Dopey and Grumpy
Posted: Monday, August 10, 2009
by Robin Newman
Robin J
I don't drink, smoke or do drugs but not because I stand on any moral high ground. I don't drink because my parents were alcoholics and genetically I have an excellent chance of following in their footsteps. I don't smoke anymore because all around me people were having parts of their lungs removed and I wanted to stay on the planet a little longer. And I don't do drugs because I have no need to either numb myself so I don't feel or get high so I can feel.
While they were all dopey I was getting grumpy mainly because I dislike arrogance when it steps on other people's toes. Then I started to feel sad for them. Here they were mid 30's having to get their kicks by sucking on a weed and a whiskey bottle. Did they really think the fact they were in designer clothes made them any different to the addicts and drunks in the back alley's?
It is the illusion a lot of people who take drugs and drink suffer from. They think because they have a good job, home and are successful they don't have a problem. But what they do not understand is they are one step away from becoming one of the street people.
You would have to be dopey not to know all the homeless people and drug addicts came from somewhere. They were not born into their situations they fell into them. You would be surprised how many addicts and drunks were not that long ago holding down jobs and living the suburbian life.
It is hard to see people still trying to hold onto their youth because they have nothing to look forward to. We were all a little arrogant in our 20's, probably thought we were invincible and lived for the day. But in our 30's we have discovered ourselves have gathered our experiences and shaped them into a future plan.
We have moved from doing into being. Moved from arrogance into wisdom and empathy. We move from being thrilled to be touched. We no longer need the high because we have the peace which comes with age and knowing.
We tuned out from the group behind us enjoyed the rest of the night packed up our tarp and headed home. And as I sit here a day later I wonder if they really know how to live with depth and passion or if they skim the surface moving onto the next drink, the next drag, the next party. And I wonder if the moment will come when every party will look like the one before, when they will look around and see they are the oldest person in the room, or whether they will need harder drugs and more booze because everytime they wake up the reality of their life stares them in the face.
Me I actually like my life it may not be perfect but then no one's ever is. I am grateful I don't need a drink to get through life or to enjoy it. I am thankful I can get high on life its cheaper and keeps my brain cells in tack.
My wish for those left on the hillside would be may you wake up and discover you need nothing more than an open heart full of love to enjoy the beauty of the world. May you step into the grace of aging and release the things of youth. And lastly may you find a spot at least 100 feet away from me next year. Okay so that probably wasn't very spiritual but hey I did say I wasn't perfect!
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I think that youthful folly cannot be coerced with the wisdom of the ancients. I was once those people on the hill, sans the designer clothes. The young ones probably don't feel or think arrogantly about what they are doing to you, and they might be wondering why you can't enjoy their chemical bliss when, after all, it is so obviously blissful.
I don't really push my straightness on other people, mostly because I have also lost something with it, a youthful spontaneity, creativity and even perhaps some magic. I have no wish to relive my indiscretions, but at the same time, middle age is not arrived at with the flip of a switch. Patience, we all arrive at truth, but on different paths..
-G
Youthful folly not so much, arrogant disregard for how their behavior effected others more likely. Old and straight not so much, old with healthy boundaries about what behavior I accept and do not accept more likely. Youthful spontainity creativity and magic not so much, drunk and passed out, doped and zoned out and it may have been magically to them but loud, obnoxious rude and agressive yeah I really wasnt feeling the magic myself. But each to his own and my objection is not what you chose to do but where. On a hillside with families and young children where the rules are in place to ensure a good time is had by all not really the place to be practicing chemical bliss. So we will have to agree to disagree.
They clearly broke the law and therefore had little disregard for anything or anyone else. Youthful bliss? Folly? Sheer stupidity and few less brain cells caused obviously by their chosen vices.
You did a very good summary in the closing paragraphs. Not that I'd judge you anyway but not wanting them to be within close proximity to you next year is completely understandable. I think that's very spiritual. :)
Take care, Robin.
When you hit menopause you tend to get more out spoken and opinionated lol :o)I haven't hit it yet but think I'll use that. Thanks! lol
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