Beer, Sunshine and Random Stories
I haven't had an afternoon like I did today in quite a few months. Maybe my second since I've been back. Unexpected encounters and candid times of sharing with people from worlds far detached from my own, unbounded by time or the nagging feeling of needing to rush off to the next destination. I live for times like these, but pursue them too lightly.
Initially, I fought the responsibility of participating in pre-planned, day-long family activities. They're usually boring times of needing to pretend that I'm closer to everyone than I really am. This morning, I had a realization. Instead of looking at it as having to "deal" with people, I decided to look at it as an opportunity to positively change the lives of those around me and to live a potentially exciting day of new experiences for myself. An attitude I left behind after moving back from Asia.
After my cousin's first communion mass (which was an experience in and of itself), me, my aunt's dad and her brother sat outside of my uncle's fancy Staten Island home sippin on beers, enjoyin the sun and shootin the shit for 3 hours straight. The scene of lougin country boys from deep upstate perverting the view of large, pristine houses, planted on perfectly shaped lawns lined with spotless sidewalks completed the moment. Both of them are independent contractors who build houses, wire electrical systems and all that fun stuff. John's close to my age. They're both extremely intelligent, well-rounded guys. We had an awesome time talkin about everything from language to politics to cars to the appreciation of natural life. Peppered throughout the conversation was, of course, scattered comments regarding the workmanship of the property we had planted ourselves on. Great times.
Times like this may only happen when you first engage in conversation with complete strangers. Maybe they result from meeting people from different worlds that you happen to have a deep, single strand of connection with. Maybe we just happened to be together in the right place at the right time, never again to share a moment like this.
Whatever the reason, to quote a good friend who recently overcame a short-term, character building time of adversity:
Life is beautiful.
I just don't notice it all the time.
Initially, I fought the responsibility of participating in pre-planned, day-long family activities. They're usually boring times of needing to pretend that I'm closer to everyone than I really am. This morning, I had a realization. Instead of looking at it as having to "deal" with people, I decided to look at it as an opportunity to positively change the lives of those around me and to live a potentially exciting day of new experiences for myself. An attitude I left behind after moving back from Asia.
After my cousin's first communion mass (which was an experience in and of itself), me, my aunt's dad and her brother sat outside of my uncle's fancy Staten Island home sippin on beers, enjoyin the sun and shootin the shit for 3 hours straight. The scene of lougin country boys from deep upstate perverting the view of large, pristine houses, planted on perfectly shaped lawns lined with spotless sidewalks completed the moment. Both of them are independent contractors who build houses, wire electrical systems and all that fun stuff. John's close to my age. They're both extremely intelligent, well-rounded guys. We had an awesome time talkin about everything from language to politics to cars to the appreciation of natural life. Peppered throughout the conversation was, of course, scattered comments regarding the workmanship of the property we had planted ourselves on. Great times.
Times like this may only happen when you first engage in conversation with complete strangers. Maybe they result from meeting people from different worlds that you happen to have a deep, single strand of connection with. Maybe we just happened to be together in the right place at the right time, never again to share a moment like this.
Whatever the reason, to quote a good friend who recently overcame a short-term, character building time of adversity:
Life is beautiful.
I just don't notice it all the time.
posted by Daniel at 11:34 PM
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