Sci-fi author Theodore Sturgeon has a law [1] named after him. It states that “ninety percent of everything is crap.” A corollary to that law is that ninety percent of the lucky ten percent who live in a G8 nation are probably just going on with their day-to-day lives, marking time. Birth—school —work—death, punctuated by trips to Blockbuster and package vacations to tourist traps. I'm not suggesting that everyone should run out and lead a thrill-a-minute existence like James Bond or take up naked bungee Russian Roulette. What I am suggesting is that when given a reasonable opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, no matter how small, consider taking it.
“The Adventures of AccordionGuy in the 21^st Century [2]”
I was shy, quiet and introverted as a kid (heck, I'm still shy, quiet and introverted as an adult) and it was exactly those reasons why I, at the end of 9^th grade, signed up for both Speech and Drama for my Sophomore year of high school. The biggest fear most Americans have is that of public speaking, so what's more scary than both public speaking and public performances?
I never regretted the decision.
Well, for the most part.
There was the time I had to accept a school award dressed as a clown.
And then there was the abysmal attempt at improv comedy at Drama Districts one year (God, if I could excise thoughs from my head, that would be one of the first to go).
And oh, the time I …
Darn it! I'm digressing here!
So, even though I'm not … fond of kids (stop laughing! Yes, I know that's an understatement) or dogs (please, don't remind me) or cats, I never regret for a second being with Spring [3]. I knew (or at least had an inkling) of what I was getting into, and the easy choice would have been to remain just friends, but instead I dived head first into a life way less ordinary …
I just … kind of … wish we didn't have an incontinent dog, an emotionally needy cat, or kids with scatological humor …
[1] http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/Sturgeon's-Law.html
[2] http://kode-fu.com/shame/2002_05_05_archive.shtml#76291842