions League...
Ex-hippies from the 70's getting Wall Street jobs. You spend all your idealistic youth sticking it to the Man, only to sell out later. Become the thing you hated most. Just another suit feeding the fat cats way up, most likely helping yourself to the rich pickings while you were at it.
At day's end, you give yourself a pat on your back, mighty pleased with yourself for a good day's work. Smiling that Cheshire Cat smile. Who gives a shit about what you do. You're another Kenneth Lay in the making. Another Jeff Skilling. As long as the share values are up. Screw the masses. The little people. Like Eddie Vedder would say, it's evolution baby.
But hey, profit is the way of life ain't it? Let's not kid ourselves. Everything looks justifiable when you get that spanking new 5 series beemer. That palace in the sky. Hot babes just waiting to get their paws on you. Greed is good. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
It's not a question of conscience. It's a question of getting as much as you can, while you can. Do it with a straight face. Practice every day in the mirror. Just make do with hating what you see once in a while. Don't worry, that feeling won't stay. Convince yourself long enough, and you may actually start believing the righteousness of your way of life. That's not the question here.
To be a rock and not to roll? Now that is the question.
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost;" - J.R.R. Tolkien
It's already April. That's almost a third of the year over and done with. What gives? Surely it's not all flown by?
So, round this time last year, if I'm not mistaken, I was rambling on what a friend of mine experienced when her condo was hit by some mild tremors. She was pretty terrified at the time, but had a nervous laugh about it after. She wasn't the only one affected, some buddies from work had that same uncomfortable experience. All had an identical reaction, fear followed by relief.
And after? Nothing's changed. Things always fall back into place. You know why? Because people hardly ever change. They may go through life altering experiences. Only that it's not really life altering because if it were, they would've, erm, altered their lives somewhat. Only they don't. Possibly for a week or two. But beyond that? Well, you know the drill. Life has a funny way of knocking you back in that old comfortable rhythm. You're used to it, and it can get somewhat frightening if you don't have that sense of familiarity.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. Not at all. It's just that, well, it can get pretty hysterical and useless when you really think about it.
Unfortunately, this doesn't make a whole of sense to me at this point of time. Maybe tomorrow, under the clear light of day. As for now, there's something terribly unsettling about the whole thing. Or maybe not.
