Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Xenophilic Xylograph 8/11/09

You have to be a fool when you're young and get it over with. If you don't, you'll be an old fool.

DB - The Vagabond
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Sit back, relax and leave the driving to me
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Hurry and get your.....
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"There's no fool like an old fool" as the saying goes. I have tried, in a two fisted manner, to wring all foolishness out of myself, but I probably haven't done it quite yet. But as I look back at my life and consider the topic of foolishness I think I see two different kinds of foolishness.

On the one hand I can think about all the stupid things I did and all the smart things I didn't do. I file those in the Department of Regrets and try not to think of them. I will spare you. On the other hand there are things I did, smart or stupid, that those around me would and did call foolish, that I don't regret.

I don't regret setting my alarm to get up very early in the morning to give a cup of hot coffee to a girl coming up out of the subway on a freezing cold winter morning even though I knew there was no hope of a romance with her.

I don't regret renting a car and driving hundreds of miles just to spend a few moments with the woman who eventually married me.

I don't regret shirking an obligation to visit a sick friend in the hospital who was glad to see me.

I don't regret quitting a lucrative and secure job as a radio announcer to re-launch myself on the troubled sea of theatre because the job I had wasn't fulfilling.

I don't regret holding the book to help a famous actor who was desperately trying to learn the lines of a Broadway show he was taking on, even though I was scratching to make a living.

I don't regret going out of my way, when I was in a hurry, to retrieve the ball a young boy had lost over the fence of a playground.

I don't regret stepping out into the middle of the street and directing traffic to break up a traffic jam when there were no police around, even though I had no authority to do it.

I don't regret cutting my own fingers to rescue a dog stuck in a barbed wire fence.

Come to think of it, I've done a lot of "foolish" things in my life. So now I'm an old fool, I guess. Would I do any of those foolish things again? Try me.

DB
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May you find a treasure you didn't know you had.
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Other side's opinion, short stance. (10)

6 comments:

Inday said...

If doing "foolish" things out of kindness and in good intention can be called 'stupid' and without regret, then "blessed are thou". Enjoy looking back the best part of your life you called 'foolishness'.

Nice to seat back and watch those scenarios on smoke screen hovering in the sky.

Arlene (AJ) said...

Life is filled with challenges and opportunitiues to brighten someones day daily, so you're definitely not a full in saying would you do it again, it's moments like these when you can help or be there for someone that can really puts a smile in your heart. Life is to short for regrets, just go with the flow each day and accept the good and the not so days....you at least made the effort that's what is important.

Beth said...

When you "don't regret," I have to say you do it with style. :) Hugs, Beth

Gerry said...

If you hadn't been an actor you probably wouldn't have been near the figure of authority breaking up that traffic jam. Now that is a part I doubt I could play! Gerry

Ken Riches said...

Doing your thing, regardless of what others think, is the key to a satisfying life :o)

Maria said...

I think you are a good person to have around! No regrets? I sometimes ask myself as well...but I have to say no not really...I wouldn't be here or have the beautiful daughter I now have had anything been different in the past...could it have been better...maybe but I would not want to take that risk...so yes, no regrets....as I sit here with my broken leg. :)