CARPE DIEM MY CAPTAIN
Wednesday Aug. 13, 2014
Restless night – hot.
This place was hot already, so it seemed like a good night to cook those great looking ribs I bought the other day. Low and slow. Very tasty at 2AM – then restless ideas, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t work – my head in today, my heart in tomorrow, my reality in yesterday.
Robin Williams had the same birthday as my dad (July 21) which I always thought was cool. He was the same age as me. There was a time in the seventies when a work colleague called me Mork. That was cool. He was an alcoholic, like me. He struggled with depression and suicide. I’ve been there – nothing cool about that. I got thinking about Gary, saved from suicide … but lost to cancer earlier this year. Restless.
Late last night, on Charlie Rose’s show, a retrospective of interviews he did with Charlie over the last twenty years. He seemed deeper, moodier and more dark than I remember him. I remember his strong movie performances, I remember his stand-up routines (who could forget that one on golf?). I think I always appreciated the depth of talent and humanity, the humour in the darkness – but not so much that it was really deep, dark and private for one person, for him.
The whole day wasn’t dark. I had several great meetings, a friend/mentee has found love, a friend was inspired, a friend called – and another friend didn’t call back. Where is he? I hate that, when friends drop out of sight for a bit. Not that they should be at my beck and call – but because when we let them slip away a little, a little too often or a little too far, they might slip away …
There were so many good things yesterday – live things, live people, live plans, live actions. Overcoming the thud of those who are gone, lost or out of touch is neither hot or cool – it’s just thud.
I made plans yesterday.
I’ll make more today.
This is Ai Ki Do. >>>> see image to the right → → → → → → → → → → → →
These are Japanese characters. Their meaning is universal and powerful: harmony/balance, energy/life, way/path. Recent experiences on my Colorado trip taught me a little, and I’m learning more. I don’t harbour a desire to become a martial-arts guy, but I’m feeling really strong about these precepts.
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: 16C / 62F, walking in daylight vis-à-vis those wee hours brings new sights of crabapples ripening, roses blooming, weeds in sidewalk cracks. To Gusta it’s just another morning walk
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
Another Great Line Created – Hello Mark, Trust this afternoon may still be in “progress”. I needed to let you know that I have selfishly claimed your creative line from today’s muse “If I can’t create more time, then I have to create more value with less time”. This is a statement to get us out in front; leave that playing catch-up mode alone and be more thoughtful about how we are going to use this finite commodity of TIME. Take care my friend - - - -we will talk soon, JJ, Calgary, AB
