The Manics reminded me of a dinner party, held over ten years ago, on the other side of the world. I've forgotten so much about that meal - pretty much all I remember is the food being good, the walls of the room being red and the Manics (I think it was This is my truth... ) on the CD player (ask your grandparents, kids).
Since then, just about everything about my life has changed: different partner, different job, different country... but one thing has stayed the same - maybe the only thing that has remained the same in the middle of all that change. The dinner party was thrown by a very good friend (the best, let's be frank) and here we still are, all these years later. I don't want to get all soppy because I'll have to face him at some point (probably later this week, for coffee) so I won't name him but I'm really grateful for his friendship: he's a good man. Seriously, I literally wouldn't be here (by which I mean Hong Kong) if not for him.
I also wouldn't be here in a more existential sense were it not for two other friends - GP and CC - who supported me more than anyone like me had a right to expect or to ask when I was living in England. Two better friends I couldn't possibly ask for; they regularly went above and beyond the call of friendly "duty" on my behalf and got me through many dark times.
There are others, too - my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law; Sue DD, Celia, Jani, Kelli, Dave W, John M, Matt S; the various friends that I've made through Twitter - too many to mention but a special shout out to Mister A... all contributed in ways that they probably never even realised - and that's before I think of all the ex-partners with whom I'm still in touch and whom, despite me probably being an utter asshole when we were together, still seem to hold a warm place for me in their hearts.
So, why am I telling you all this? Well, do you remember when you were a kid and used to measure things in "get-ups"? You know, only five more get-ups to Christmas, that sort of thing? According to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy in the developed world is 79. Which means that the average person, counting from the age of 18 onwards, will have an average of just under 25,000 mornings they can look forward to; just under 25,000 get-ups. I am far from eighteen years old and you probably are, too - our number is much smaller than 25,000. My number is just over 10,000, which is sobering. And, as the saying goes, any of us could fall under a bus tomorrow - our number could be in single figures.
As I write this, Michael Schumacher is critically ill in hospital after a skiing accident. Schumi is a huge hero for me. Vettel winning race after race is boring; when Schumi did it, I loved it. I admired his work ethic, his perfectionism, his team spirit, his devotion to family. After risking his life in one of the most dangerous sports, after escaping from some horrendous shunts with nothing worse than a broken leg, a stupid skiing accident...
I posted a note on Twitter this morning about the importance of being nice and hugging the people you love. It's a stupid, simplistic and trite sentiment but it's true nonetheless. Make a resolution for 2014 that you won't let things go unsaid; that everyone important to you will know how important they are.
Since then, just about everything about my life has changed: different partner, different job, different country... but one thing has stayed the same - maybe the only thing that has remained the same in the middle of all that change. The dinner party was thrown by a very good friend (the best, let's be frank) and here we still are, all these years later. I don't want to get all soppy because I'll have to face him at some point (probably later this week, for coffee) so I won't name him but I'm really grateful for his friendship: he's a good man. Seriously, I literally wouldn't be here (by which I mean Hong Kong) if not for him.
I also wouldn't be here in a more existential sense were it not for two other friends - GP and CC - who supported me more than anyone like me had a right to expect or to ask when I was living in England. Two better friends I couldn't possibly ask for; they regularly went above and beyond the call of friendly "duty" on my behalf and got me through many dark times.
There are others, too - my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law; Sue DD, Celia, Jani, Kelli, Dave W, John M, Matt S; the various friends that I've made through Twitter - too many to mention but a special shout out to Mister A... all contributed in ways that they probably never even realised - and that's before I think of all the ex-partners with whom I'm still in touch and whom, despite me probably being an utter asshole when we were together, still seem to hold a warm place for me in their hearts.
So, why am I telling you all this? Well, do you remember when you were a kid and used to measure things in "get-ups"? You know, only five more get-ups to Christmas, that sort of thing? According to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy in the developed world is 79. Which means that the average person, counting from the age of 18 onwards, will have an average of just under 25,000 mornings they can look forward to; just under 25,000 get-ups. I am far from eighteen years old and you probably are, too - our number is much smaller than 25,000. My number is just over 10,000, which is sobering. And, as the saying goes, any of us could fall under a bus tomorrow - our number could be in single figures.
As I write this, Michael Schumacher is critically ill in hospital after a skiing accident. Schumi is a huge hero for me. Vettel winning race after race is boring; when Schumi did it, I loved it. I admired his work ethic, his perfectionism, his team spirit, his devotion to family. After risking his life in one of the most dangerous sports, after escaping from some horrendous shunts with nothing worse than a broken leg, a stupid skiing accident...
I posted a note on Twitter this morning about the importance of being nice and hugging the people you love. It's a stupid, simplistic and trite sentiment but it's true nonetheless. Make a resolution for 2014 that you won't let things go unsaid; that everyone important to you will know how important they are.
