Monday, January 05, 2009

When The Holidays Are Over


It is always a little depressing to go back to work and return to your normal life after the end of the holidays. Even though the holidays can be busy and stressful there is a joyfulness in the air that carries most people along. Most of us are generally in good moods and everyone seems excited. At least some of that excitement stems from having time off from normal life and work. I had two four day weekends back to back because of Christmas and New Year's. Even though I enjoy my job as much as I can enjoy any activity that I am forced by life to perform, at this point in my life time off is more valuable than just about anything including money and recognition. I say this with the caveat that employment and income are still very much needed in my life and I am grateful to have both of them. I know I will get over this down feeling in a few days but right now it seems huge. I'm sure some of it is due to the usual Monday night fatigue I am feeling at the moment. In honor of my granddaughter, I am including a picture of SpongeBob Squarepants that depicts how I feel at the moment.


Is it normal to be more emotional as one gets older? Although it is seldom obvious to others, I am often moved to tears by life. It's not sadness. More often than not it is joyfulness. Sometimes, though, I think it is a bit of melancholy for reasons that are not always obvious to me. The strangest things move my spirit and occasionally bring tears to my eyes. Tonight it was the annual Kennedy Center Honors for artistic achievement. Two of the recipients were Pete Townsend and Roger Daltry of the rock band the Who. A brief overview of their careers was shown as well as a musical tribute. In the middle of it I found myself crying. I guess it was because they have touched my life deeply even though they are only two of many musical artists I love. Their music is part of my life's soundtrack and we have grown old together. If the soundtrack of my life is ever released on CD's it will take hundreds of CD's and no one will be able to afford it. I have always been sensitive but it seems my sensitivity gets more emotional the older I get.

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