It’s about time.
Everywhere I look the world conspires to remind me that time
is short. Obituaries of people my age or younger jump off the page. Photographs of school friends, who look like
their parents, cause me to stop and check the mirror in a panic: “Dear God! Do
I look that old”? Watching a younger
sibling build a retirement home and then freaking retiring! Seeing Minnesota friends and contemporaries, begin
to winter in Phoenix. Although, this may
just be proof that old dogs can finally learn new tricks… it’s flipping cold during
the winter in Minnesota people, and it happens every year. Really. Realizing that when my mother chooses to go
home (a euphemism for dying, yes), I will be the oldest in my tribe.
Age has always befuddled me. Society has rules that are adjudged severely. I was forever too young to be old enough, to
do everything! Then I was too old to be
cool, and now I’m too old to ever be young again! And yet, other than the occasional… OK,
regular, and often annoying reminder from my body, I don’t feel old.
Am I going to die?
Yep, I believe the evidence is irrefutable, this body will at some point
leave this mortal coil. As I write this
I’m sitting in the lobby of a medical mall in Beverly Hills, watching people
escort their hobbling relations to and from the myriad body shops. Why did “planned obsolescence” ever surprise
anyone? It’s the way we are built! Nature.
Has anyone ever considered filing a grievance about the poor design of
this body? Hell, even Toyota had to
recall vehicles recently! And don’t
start telling me that if I’d take proper care of it, yada, yada… even Jack
LaLanne’s body gave up, and that sucker could pull a boat with his teeth while
swimming!
Where was I? Oh yeah. I don’t feel old.
The only thing that has changed perceptibly for me is time. While I believe time is infinite, I’ve become
acutely aware that on this plane of existence, it is a limited commodity. I realize there are many of you who figured
this out at a much younger age, bear with me, I’m an Aries, and a man. How I use time, has become a priority. Who, Where, What or Why I use or spend it: is
now a conscious part of my life. I’ve
become selfish with my time. It really
pisses me off that now that I’ve finally figured out this little secret of life
– time has chosen to move faster. No
really. Just trust me. It has.
The good news is that I’ve started, well restarted a career
as an actor. And surprise, surprise,
they say it takes time! Time to hone
your skills. It takes time to build
relationships with people, Casting Directors, Agents and Producers. Time to shoot and market a film. It takes time for your audience, to find your
films. It takes time.
I saw a quote attributed to Adrien Brody recently, “My dad
told me, “It takes fifteen years to be an overnight success”, and it took me
seventeen and a half years.” This made
me want to start desperately negotiating with the Time Police. Listen, I was here for 11 years kicking it, 25
years ago. Do they count? Or, does it have to be continuous time
served? If you count those 11 years and
then add the 3 I’ve been back this time, that’s 14 – so I’ve only got another
year to go before I hit, before I’m an overnight success. Right? Please!
Right?
Wait! Whoa Nelly! Screw Adrien Brody’s father! What does he know?
Excuse me if I sometimes sound impatient, self-centered or
rude. Excuse me for laughing when I hear
people complain that it’s taking to long.
Excuse me when I choose to spend my time with people who are in the full
bloom of creation and possibility; who choose to live with energy, action and
hope. I forgive you your age. Please
forgive me mine.
I’m new at this and all I’ve got is time, and I’m spending
it fast.
I’m ready. I’m prepared. It’s time.
Namaste,
Lon
