Why yes, likely every one of my posts WILL mention a movie or television show.  I’ve come to the realization that it’s because of films and shows that I am able to even get close to living the life I want to live.  And, that is a very big reason (among many) of why I love movies and television so much.

There isn’t nearly enough time in any life to actually tackle everything I want to do or be everyone I want to be.  Even if we take out all the entertainment jobs from my list, we are still left with a quite immense list of careers I would like to undertake.  Brain surgeon, corporate lawyer, CSI, astronaut, private investigator, Olympic ice skater, master contractor, homicide detective, Wall Street trader, white hat hacker, executive chef and that guy that works for Shell that gets paid to drive and drive and drive, to see how their V-Power gasoline affects engines – just a quick 12 off the top of my head.

Now granted, I don’t want to be all of those things, all of the time.  But, would like a shot at doing each one of them at some point – that is, if life were perfect.  For example, I could have already ended my career of ice skating in my 20s and moved on to medical school (perhaps I could have studied the law during my off-training times).  Then, during my residency, learned architecture while resting in the on-call room at the hospital.  Wait, maybe I should go from ice skater to police officer, because I’d still be in great physical shape and I know I’d have to go to the police academy before they would let me be a homicide detective.  And, maybe then astronaut, because I’ve heard space can take a toll on the body too.  Hold on, I think broken bones are bad for astronauts.  Could I fit space travel in before skating somehow, just in case?  Hmm…got to get some computer time in there somewhere to learn hacking.

See the dilemma?

With a quick estimated math check, and assuming I did the ice skating thing in my youth, if I had started learning and training the day I left high school, and been lucky to move through schooling at a quick pace, I think maybe by the time I reached my mid-50s or early 60s, I would have all received all the preparation and education to start at my choice of the top 12 careers I would like to tackle first.  Of course, I would have filled up my schooling at various schools because who doesn’t want the chance to attend a performing arts high school, a New England prep-academy, an average public high school and be schooled on the road by a private tutor?  Then, it’s off to Harvard, Faber College, UCLA and also that cool Pacific Tech from Real Genius.  I am not sure how I would have paid off all this education, but money was never the main issue in my mind – it was always the time.

Reminds me of the words of John Burroughs:  “I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”  (change “books” to “movies” and it’s the perfect sentiment – my imagination prefers visual stimulation to really take flight)

There is also a commercial running right now (no recollection what it is for) that mentions that time is the most valuable commodity.  And, it’s true.  Time is more valuable than anything.  We only have what we have.  Being mortal, how could we possibly do everything we want to do before our time is up?  I am certainly not one to have any regrets; and, I’m fairly certain I won’t be at the end of my life harboring any “why didn’t I?” issues.  If there is something important to me that I want to do, I will usually do it.  If there is some place I really want to visit, I will usually plan a trip.  And, if there is anything I want to be sure to say to someone, I will usually tell them.  But, feasibly, there is just not enough time for the “other” stuff.  The stuff that maybe isn’t important to a full and happy life, but would be really cool to accomplish; or, more significantly, to be.

Movies and television shows give me an hour or two to live in the life of an astronaut or an Olympic skater or a private detective.  I get the glimpse of that life in a condensed time frame (no schooling or cost involved).  I get to do it all.  Time no longer becomes an issue.  And, in my mind, I can imagine how that life would go, long after the credits roll.  It may just be a small hint at living that life, but it’s better than nothing.  So, I treasure spending a rainy afternoon down in the movie room or a warm summer night at the drive-in.  Even a day on the couch, binge watching an entire season of the newest streaming series, seems like a perfect day.

Some might call it escapism, but I’m not looking to escape from anything.  I’m just looking to add more to my life and this is the only feasible way I can think to do it.  It’s certainly why I believe cable television is the most amazing invention in my lifetime.  Old movies & television shows at your fingertips, 24/7; absolute genius for some one that can recall watching something on TV and knowing I would probably never see it again.  And it’s also why Los Angeles has always been the love of my life.  I know films and shows are now made virtually everywhere else; but, when you look at all entertainment as a whole, Hollywood is still Hollywood – and I am thankful beyond words every day, that it is.  Now, who do I want to be tomorrow?  #50Weeksto50