Unnecessary Urgings 6/17/09

Those who are possessed by nothing, possess everything.

Morihei Ueshiba
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Take a number and get in line.
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This morning I astonished myself by realizing how much time I spend on the computer. Of course I really don't have much else to do, but considering that a scant 8 years ago I didn't even own a computer it's amazing how my life has changed. Now I act as if I couldn't live without it.

I actually never thought I would have one, because whenever I came near any one else's the thing would stop working. If I walked into a room where a computer was turned on, it would take one look at me and hide, or else it would start doing crazy things. So I genuinely believed that computers and I had an unsolvable adversarial relationship. I'll would stay away from them, if they would stay away from me.

Now, everything is different. I spend hours typing and reading. This computer is supposed to be a servant. HA! Which one of us is in charge? That's what I'd like to know. Certain things like sleeping, eating, cleaning, going to the market are highly resented intrusions upon the more important computer time. And I hardly ever play games on it. (No, I know what you're thinking. But it's true. I don't.)

In short, I'm possessed by the damn thing. "Please, release me, let me go" as the old country song says. But then I stop and think that if it weren't for my journal I wouldn't know a lot of fine people I've met through this same task master. There is a lot of information I wouldn't have at my busy fingertips. And, face it, what else would I do?

I don't own a TV or a motorcycle, I don't go fishing or play golf, I have no dog to walk or grandchildren to play with, my sky diving and bungee jumping days are over, I'm not in training for the marathon, they'd never take me on as an astronaut or a presidential candidate, Broadway isn't calling and neither is Hollywood, I'm too old for the Green Berets, to tall to be a jockey and to slow for the Everest Expedition, I'm too smart to join a street gang and too ignorant to be a nuclear physicist, I'm too sedentary to explore the Brazilian jungle and too tender footed to try ballroom dancing. I could go wrestle alligators, but I'd rather not.

No, I think I'll just sit here and be possessed. I've got almost everything in my possession that I want anyway.

DB - Vagabond Journeys
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Have a sweet day.
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