Back then, I think, I had a couple of days to myself. Now, I have about a week. In between, I believe, I've been alone at home for more than one day perhaps twice. Parents of little kids probably know how I feel right now: *pop* (that was the sound of the cork of a champagne bottle opening). I feel like a cow let out to pasture at spring. Well, I'm not jumping around, actually, anymore, I'm sitting on the couch, but you know, metaphorically speaking. It's amazing to actually hear your thoughts, being able to decide on your own what to do next, to do what you feel like.
What I felt like doing after escorting the family to the airport:
- taking off pants (the outermost ones)
- listening to essential 80's heavy metal recordings of such artists as Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, Mötley Crüe, Anthrax, Van Halen etc.
- setting up the sound system so that I can listen to the aforementioned music from Spotify on the laptop via the home theater, loud
- drinking beer
- cleaning up all the toys etc. lying around the household
- wiping the stains off the kitchen horizontal surfaces
- eating two hamburgers
- going to the sauna
- connecting the computer to the TV so I can use it on a bigger screen
- writing a blog post.
I also thought of boasting about my newlyfound freedom in Facebook, but couldn't make up my mind about how much boasting is just enough and what might be considered vulgar, and then didn't.
***
If, for whatever reason, I really would become a bachelor at this point in life, I guess I would install several huge screens around the living room, connect them to several computers, and then just live on the sofa, in the dark, on whatever free time I would have (kind of like this guy). Of course, I would go out for sports a lot. No way I would go out chasing chicks in the night clubs though.
***
I think that in writing, absolute honesty is required. If you're going to tidy up your opinions in fear of annoying someone, you're going to end up writing bland crap that will be of interest to nobody. Then on the other hand, there has to be a certain level of judgement on how you can say things, so as not to be repulsive. Perhaps the secret key to good writing is balancing on the thin line between these two things.
***
Also, I find that absolute honesty works well in life as well. That doesn't mean, however, that one has to instantly blurt out everything that comes to mind. Some discretion will keep you out of trouble. But in order to become a true Zen master, one has to do what one feels like.
***
Well, exactly like on the "vacation" I had five years ago, I've got to go to work tomorrow as well. Tomorrow's Saturday. These vacations are kind of hard, when there's so much to do, and relatively little time. There's several months worth of cleaning & working & drinking & renovating & exercising & listening to heavy metal, piled up to do in just one week. But it doesn't matter, you know. I'll endure. From the possibly greatest book of all time, The Rider by Tim Krabbé:
"Velvet pillows, safari parks, sunglasses: people have become woolly mice. They still have bodies that can walk for five days and four nights through a desert of snow, without food, but they accept praise for having taken a one-hour bicycle ride. ‘Good for you.’ Instead of expressing their gratitude for the rain by getting wet, people walk around with umbrellas. Nature is an old lady with few suitors these days, and those who wish to make use of her charms she rewards passionately."
