"I've never been there, but I know the way..." -The Great Gonzo
I thought giving Gonzo a pipe made him look more distinguished and added some depth and mystique to his quote.
The quote is from one of my favorite songs of all time, "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday." Actually, I'm not sure that is the title of the song, but that doesn't take away from it's awesomeness. There are a number of brilliant lines in that song, and this particular one has always struck a chord with me. So to speak.
I was recently telling a friend of mine how it seems I get an annoying feeling of discontent about every six months or so. Beginning around high school, I placed the blame for this feeling on women and my relationships with them. But since then, I've been happily married, and yet the feeling remains. So, I decided it must be because of the jobs I've been in. Well, now I really like the job I do, and here comes this feeling again. So I'm left trying to figure out where it's coming from.
The scary thing about this feeling is that usually it leads to me doing something fairly drastic. Like moving to California, changing jobs, or getting married. So, I'm not sure what will happen this time (I'd cut my hair, but it's already too short) and I've been thinking more and more about it.
As I said, this feeling comes and goes and I was reminded of a post I did about a year ago. It's called We've All Got Itchy Feet. I think it does a better job of discussing this feeling than I'm doing today. In that post, I mentioned this song by Gonzo, and I was reminded how much truth is in that song.
The only conclusion I can come up with unites Gonzo and another person I love to quote: C.S. Lewis. He's the one who says we're not content because we weren't made for this world. That's the only way to explain this.
I think that is what Gonzo is talking about. And now that I think about it, this isn't the first time a Muppet has crossed paths with Lewis. I remember that happened in one of the first posts I ever wrote. The Rainbow Connection. Crazy.
Anyways, I'm not sure what to do with all of this. All I know is that this feeling always makes me feel old and tired. So I'll leave you with Gonzo's awesome song. It's a classic and one of my favorites. And in case you were wondering... Yes, that is smoke from an atom bomb coming out of Gonzo's pipe.
9 comments:
It is called... Seasonal Depression!
The California swells are calling you and the Mrs...! I can hear them..... 20' swells today!!!!!!!!!!!
All kidding aside...good thoughts. Usually this time of year (not sure why) and then around Februay I am just grouchy and have no motivation. I have pin pointed it because we always feel extra grouchy around your brothers birthday and nothing ever goes like we hope... I really do classify that as seasonal depression, however, it still followed us to CA even though the seasons aren't nearly as drastic.
Answer... take a vacation during those times!
20 foot swells!!?? Dangit! Now I'm even more depressed. I never thought that it might be depression. Shoot. That sucks.
Depression? Meh - you just need to travel more. I get the same way, so that's when I do what Ange suggests and get a change of scenery. Even if it's driving down to Brown County or going to Chicago, or of course, the best being going to an ocean somewhere... :-) If nothing else, just come over to my house for beer and scotch and we can discuss Lewis and literature and pretend to be in Oxford.
There's much more I'd like to say about this, but I'll make a post as the comment would be too long.
Cheers!
Or you guys could just come to Oxford and drink beer and scotch at Lewis' house and we'd all be happy then! And my depression would be gone too!
But seriously, Art, I do this a lot too. More than a couple times a year, for sure, and I can never figure it out either. I just get into a rut for like two or three weeks and can't get out for the life of me until, one day, it just seems to go away. I've never been able to "pray it away," or at least I've not felt like that was it. Probably God just reminding me that He's there because I forget that a lot since I have such a great life. You know you'll come out of it, but just don't move away cause that would suck.
Anyway, you're not alone. Ang is depressed too. And me because I'm not home at Christmas. And Luke lost his appendix. Ok, at least the Colts rule. And Gonzo is a good singer. Ok. Bye.
Yeah, you guys are right. Vacation is a temporary fix. It still doesn't explain the problem though. Unfortunately, unlike Caleb, I can't be on perpetual vacation. You can call it "depression," but I think that's a clinical term for what's really going on. Whatever, I don't know what I'm saying anymore. I guess I should just head out to ol' CA, or Oxford.
Good thoughts Art. And I love how you tie in older posts - really gives continuity to your blog. I used to get that feeling about this time of year as well when I lived up there, but for me it was the cold - really affected me quite a bit. Now I just get frustrated instead of depressed 'cause it's so dang hot! Not sure which is better. :P
But seriously.. that's all well and good to say "go on vacation" Luke and Ange.. but how the heck do you afford vacations twice a year?? I'd love to just up and go to California or back to Indiana, but the lowest amount I've ever been able to put together a vacation package for was like a thousand bucks! Do share thine incredible frugal ways!
Two words Joel: no kids.
I know a lot of people that get depressed when the days get shorter and it gets colder out. It never really affected me because I would much rather be too cold than too hot. But recently it has started to have an impact on me. Like Art said, I don't know if I'd call it depression or not.
Maybe it's because I know so many people that get the whole seasonal depression thing that being around them is what's brining me down - not the actual season.
Plus, I know it's not seasonal depression because I get it no matter what the weather is like. I had it out in Cali too. It's seasonal, in that it always comes once or twice a year or whatever, but not always in winter or anything.
Wow, I didn't realize my "seasonal depression" thought would lead into so much food for thought:). I like it...
"Vacation" doesn't always have to mean packing up and going somewhere but rather just getting away from work. A lot of times I need a vacation from my vacation. A couple weeks ago Andrew just decided to stay home for a few days instead of traveling because traveling for Thanksgiving was just too expensive for us. We just tried to make the most of that time and made sure to watch the sunsets/ sunrises... did simple things. It was just nice to be outside of our M-F routines and making that extra effort to relax and enjoy eachother without all the usual weekly stressors.
Josh.. you just need a vacation from thinking. Smart people = depressed people because there are too many thoughts swirling around. New answer- get a good cable package for more mindless activity!
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