A Writer Looks at Forty...
Granted, I'm still looking at forty from a distance, I have most decidedly NOT been drunk for two weeks, and if I've made enough money to buy Miami then someone forgot to tell me. I paraphrase, of course, from Jimmy Buffett's great song "A Pirate Looks at Forty." Anyway you look at it though, Jimmy's words are ringing a little truer these days and have caused me to do a great deal of reflection.
What brought all this on, you ask? Well, I've been listening to a lot of Buffett lately, mostly because my satellite radio told me that I received a "subscription update" and I now am able to listen to Radio Margaritaville. I've been afraid to turn it off, kind of like free porn. (NOT REALLY. Good grief haven't you people ever watched Friends?) A Pirate Looks at Forty played me into my parking lot this morning and got me to thinking.
I just turned thirty-eight a little over a month ago. There is no longer any doubt that I am on the downward slide to forty. Before everyone gets all up in arms, I'm not saying this like its a bad thing so you can stop saying derisively mocking things like "oh, poor baby," or "suck it up, cupcake," or "Holy crap! You look way older than thirty-eight!" (Incidentally, for those of you who say that last bit - I vow to outlive all of you or, if I don't, haunt you in your sleep.) As I sit and reflect on where my life has taken me I can honestly say I can't complain too much.
At thirty-eight I am a partner in a law firm, have a wife that loves me unconditionally, three wonderful children in my life, and not one but two published pieces of writing. (Those over there. ----->)
I am healthy and generally happy. Are there some things missing? Sure. Could some things be better? Probably. Are they things that I need to stress myself out over? Certainly not. I do anyway, of course, just like most of us do, but I am thankful to have such close family and friends to keep me grounded.
As I approach forty (in two years - stick that in your pipe and smoke it, ye who tease) I can't help but be humbly thankful. Is my book doing well? Could do better. That's ok though. Maybe the next one will. And there will be a next one, and probably another one after that. I may work as a lawyer, but I am a writer. It's what I love. Some will like it. Some will hate it. Others will read it and say "eh, I've read better," or "wow, this is great!" I'm not going to stop in either event. Life is too short and I'm going to take advantage of it and do what I love, when I can. If sharing it with you makes you happy, wonderful. If it makes you smile, or laugh, or even cry, then all the better. Because that means I've reached you.
I don't go for younger women (anymore). I have not run my share of grass, and the men who ride the sea switched from sail to steam long before I could even hum the tune to this song. There is still a poignant message in Buffett's words for me, though. Some things are never meant to last, so take advantage of the time you have. For me? I'm going to write. I'm going to share my words with you. Read them. Digest them. Enjoy them or spit them out, whichever you please. They are here for you as much as they are for me. I do appreciate you coming along for the ride, and I hope you will all join me for the next novel, the next chapter of my life, or hell, just join me next Tuesday. Whatever you do and wherever this journey takes us, I have no doubt we'll find within the belly of life, like that of the sea in Buffett's lyrics, treasures few have ever seen.
On that note, keep an eye out here in the upcoming weeks as I begin to share more of my writing, from short stories, to excerpts from works yet to be published, to new ramblings. From time to time I will solicit feedback, comments or advice from you, my readers, to help me be a better writer for you. Its a symbiotic relationship we have, you readers and I. Kind of like the shark and the sucker fish. (I call dibs on being the shark.) I think you understand what I mean. It just...works.
And besides - I'd make a good land shark.
Knock knock.
"Who's there?"
Candygram.
(See?)
What brought all this on, you ask? Well, I've been listening to a lot of Buffett lately, mostly because my satellite radio told me that I received a "subscription update" and I now am able to listen to Radio Margaritaville. I've been afraid to turn it off, kind of like free porn. (NOT REALLY. Good grief haven't you people ever watched Friends?) A Pirate Looks at Forty played me into my parking lot this morning and got me to thinking.
I just turned thirty-eight a little over a month ago. There is no longer any doubt that I am on the downward slide to forty. Before everyone gets all up in arms, I'm not saying this like its a bad thing so you can stop saying derisively mocking things like "oh, poor baby," or "suck it up, cupcake," or "Holy crap! You look way older than thirty-eight!" (Incidentally, for those of you who say that last bit - I vow to outlive all of you or, if I don't, haunt you in your sleep.) As I sit and reflect on where my life has taken me I can honestly say I can't complain too much.
At thirty-eight I am a partner in a law firm, have a wife that loves me unconditionally, three wonderful children in my life, and not one but two published pieces of writing. (Those over there. ----->)
I am healthy and generally happy. Are there some things missing? Sure. Could some things be better? Probably. Are they things that I need to stress myself out over? Certainly not. I do anyway, of course, just like most of us do, but I am thankful to have such close family and friends to keep me grounded.
As I approach forty (in two years - stick that in your pipe and smoke it, ye who tease) I can't help but be humbly thankful. Is my book doing well? Could do better. That's ok though. Maybe the next one will. And there will be a next one, and probably another one after that. I may work as a lawyer, but I am a writer. It's what I love. Some will like it. Some will hate it. Others will read it and say "eh, I've read better," or "wow, this is great!" I'm not going to stop in either event. Life is too short and I'm going to take advantage of it and do what I love, when I can. If sharing it with you makes you happy, wonderful. If it makes you smile, or laugh, or even cry, then all the better. Because that means I've reached you.
I don't go for younger women (anymore). I have not run my share of grass, and the men who ride the sea switched from sail to steam long before I could even hum the tune to this song. There is still a poignant message in Buffett's words for me, though. Some things are never meant to last, so take advantage of the time you have. For me? I'm going to write. I'm going to share my words with you. Read them. Digest them. Enjoy them or spit them out, whichever you please. They are here for you as much as they are for me. I do appreciate you coming along for the ride, and I hope you will all join me for the next novel, the next chapter of my life, or hell, just join me next Tuesday. Whatever you do and wherever this journey takes us, I have no doubt we'll find within the belly of life, like that of the sea in Buffett's lyrics, treasures few have ever seen.
On that note, keep an eye out here in the upcoming weeks as I begin to share more of my writing, from short stories, to excerpts from works yet to be published, to new ramblings. From time to time I will solicit feedback, comments or advice from you, my readers, to help me be a better writer for you. Its a symbiotic relationship we have, you readers and I. Kind of like the shark and the sucker fish. (I call dibs on being the shark.) I think you understand what I mean. It just...works.
And besides - I'd make a good land shark.
Knock knock.
"Who's there?"
Candygram.
(See?)
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