Dying Is Easy, Maturing Is Not

On a recent trip visiting two of the world's skateboarding meccas i found a shirt that i wanted to buy, but alas i did not. Yes it was in my size and yes it was the only appropriate color for a punk monk: black. The allure of the t-shirt was the slogan which was also its problem.

The shirt in question read "Live Fast - Die Young". A classic saying in both the punk and skateboarding movements. This shirt was found on the final leg of my ten day journey. i had seen a lot and lived a lot over the previous few days. As with my typical methods of operation i had maintained a net sense of balance over the duration of the vacation from a series of extremes. Some incredibly amazing experiences (possibly making their way onto lifetime top ten lists) and some incredibly low experiences (forcing me to learn hardened lessons that i had most likely learned before yet seem to have forgotten if only momentarily).

i indeed had felt like i was living fast, which is what brought on the initial strong desire to purchase said t-shirt. It was the latter half of the saying that brought my almost impulse purchase to a screeching halt as if the front wheel of my skateboard had hit a pebble in the road while bombing down a San Franciscan hill. As i had been reminded on several occasions whilst on that trip i knew in my gut (which is not as firm and muscular as it once was) that i was no longer capable of dying young.

To clarify, no i was not bitten by a vampire stewardess while flying to my destination hence making me immortal and like olde Ponce De Leon i had not found the fountain of youth. i cannot die young because i am no longer young. Sure i am just a kid compared to the one hundred year olds that nutbag Willard Scott gives shout outs to and i do think of myself as young at heart but were a meteor to come crashing through my roof right now and strike me deceased i am certain the obituary written would not include the saying "died young".

Although Einstein may have informed us that time is not constant i am indeed growing older (as i am not moving anywhere near the speed of light). Therefore i must acknowledge the limitations of my age, if even just to lash out fighting against them.

i will not give up skateboarding and i will not give up listening to punk music no matter how old i get. Call me immature but both seem to be getting easier to do as of recent for us aging punk monks. Having to wake up early for work has made me realize that there is a part of the day that occurs after 2 am but before noon. In fact, getting to a skate spot in the morning usually means you get to skate it all by yourself, as luck would have it.

And as far as listening to punk music, well it just so happens that aging punkers are making some of their best music aimed at their own generation and are not all just trying to get new teenage fans. i cannot stop listening to the new Rancid record (yes record, they did indeed sell it on vinyl). It shows, dare i say, maturity in both musicianship and lyric while at a pace that contends with punk tempo of any era or generation. An addictive listen.

With bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Rival Schools doing reunion tours this is not a bad summer to be an aging punk monk. Although i no longer can die young i do intend on living fast for as long as i am able to breathe and hopefully that will be for many more years.

New Look Now With Only 75% The Angst

Finally changed it about. With new look i am also hoping to get back into regular updates as this should turn out to be quite the summer for it. Living life is more important though so i shall not make any promises.