Just got back from some travel.... been struggling to come up with time to write something, and a good, deep subject to delve into. With no specific answer to that, here's a couple of quick comments on subjects, to try to gain some mental momentum.
Journey of a Lifetime
Well, that's what I would call it, at least. I've got to hand it to my friend, Garrett Bastable. A co-worker of mine for 4-5 years at Apple (he's still there), he just experienced something we can probably all envy, both for the majesty of it and the courage required to undertake it. In simplest terms - Garrett was one of the sailing party of 3 that just sailed from the big island of Hawai'i to San Francisco aboard a 55-foot catamaran. Over 13 days, they sailed approximately 3000 miles, out in the middle of the deep blue sea, er, ocean.
Dang. That's pretty cool. I probably should look at doing something like that, considering that time isn't that big a deal for me (i.e. I have relatively few time commitments). The big question, though, is "do I have the nerve to do something like that?" Stay tuned.
And if you want to read about the journey from Hawaii to San Francisco, there's a fantastic blog and website (I believe managed by the boat's captain, Eric) at Voyage of the Zephyr.
Congrats, Garrett. You the man. (Note: this statement is not intended to be ironic, in light of the next part of this post. It just seems that way.)
Who Are You
I'm proud to say that I don't Keep Up with the Kardashians. Frankly, I can't stand them, and consider it a sad commentary on our society that a family so devoid of talent or anything of redeeming value makes millions of dollars, purely through self-promotion and exploiting the voyeuristic society that exists here.
But Bruce Jenner..... now, that's a different deal.
I can't begin to relate to or understand what he has gone through in life...... everything from Olympic athlete, multiple marriages, and entering the fishbowl that is the Kardashian dumpster fire..... they're all foreign to me.
As is, obviously, his upcoming life transformation, as he is on the path for gender reassignment in the intent of living the rest of his life as a female.
I can't begin to understand any of that. But there are fascinating parts to it. For reasons I only partially understand, I plan to tape and watch the "tell-all" interview he recently did with Diane Sawyer, to be broadcast this Friday night.
Regardless of what one may believe regarding gender identity, there is an aspect to all of this that one has to respect - Jenner has apparently "known" for many years that he felt more like a woman than a man, and he is now taking the final steps to be consistent with it. To become a woman. To "own" what he, er, she is.
No more fooling himself and society. No more saying one thing, or looking like one thing, while feeling or being something different.
Would that we were all so strong as that. To not hide behind an image, or a construct. Not fool ourselves into thinking we're one thing, when we're something else altogether. Somewhere in a psychological model, there may actually be self-actualization in what Jenner is doing.
As I wrote in a previous entry...... if you're not funny, know it, and own it. Don't keep telling jokes and trying to be funny.
If you don't have a backbone when things get tough, then don't talk tough. It just isn't credible.
If you don't like something, don't just play along..... say something, or don't participate.
Can we learn something from a soon-to-be transgendered lesbian (yes, Jenner is still attracted to women)? Maybe.