I’m not a religious sort, by any stretch of the term. It’s not a question at all of being anti-religion. I owe my life to people of all faiths who took their learning and belief to heart and believed in me. They believed in redemption, and that everyone was worth a shot. I regret sometimes that I’ve never been quite able to throw my own heart into faith in their gods and teachings.

They’ve all got the comfort of believing that everything continues beyond all… this. That must count for something in their lives. Me? I don’t know. The thought of all this that makes up my life ending has rarely frightened me. It’s nowhere near as terrifying as the thought of parts of my life continuing. I’ve sometimes thought that ceasing to exist, and the very moment of release must be rapturous.

I just don’t know, and I’m not inclined to take sides and argue with anyone. I’d like to think though that even if it’s for one brief moment there will be a quick reunion just on the other side and we can all look around at each other and laugh at ourselves and laugh at all the bullshit we sweated on this side. Eternity doesn’t interest me. A moment to thank everyone who propped me up and kept me going does.

Play this for me to guide me on my way when I go.

One might think I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about death but no need to be frightened. It’s just that I’ve reached a curious age that I never gave much thought to. I’ve reached the early stages and I’m entering the older living generation and there are a few generations behind me, and the one ahead of me is passing much too quickly. They’re disappearing and that leaves me in the upper ranks.

The elder statesmen.

That makes me laugh. There have been times when I didn’t think I’d make it. Not only did I not think I would make it, but there have been times I didn’t want to. That’s what I laugh at mostly. It’s an honor to be here in the final quarter. Will my role change? Has it already? I’ve had a couple people pull the “okay boomer” thing on me recently. Little do they know that their dismissive jeer means nothing at all to me. I’m pretty well fucking thrilled to be part of my generation. Sure, we fucked up royally in a thousand ways but we are also responsible for a lot of the coolest shit ever, probably only because we didn’t have the narcissism of social media living to distract us. We might have been a spectacle but we weren’t creating spectacles for the sake of being seen viewing a spectacle. We were just a hot mess, but we were authentic. We have been real, for better and for worse. And not for nothing, I’m really on the cusp of “Boomer” and “Generation X” and identify culturally more with the latter. Who really cares though? I’ll take Boomer. It’s all good. When you catch up kids, or catch on, or whatever, you can be dismissive. Until then you can continue to enjoy all the cool shit that you didn’t have any part in making.

Or choke on the pollution we left (kidding).

Play Meet On the Ledge for me when I go. That’s the only thing I want.