I’ve gotten very good at shutting down. Tonight after the kids went to bed I disappeared into a world populated by Madden players and side-screened by all the shows I forgot to watch. I was gone for three hours and didn’t even know it. I mean gone. I missed 14 text messages because I left my phone downstairs and didn’t even emerge until it was too late to call the love of my life and wish her a goodnight.
Gone.
Maybe that is a good thing. Maybe once in a while a guy needs to slip out of his skin, his life, and his mind and into a life that doesn’t belong to him and allows him to escape and recharge. I think such a moment can be as important and as powerful as spending ten minutes at the keyboard everyday in full decompression.
I did not leave the console with any new ideas or a special outlook on life or anything of that sort. I did get it out of my system and I did escape for just long enough to long for the cold familiarity of a reality that is not always so great but is unerringly my own. I’m happy enough in this life and certain that one day when it does end it will do so on my terms. I know that day I’ll feel like I did everything I wanted to do and made the impact I wanted to make.
And I’m not just talking about video games.
Some Thoughts:
- Odell, get over it. I cannot go a day without hearing a kid scream your name and try to catch a ball (awkwardly). Go win some damn games.
- Carmelo, part of my coming to terms with faith and Buddhism is a need to let go of hate. I’ve been angry at you for a long time. IMHO, you helped ruin my Knicks for a long time. Ownership is more to blame, but blame is not even the issue here. The issue is that I should not hate you or anyone. I should accept your role and celebrate the achievements of your life. Congrats on the gold medals and all you have done for my favorite basketball team.
- Man that is still hard to type.
- To that special someone: If you’re still reading this next one is just for you… always.