Nine Feet Underground

Why me? A question we've all probably asked at some point in our lives. The answer, though not the one we'd like, is why not me? Life is random. We should take every day as a gift, but when life is flowing smoothly (whenever that's going to be!), it's hard not to squander your time.  I'll leave that until tomorrow.  We can go there another day. Let's do that next year instead.  We've all said and/or done it. It's hard not to. Trouble is, there might come a day when things deferred are in jeopardy.  Those future days might not be guaranteed, one way or another. I'm still making sense of what this means. I just know it to be true. The song I've chosen is 'Black Cat' by Gentle Giant.   This tune has been stuck in my head for a few weeks now, and was chosen in honour of two black cats who are no longer with us.  The metre of the song reminds me of a cat slinkily walking, in no hurry to get anywhere.

Carpe Diem There is much encouragement from society to make the most of every day. Identify the small things that bring pleasure. Be grateful for what you have, not what you lack or desire. This is all sensible advice, but we can't be exploring a new part of the world every day.  Jumping out of planes (with parachutes, ofc), flying at 500 knots through the Machynlleth loop in the backseat of an F15E at 250 feet above the ground. Gradually, day-to-day life imposes its mundane aspects on us and the possibility of living each day as if it will be our last soon fades away.  It would be too exhausting and become rather tedious.  We find pleasure in the people and activities we love, or go mad. Sometimes life intervenes and is determined to slap us around the face with a wet fish to remind us of our mortality. But there are escapes... Music is one of the things that keeps me energised, so I'm very grateful to still have some hearing (despite the loud concerts and fast jet noise...