As I fell towards the highway, I realized I was going to die. "Shit, I'm going to die today," where my actual thoughts, I believe.
Facing the realization of one's own death can have a powerful effect. Everything changes. One's view on life changes. And how can it not? Surviving one's death means a second chance on life.
It's said that panic separates the heroes from the cowards.
When your life stands on the spider's web above the gapping gullet of the spider, would you lash out uncontrollably, binding the sticky web to your limbs? Or would you calmly stare the spider in the eye, then reach out and kick it in the nose so it falls off the web?
Or would you go, "Ick, a spider!" and swat it with a newspaper before the analogy even had a chance to sink in, because you're an arachnocidal maniac?
Are you feeling lucky?
I can't shake it, but I've been feeling lucky lately. Maybe a little too lucky. And that's a bad thing, because there's also this feeling that my luck will run out soon.
With a vengeance. Not a soft, wimpy puff of air. A loud, jarring, and possibly very painful crash.
"Oh my God I almost died today!"
Temi bounced around like a giddy school girl. Only half an hour ago she was clinging to her chair, digging her nails into its frame, and chanting: "I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"
And now she's chanting: "Let's do that again! Let's do that again! Let's do that again!"
With true friends, there are no "Goodbyes," only "See you laters."
So I say to you all, "I'll see you all later!"
Why do I say that? Just as a precautionary measure. I'm going to fulfill a life-long dream of mine this Thursday, May 13th—I'm going to sky dive!
"C'mon daddy, you can do it."
Said a little girl as she lead her hesitant father towards the steps. His stare was frozen to the structure above the staircase, his mouth wide open.
Weekly random rambles, musings & writings of Mike Lee in San Francisco, CA