Happiness Pursued

"Time is the fire in which we burn."

-- American poet Delmore Schwartz, 1937

(also said by a plagiarizing Star Trek villain, 1993)

When you tell people you're honeymooning for an indefinite period of time in a travel trailer, you get some strange looks in response. Strange as in, "are these two people absolutely insane?!" looks.

To me, this trip always seemed to be a normal and reasonable course of action. At least it seemed that way until the unfortunate sewer hose incident in Malibu.

Sure, we could've been sampling fine wine and fresh lobster in a Tahitian luxury hut while eager minions massaged our feet and gently fanned us with freshly cut palm leaves. But wouldn't you really rather wolf down microwaved popcorn in a stormy Wyoming Wal-Mart parking lot?

Okay, perhaps that wasn't the best example. But the underlying point has something to do with the Latin phrase carpe diem -- sieze the day. (It actually translates into "pluck the day," but no one says "pluck" any more. Thank goodness.)

I'm one of those guys who's constantly aware of his own mortality. It's not that I'm obsessed with death. Not at all. Rather, I am aware of death, and I acknowledge its inevitability. It's what you might call a motivational factor.

I've seen many people die unexpectedly. I've seen many die expectedly. Either way, they died. We all will. It's the one thing you can count on, and it applies to everyone.

Martha Stewart will die. So will Donald Trump. And Britney Spears. And Hugh Hefner, if he hasn't already.

Our time on earth is limited. It's up to us to make the best of it.

Granted, what consititutes "the best" will differ from person to person. We all have different dreams that may or may not involve camping in Wal-Mart parking lots. Maybe it's watching your kids play soccer, or reading the works of Shakespeare, or drinking 30 beers in one day. Or doing ALL of these activities simultaneously.

Our aspirations may vary. But our responsibility is to pursue those individual dreams with passion and vigor. That's what our country's Founders wisely called the pursuit of happiness. That's why we're here.

Believe it or not, some people can find that happiness in a Wal-Mart parking lot -- on their honeymoon.

Coming next: we take a look at "The Long, Long Trailer!"