This morning I parked my car on Washington Street by the Venice/Marina Del Rey pier. I was meeting one of my runners for a long run. As we caught up on our walk out to the beach, we walked past several bars and restaurants where local Venetians and those just looking to experience "Deliverence 2" were hanging out. I'm kidding of course. The eclectic culture in Venice is a great experience (just watch out for head lice).
Anywho, I've always looked at "holidays" like St. Patrick's Day with heavy cynicism. Historical remembrence is one thing. Getting hammered by consuming 6 car bombs, 3 Guinesses, enough green beer to satisfy a University of Georgia frat party, and then going home with a girl who looks like Raggedy Anne is a totally different thing.
Nonetheless, I took to it a few different thoughts during the natural lulls in conversation that go on during a long run. Instead of the natural comedic cynicism that resides in me, I thought about Homer Simpson. Just go with me on this. A brilliant quote from Homer, "Alcohol: the cause of-and solution to-all of life's problems."
Now, maybe you're not a drinker (albeit, after reading my blog, you may decide to be). However, the idea that many do use alcohol as a way to blow off steam (I know a doctor who rarely drinks, but after a difficult day in surgery, he will polish off a glass of scotch and hit the sack) maybe isn't such a bad thing? Especially, now-a-days. Financially speaking, St. Patty's day isn't a bad time to hit the bars...when else could you get $.99 shots in LA? Ok, maybe cinco de mayo, but that's to the same point.
The most important reason why I'm shining a positive light on the green holiday this year is because of the comradery I hope it's bringing to people. No, we haven't busted out the bread lines yet, and hopefully, we don't come close to it. But 1-in-4 Americans are jobless, while many others dabble in part-time jobs and spend the heart of their day virally spreading their musings to folks ;)
In many ways, the celebration of holidays is really the celebration for the act of celebrating. To live. To make food. To satisfy those tiny urges we have to throw a party or cook a dish and consume what someone else has created. To give and receive and hopefully, to return the favor. People behaving positively.
Turning back to running, it reminds me of that scene from "Without Limits," the movie highlighting the life and times of American distance running icon, Steve Prefontaine. There's a scene in the movie where all the runners, including Pre (played by the talented Billy Crudup), are sitting in the bleachers of Hayward Field holding a team meeting before the season is set to begin. The legendary coach and Nike Co-Founder, Bill Bowerman (played by the man, the myth, Donald Sutherland), begins a discussion on team hair cuts and how long the length of hair should be--alluding to the pride and physical demonstration in which the team should represent their school, each other, and themselves with. ("Without Limits" Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O4W7u_wMzY)
Bowerman: What's the standard for how long hair gets before it's offensive?
Pre: It's a completely arbitrary length.
Bowerman: Right.
Pre: So is the length of a meter.
Bowerman: Does that make a meter race unfair?
Pre: Of course not. Not when everyone agrees on what the length is.
Bowerman: Then lets all agree. (Pause) No one on the team will have hair longer than his dick...which means everyone gets a hair cut, except Bob.
Pre: Why except Bob?
Bowerman: God's will, Steve.
More than just an elaborate dick joke, the conversation between Pre and his coach make a brilliant point, and an inference to some of the basic premises of the "social contract" theory originally sprouted from philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract (that's right, Wiki research)
I think it applies on this day. We all wear green, we play games, we cook Irish meals, some of us drink our asses off, but underlying it all, is a sense of togetherness. A sense that celebrating to celebrate has a greater purpose than what may be advertised on the beer signs outside of restaurants. Hence, why I have let up on making smart ass personal asides when I meet someone who declares how proud they are to be Irish when the furthest they've ever come to visiting Ireland is Dublin...Dublin, Georgia. Ok, maybe not all the way.
Song in my head: Holiday From Real, Jack's Mannequin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-89ECq0Ut4 (sorry, this is a VH1 edited version)
Off to tutor and drink Bud Light with green food coloring.
Justin
No comments:
Post a Comment