It is an old old idea, going back thousands of years BCE and is a central notion in the Bhagavad Gita.
The mystic William Blake concluded: "eternity is in love with the productions of time."
I say: IT'S GREAT TO BE ALIVE!!! Here's some recent experiences that confirm it for me.
The road from Portland to Tillamook---A joy to drive
and when you arrive the cheese factory makes you welcome. Free cheese.
And just outside town this giant building still preserved. (not the blimps)
My first glimpse of the beach---sooooo cool and beautiful and free. A bygone governor decreed that all Oregon's beaches are public property and accessible to all.
fledgling flyers lifted my heart---Who would have believed yesteryear that one day we would fly like birds-----made me remember Shakespeare:
"What a piece of work is man!
How noble in reason!
How infinite in faculty!
In form and moving how express and admirable!
In action how like an angel!
In apprehension how like a god!
The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals." (Hamlet act2 scene 2)
Can you see that angel actually soaring?
And for the first time in my camping career (10,000 plus nights) I settle into an RV resort: Thousand trails Pacific beach, Or. (cost me less than $2 a day)
Very near paradise---beautiful, convenient, nice neighbors, hot tubs, etc.
I'm given 2 weeks.
This was a memorable moment: As the music played, this bold kid got up and danced----all alone--not for the crowd watching, but FOR HIMSELF. It was beautiful--rhythmic---and he danced a long time. I was blown away. I will believe I am enlightened when I can cast off self consciousness and express myself like this. I wanted to dance but was short of Huevos.
One day on the beach I encountered a dying gull. I sat beside it awhile--thinking to comfort it.
And that very day I saw this friendly old dog just drop in the street as it was being walked. People ran to its rescue, but I think it died.
One day I settled in at a viewing site to see whom I would meet.
Lots of nice people including this guy who chatted with me for an hour. His work is to design programs that detect viruses and fraud.
And this adventurous guy bicycling to San Francisco.
A week of Paradise was about all I wanted. Don't know why. I supposed it was to me like lemon iced box pie---a little goes a long way. So I left early and relocated at Chinook Winds casino--right on the ocean--note the time and temperature.
Myself and 50 more rigs settle here in the parking lot. (I'm located center left)
The beach is just steps away. A bridal party is doing----something?
One day I went to a sand castle contest for amateurs. This teenager is lovingly sculpting his fantasy woman.
A team of adults collaborate on a castle.
And someone devised a bathtub scene. The green is seaweed.
This scene touched me---a father--earnestly playing with his son. They are so absorbed, they didn't notice me.
Another day I watched people mold glass.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Do you get my point? It really is great to be alive. Thoreau said it better than I could: "LIVING IS SO DEAR!"-- "HOWEVER MEAN YOUR LIFE IS, MEET IT AND LIVE IT; DO NOT SHUN IT AND CALL IT HARD NAMES. IT IS NOT SO BAD AS YOU ARE. IT LOOKS POOREST WHEN YOU ARE RICHEST. THE FAULT FINDER WILL FIND FAULTS EVEN IN PARADISE. LOVE YOUR LIFE, POOR AS IT IS. YOU MAY PERHAPS HAVE SOME PLEASANT, THRILLING, GLORIOUS HOURS, EVEN IN A POOR HOUSE.
Took me a while to figure it out, but they were spelling 'LOVE'.
ReplyDeleteNice post! Tillamook has always been worth the trip.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this post Randy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a lot of fun.
I want to visit that same area someday.
Thousand Trails Pacific Beach resort for less than $2 p/day?? Tell us more about that!
ReplyDeleteTerry: Re Thousand trails: Imagine a couple buying a 1 year membership at Quartzsite (special)---$425--that's $212 each. First 30 days free (no charge)Afterwards only $3 a day.
ReplyDeleteYou can spend 2 weeks in and one week out. etc, etc, you can do the math and get the drift.
Hey Randy! Sounds like you're continuing to live the dream. Glad to hear you're still the happy poet I got to know in Arizona.
ReplyDeleteI think the Hindu's were on to something with the Gods in men idea. You're a great example of that with your enthusiasm for living. Best wishes, Brad.
en•thu•si•asm – Origin:
early 17th century (sense 2): from French enthousiasme, or via late Latin from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthous ‘possessed by a god, inspired’ (based on theos ‘god’).
Brad: Great to hear from you! The world is waiting to hear about your new book. Send a link or some details.
ReplyDeleteWe arrive at time as an infant and leave as an oldster.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of being digested through the innards of a serpent. In fact, many Mexican archeological sites have
big, wide open mouthed snakes. And they were all obsessed with time.
Only generosity would persuade a higher individual in eternity to jump in to that...to help overcome a real distaste for the stink of metabolism. In a rough and ready experience, a little goes a long way.
Bushman