I’m not wishing my life away here, in fact quite the opposite. Can you believe that we’re not half way through the year, in fact being in England I am a little ahead of you guys, for me it’s already the 22nd of June, but I can still pick up the phone and call you all in yesterday if I want to extend my midsummer’s night just that little bit longer.
I didn’t do anything special. I’m working real hard here trying to get stuff done before I fly to Chicago next Tuesday. I’m going on vacation for pretty much a month then I have more time off in August when an American friend is coming here to visit, so I have LOADS to get done.
I did take time out to go to the gym. Did my usual workout which involves jogging… past the gym then sitting in the sauna and steam room watching people in the pool. Then I left and decided to go and sit by the river for a while and smoke a midsummer cigar in a mellow moment or three. It was high tide, very high tide as it turned out. The familiar city waterfront of Liverpool danced among the ripples as huge tankers and industrial looking boats made their silent way in and out of the scene like thieves under the cover of darkness.
I listened to the water sing accompanied by distant sound of a siren announcing that someone’s go to hospital or jail tonight. The full moon looked strangely large as it hung over the city appearing to be so close that a long ladder might lead to another great step for mankind. A little further away a plane was banking hard ready to descend and land at John Lennon airport. Three other planes circle above like birds of prey waiting for their opportunity to swoop into the sleeping city. I hope the people getting off that plane are met by people they love. That’s the best part of arriving at an airport, the moment when you see a loved one or close friend as you scan the gathered crowd of people who are themselves looking for familiar faces. They’ll be home soon.
When I was a kid I would wish the rainy days away. Time was treacle and minutes were moon-dust. I raced into adulthood at full throttle, like I might miss it if I slowed for even a second. And now here we are in the middle of the future. I can’t believe we’re already half way through 2005.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2005 at 1:46 am
Re-reading what I wrote I guess it actually comes across a bit sad, but I didn’t mean it to. It was a mellow moment, not a melancholy moment. Sorry :-) I think my writing comes across as melancholy sometimes which is strange because I am about the happiest person I know!
It’s funny you know, because I am pretty much always happy and smiling. Last year when I went to India to do some photography, the guy who ran the company that took me out there, and who accompanied me on the trip, was very interested to see if my ‘happy-go-lucky’ persona would really continue all week or if there would be a period of the day when I wasn’t so ‘chirpy’. At the end of the week we had both had a great time and he conceded that I really was like this all the time.The odd thing is, my favorite kind of movies are ones that are actually quite serious or sad and my favorite TV show is ‘Six Feet Under’. One of my friends thinks that I like that kinda stuff in order to inject a little balance into my life. At the time when they suggested that I laughed it off, but who knows, maybe there is something to be said for that?
I’ve stated this before but I’ll state it again because it’s always worth saying; I love my life! I have a great life that offers me generous amounts of freedom to go out there and live it the way I want to. Could I be happier than I am now? Maybe, I suppose more money would give me more things maybe, but my life isn’t about the things that surround me. I was happy when I drove old wrecks and lived in a bedsit in Birkenhead, and I don’t think I’m any more happy now here in my apartment with my convertible sitting outside. For me life isn’t about things, its about people and experiences. I think a lot of people go though life as if it were a task rather than an adventure. They spend a lot of time distracted by things like work and the toys we buy ourselves, but it seems to me that very few people actually take enough time to just stop for a second and soak it all in.
A train into the city is always full of people reading books and magazines, playing with their mobile phones or PDA’s, or flipping through the pages of something work related. I’ve done that too of course, but on that train it’s more likely that I am the guy sat back in my chair taking this moment to look out of the window and enjoy the ride.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 21, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Now I feel really old :(
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2005 at 3:26 am
I enjoyed the train ride. I remember as a child my folks would occasionally load us into the car and we’d take a Sunday afternoon “ride.” How we hated it! Riding around looking at scenery for entertainment. It cut into our play time and who can sit still that long? Now, however, we will take entire days and hit the road, stopping at historical markers and roadside parks, taking the time to drive the back streets of small towns. Just being. Like you did the other night on the waterfront. It’s one of the perks of growing up.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2005 at 6:16 am
me neither.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2005 at 6:53 am
Simon, I absolutley love your outlook on life! And i thoroughly enjoyed all of the poshtelly videos! it was my first time to see them! you had me laughing out loud at some and in complete awe at others! you truly are very gifted and i just wanted to tell you that! have a brillaint day! andrea* xx
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Oh I didn’t mean it was sad. I’m a nonbeliever in sadness. I think people should make their own happiness and that’s the way I “try” to live.
Your comment about how you raced into adulthood at full throddle made me think about something that I’ve been avoiding thinking about. I’m at a place in my life that most people reach in their late 40’s and I’m faced with “what now?”…
Love the videos :)