Baby, It's Cold Outside

Sitting. Waiting. On... nothing. Coffee's gone. Mind's numb. Gotta love the holiday season. At least I have some good music to keep me company. Athens is a ghost town. It happens every Christmas break. Students flock back to wherever it is they came from and most of the residents flee for grandmas house leaving the Classic City to fend for itself. There are however a few brave souls that stay behind. Some by choice, some by happenstance. Or in my case, both. There is a certain allure to Athens that is unmistakable. I have been living in or around Athens for 20 years now. It really is a great city with deep roots in music and the arts. It's easy to come for college and before you know it, you're 53 with nothing to show for it but a local fan base for your alt rock band and the coveted status of Townie. Granted, I'm only 22 and don't play in a band, but that matters little. It feels like I've been in this city for decades. I've always had somewhat of a wandering spirit. I inherited that from my father. Lately, I've felt, to be completely cliche, like a caged bird with clipped wings. There is so much to see, to experience, and yet I'm here. Sitting. Waiting. On... nothing. There is something to be said for staying in one place. I have met some truly great people that I refer to as friends. I have a great job. I know where all the best places are for food, and I have a good lay of the land. So what. Have I lost my sense of adventure? Where did all my wild hairs go? I want to go out and make my mark in the world. I want to be one of the few that actually has the courage to chase dreams. I think U2 said it best, I want to go where the streets have no name. I want to take the road less traveled. I want to get lost and find myself in an adventure of immense proportions that I have no control over. My own personal Into The Wild moment. Hopefully without the same result. I get so caught up in life that I forget to live it. I met a man the other day from England. He was a retired Nuclear Physicist that had migrated to the U.S. to teach professors how to handle radioactive isotopes. We talked for about an hour about history, philosophy, and a number of other topics. The whole time we were conversing I couldn't help but wonder about all the stories he must have. I was inspired by a complete stranger. This got me thinking. Why can't I be like that? I want to inspire complete strangers to do great things with their lives. This man, Alan Scott, had truly lived his life to the fullest. I want to be like this man. I have no idea how to make that happen. But maybe, that's the best part about it.