Pick Me Up

There are good days and there are bad days, such is life. What I find interesting is how people deal with life's setbacks and difficulties. Personally, I view most of my life as a sitcom. So most of the awkward, painful situations I run into seem humorous and enjoyable. I'm sure this doesn't work for everyone, but it makes my life quite fun.

The Enterprise and Uhura in waffle form

But there are some situations that even American sitcoms have to treat seriously. For these moments I try to find small moments of beauty to help lift me up as time works its magic and eventually heals all pain. Today, in need of such beauty, I turned to something I've been stockpiling for such an occasion, Star Trek waffles! They're a bit like the evil witch in Snow White, beautifully stunning on the outside, but completely inferior inside. But just this once, it only mattered that they were beautiful on the outside. The fun of eating Star Trek waffles greatly outweighed the waffles' below par taste. This is one of the greatest benefits of having a deep passion for something. When things get bad, you can turn to your passions for a dose of joy and distraction.

The Past is Upon Us

While walking through campus today, I heard the (all too familiar) cries of battle. Fearful that the apocalypse might finally be upon us, I rushed in the direction of clanging metal and guttural grunts.
I arrived upon a group of medieval warriors in the midst of a ferocious battle, perhaps with the world at stake. Having previously learned a valuable lesson, I decided to observe the situation first rather than immediately rushing into battle.
Although the initial evidence seemed to point to a breach in space-time that had brought our past back to conquer us, I scanned the area and discovered a revealing sign. If the sign is to be believed then this Saturday will be filled with brave duels, strong mead, and heroism. And these warriors were practicing for our entertainment.
I am very grateful that this tribe of like souls has decided to pursue their passion for history and sharp metal. It takes true bravery to wear attire that ignores the last few centuries of textile advancement and stage battles for the enjoyment of others. And whether or not their fighting skills are to be admired, their kindness and bravery certainly should be. Huzzah for those unafraid to pursue their passions in public whatever those passions may be.

Complete

After seven long days of waiting, I received a package in the mail today. Over 600,000 seconds after I purchased a new camera using the magic of the internet, it finally arrived in the mail.
The moment I held the camera in my hands, I felt a tiny piece of my self I didn't know was missing suddenly click into place. It was like the first time you fall in love and realize the world has twice as many colors as it did before. Or when you get married and part of your extremely fuzzy future becomes clear and focused as far as you can see. Or the first time you read The Dark Knight Returns and realize that for the rest of your life, a part of you will desperately want to be Batman. A feeling of completeness washed over me. The world's beauty and sadness and chaos is waiting to be captured, and I will be out there trying my best to capture just some of it.

Life's Passions

I always thought graveyards were creepy & depressing and I have generally tried to avoid them. But yesterday in my wanderings I ended up in a graveyard of nuns. Standing there, surrounded by hundreds of former Sisters of Charity I felt an incredible sense of hope and peace.My wife has always been fascinated by graveyards. She has long tried to share this interest with me and has pushed me to explore beyond my comfort zone, and I am grateful she did. Yesterday surrounded by hundreds of monuments dedicated to those who lived a lifetime of service and love I had a beautiful and glorious moment.

I have shared many of my passions with her as well. And though she was originally skeptical about the values of cylon warriors and Bruce Wayne's troubled childhood, she too has embraced many of my passions and come to appreciate the great diversity of joys life holds. It feels great to share your passions with others and to explore their passion with them. If you love something, don't keep it to yourself, share it with others.