heracleitus

So I saw Benjamin Button last night (Coraline was, tragically, sold out). It was long, slow and in a lot of ways seemed like Forrest Gump 2.0 to me, but it did drive home something that's been bothering me a lot lately.

I used to revel in sensory amazement. You know, there are just... sublime moments where you lose yourself to your surroundings. Memories that stick with you. Just a couple seconds or minutes at the least out of each day that make the rest of your day better and life, overall, worth living.

Since I moved to Los Angeles, that sense of the incredible in everyday things has begun to fade. I would blame this beast of a city which has consumed the souls of so many, but the truth is its my own damn fault for not being stronger.

About a month ago, I suppose coinciding with New Years but not intentionally a New Years resolution, I promised to being that person I remember taking such a joy in everything. And while I still feel I have a way to go (god forbid the day ever come where I dont feel that way), its surprisingly easy to recapture wonder.

And so for you, a couple memories that make me smile

First, Steamboat. There are so many things I could say about my time as a snowboard instructor. Part of me wishes that I had stayed. There is just something about the snow and the cold and perhaps the lack of oxygen that makes your senses sharper. That made the icicles on the lift line, the snow hanging from only one side of certain trees, even trips to the Laundromat magical. And you got to love a job where starting a snowball fight is basically part of your daily routine.

And now for a real moment

A couple years ago, my sister was studying in London. Due to complications (again, story for another time), my parents couldnt visit her. So, in order for her to not feel totally neglected, I did the brotherly thing and went to support her (I know, rough life, right?). The first night I was there, my sister amused herself by pitting me in a drinking contest against anyone who drink with me which ended up being three or four different people over the course of the night. And I have to admit, while being able to generally hold my liquor, I am not a heavy drinker at even the craziest of times, so that being said, I think I comported myself admirably in the face of opposition. I drank everything that was handed to me, didnt make an ass of myself, and even managed to walk home just fine. I dont even think I got sick.

However, the next day I had the worst hangover Ive ever experienced. As such, I spent most of that day sleeping it off. And woke up bright and early the next morning, you know, around 3am. Not wanting to wake my sister, I eventually decided on taking a walk just as the sun was coming up. And I had just started using an iPod. Put it on shuffle as Im wont to do and Im walking those grey, empty pre-dawn London streets and Massive Attacks Angel comes on and all of the sudden, the world is just fucking right. And I just kept walking and playing that song until the world woke up.