| Midlife Crisis |
Considering that I was born in 1964, the year 2004 can only mean one thing. I am now officially old. Over the
hill. Sliding towards oblivion. 40. Deal with it.
And what better way than with a good old all-American midlife crisis? But I'm not married so I can't get divorced,
I'm too poor to buy a little red sportscar (and already drive a blue Saab cabriolet), and I (like to think at least)
have far too much taste to opt for the standard young blond bimbo solution. Some people I know are already on
their second or third.
Come to think of it, maybe I already had my crisis, back in 2001 (see photo above) when I started on yet the
latest manifestation of my personal life. Same country, but this time the language changed once again...but so
did the partner. Getting things in their proper new mental places has taken some time, as after 16 years with
the same person it very well might.
So here is my mental diary of the last three years and possibly much earlier than that. As of October, 2004 I am
40. And my poor confused little brain is back in my head where it belongs, and actually happy for the first time in
a long while.
hill. Sliding towards oblivion. 40. Deal with it.
And what better way than with a good old all-American midlife crisis? But I'm not married so I can't get divorced,
I'm too poor to buy a little red sportscar (and already drive a blue Saab cabriolet), and I (like to think at least)
have far too much taste to opt for the standard young blond bimbo solution. Some people I know are already on
their second or third.
Come to think of it, maybe I already had my crisis, back in 2001 (see photo above) when I started on yet the
latest manifestation of my personal life. Same country, but this time the language changed once again...but so
did the partner. Getting things in their proper new mental places has taken some time, as after 16 years with
the same person it very well might.
So here is my mental diary of the last three years and possibly much earlier than that. As of October, 2004 I am
40. And my poor confused little brain is back in my head where it belongs, and actually happy for the first time in
a long while.
| Yes, that's me, in a parking garage in Brussels. Pink is supposed ot help calm people down. Hope it works! |
| And a Hello Kitty! sticker saying "Keep Out! Private thoughts inside! |
Of course, now that I'm 40 it might be
time to stop making deeply personal
music compilations. Nope. One of the
greatest benefits of being American is
not having to grow up unless you want
to. And this is one area where I choose
to remain firmly immature. Besides, it's
just as therapeutic and much less
expensive than hiring a shrink.
The idea for this record came from the
first song "Diaryland", which is sung by
a great artist from Austin, Texas, Matt
the Electrician. I first heard it (where
else) at Tower Records, Osaka, Japan.
"I'm going to Diaryland, gonna write
down everything I see... it's just me. My
doctor says express myself; if that's the
key to my mental health I'm gonna start
my novel right away."
time to stop making deeply personal
music compilations. Nope. One of the
greatest benefits of being American is
not having to grow up unless you want
to. And this is one area where I choose
to remain firmly immature. Besides, it's
just as therapeutic and much less
expensive than hiring a shrink.
The idea for this record came from the
first song "Diaryland", which is sung by
a great artist from Austin, Texas, Matt
the Electrician. I first heard it (where
else) at Tower Records, Osaka, Japan.
"I'm going to Diaryland, gonna write
down everything I see... it's just me. My
doctor says express myself; if that's the
key to my mental health I'm gonna start
my novel right away."
The music comes from
many sources and from
many different times and
styles from 1971 hippy
folk to smooth 2004
Europop.
As usual, it's the texts that
are important. Pay
attention and let it play
with your own mind for a
while!
The music actually gets
older when I start talking
about my current
relationship. This is partly
a typical midlife crisis
reversion to the familiar,
but also demonstrates my
utter surprise at hearing
these songs after many
years and suddenly really
understanding what
they're talking about for
the very first time. Good
grief, it must be love.
many sources and from
many different times and
styles from 1971 hippy
folk to smooth 2004
Europop.
As usual, it's the texts that
are important. Pay
attention and let it play
with your own mind for a
while!
The music actually gets
older when I start talking
about my current
relationship. This is partly
a typical midlife crisis
reversion to the familiar,
but also demonstrates my
utter surprise at hearing
these songs after many
years and suddenly really
understanding what
they're talking about for
the very first time. Good
grief, it must be love.
| Typical European-American male dealing with turning 40. |
