Do you know of “those people” who seem to not care about their obnoxious behavior, overly aggressive happiness, mentally unstable antics, and reckless frame of mind?

I had the time of my life with my friends when I was one of those people. Cutting jokes in public, acting a fool, doing crazy $#!+ without regard of consequence or danger. What is really sad in a way; I can remember when that kind of fun stopped. It was after college. The day after graduation. We all left our temporary home and began exploring the world. It almost seems like a bad trope in a dime store novel. One minute we are up on stage opening for a famous swing band, streaking through campus on a dare, blaring Neal Diamond from stereo speakers into the quad while getting high, participating in a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening at the local Cinema, getting caught by park rangers for lounging in the hot springs after hours, dressing up as Prince, Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison, and Dolly Parton during spring Chem-finals, mysteriously not getting arrested for camping in a tent on top to the local mall roof just to listen to the U2/Rage Against the Machine concert playing at the nearby football stadium, going to rave parties every Thursday, and the next minute… the care free madness was over. We were out on our own; driving across the country, visiting other continents, getting married and having kids, living the lifestyle we always dreamed about. Each of us keeping in touch with post cards, letters, and phone calls. Sure, we were all still having fun, but the flying by the seat of our pants had long since landed.

My point is that, the very first time I reflected on all this, is when I realized that my behavior back then was shockingly alien to me. I had grown up. It kinda pissed me off too. I had no interest in jumping off roofs to see if I could do it. Skateboarding down a 30° incline street actually terrifies me now. Singing and playing music in front of a crowd of people is a BIG nope! How did I manage acting in stage plays for four years and not loose my mind?! How in the hell did I even end up having lunch backstage at a Journey concert with Pat Benatar, and Pretty Boy?! What the hell happened to me? I was a gad-damned-adult? \=uK!

It never got that nuts since. I got boring. Well technically, I stopped being insane. Boring in a sense, from the perspective of my former self. I really do wonder though. If the band never split up, would things have stayed the same? Would we still be similar versions of our past selves and not the polar opposites we are today?

I guess it is all about ‘how’ you get to the places you never thought possible. Traveling to Russia and accidentally setting a stranger’s beard on fire isn’t something you make plans for. But it happens. And the story on how you got there is laugh your pants off hilarious. The whole reason why you went in the first place becomes irrelevant.

So what the hell am I saying? If anything…

Embrace what you have right now. Do what you always wanted to do and don’t look for permission. Young or old. What’s the point in just existing when there is a playground of whacked out cool $#!+ right outside your door waiting to happen to you. I’m gonna go put on my pajamas now and listen to the new Death Pill album.

“Have fun and stay off my lawn.” Said the grumpy hermit.