"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."
My Boog Pages
Wednesday, October 8
His Hair Was Perfect
I was never the biggest Warren Zevon fan. I've only heard four or five of his songs in my life. Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the eighties, only my music-geek friends had heard of Zevon. And most of them were into Aztec Camera or the Stone Roses.
I always thought he seemed like a cool dude, though, and the way he handled his illness and his imminent death really impressed me. When asked what facing cancer had taught him, he replied, "I've learned to enjoy every sandwich." He said he was happy to live to see the latest Bond film. He lasted long enough to see a grandchild born. And he made one last album.
The things Zevon did once he learned his time was running out were the things he did every day. He didn't need trips to see the lamas in Tibet or the Mosquitos in Belize to make his life complete. He lived each day the was he wanted, and I have a lot of respect for that.
A lot of people view life (or parts of it) as a journey, with a reward at the end. These people are always going to be disappointed. Life is best lived for the satisfactions at the end of each day: Doing your job well. Playing with your children. Laying down next to the one you love.
If you can't enjoy what you do every day, you need to change your life. Or you will never like the one you've got. Don't take my word for it - just ask Warren.
