The Hardest Part
Yes, my friends, today I speak of something many of us loathe, and of which Mr. Thomas Earl Petty (rest his musical soul) wrote/sung about best: The Waiting™
Have you ever considered how much of our Earthly lives we spend waiting? It’s okay if you haven’t, since you can likely guess that I have. You may also surmise that I’ll be imparting my particular perspective on the aforementioned topic upon you today. In fact, I bet you can’t wait to begin reading 😊
Behold my loathsome laundry list of waiting weariness:
In line
The deli (Now serving number sixty-six!)
Concerts/sporting events (Eras tour, anyone?)
Theme parks (damn you for having such awesome attractions, Disney!)
The latest iPhone release (aka: joining the Dark Side).
Even though these activities are necessary/make life worth living, they can be some serious time-drainers, can’t they?
Microwave oven, cell phone app downloads, software updates
“C’mon, c’mon, finish already!” Isn’t it amazing how quickly we become accustomed to new technology? At first, we’re amazed at what’s possible, but soon enough we’re impatiently tapping our feet at the whole three minutes it takes for the last kernel to pop or the less-than-a-minute it takes for Candy Crush Saga™ to be ready to open. Why can’t we stop and marvel at how such things have enhanced our lives? We are living in remarkable times, so let’s not lose focus on that, okay?
In traffic
The pain of it all! To work, from work, in road construction, going on vacation, or traveling to the beach. How much time do we spend trapped in wheeled metal boxes, waiting to get where we want to go? And don’t even get me started on the bane of my traffic existence: Rubber-neckers! Is it really that important to see what’s going on in the northbound lane, when we’re traveling in the southbound lane? Ugh, move on, people!
Christmas morning
“OMG, can I come downstairs now? I can’t wait to see what Santa brought! Has it been ‘five more minutes’ yet?” Ah, the excitement of it all! And that was me last year. Can you imagine how excited I was as a kid? Gaaah!
Lottery drawings
Maybe not such a big deal now, but in its infancy, the Megabucks/Powerball drawings were must-see TV. The anticipation of all those bouncing ping-pong balls bubbling up in the magical plexiglass box was delicious. Then, one-by-one, they’d pop out of the box to be plucked out and placed in a line by the smiling ball-plucker-person until the magical winning sequence was revealed. We’d sit there on our couches and in our easy chairs, hanging on the appearance of every polished white sphere, hoping tonight would be the night that would change our lives forever. It hasn’t worked out yet, but those exquisite few moments are a jackpot in their own right!
For the phone to ring
Romance. Maybe it’s the person you gave your cell number to the night before, or that same person the day after your first date. The anticipated phone call (or lack thereof) from them means so much. Each clock tick ramps up your anxiety until your skin is crawling. Ten years from now, when you’re cuddling on the couch with that special person and reminiscing about those first few days, the waiting will seem exciting, romantic, and totally worth it, but in those initial moments, it can be pure torture.
Job interview results. They said they’d let you know in a day or so. Well, it’s been “or so” and each moment that passes sends you down that emotional roller coaster, wondering if you got the job. You don’t want to seem desperate by calling them, but man the waiting is tough!
News from a relative or friend. It could be a loved one traveling a long distance or undergoing a surgical procedure. Both instances find us doing just about anything to distract ourselves and alleviate the stress of waiting for the good news that they’ve arrived safely or are in recovery after a successful surgery.
Achieving milestone ages
“Oh, man, I can’t wait to be X-years-old!” Whether it’s achieving teenager status, becoming old enough to drive, to vote, buy cigarettes, booze, and get into bars, we just can’t wait to turn certain ages, can we? When we hit each threshold, we start looking forward to the next one, as if we haven’t just accomplished something amazing. Of course, all this unbearable waiting compounds until that damn life scale thingie tips the other way, and we’re all: “Holy crap, where did my twenties, thirties, and forties go?”
Yes, friends, be careful what you wish for, and appreciate all the good things you have during every cycle of life. In other words, stop waiting and start doing/enjoying!
For this blog post to be over
And it almost is! I appreciate you taking time out from all your daily waiting in order to join me today. I hope it’s been worth your weekly wait to read what’s circulating in my unique brain. Even more-so, if my words have inspired you to see our world in a more positive way or made you smile/laugh, I know I’ve done my part to improve your life, if only by a little. Now, share those good feelings and keep the chain of love moving, folks!
Be sure to tune in again next week! I have a special Christmas-themed blog post that you don’t want to miss.
Until then, whatever you are, don’t wait to be a good one!
-Dave
