The Town Revisited

I always liked that picture, never been quite sure why. It's from the Art Nouveau Tarot, just decided to throw that out there for all you lucky devils. At any rate, I happened to be in the video store doing a little Christmas shopping, and what did I find? A DVD of the web series that got this whole thing started! You see, the title of this little slice of heaven, is admittedly, not an original, but as it's not used for business or profit, I guess it's okay. Watch where the madness all began, and what inspired this blog at Atom Films- http://www.atom.com/channel/channel_town_called_panic/

It's nice to see it remains as creatively weird as ever- bringing low-budget to a whole new level, it's strange enough to even compete with Axe Cop as coolest, most non-linear dose of surreality out there. (Of course, that is apart from this blog...)

But this got me thinking, where was I when I first had the idea to start this blog? 200-odd posts later, tons of youtube videos, general weird shit and some hard times, I'm still going strong. So here's a question for you- where were you 10 years ago? When I think back at all that's gone on over the last 10 years of my life, I can see a few things I would have done differently. Perhaps most noticeably, what I have going on now- a Plan, a means to an end, a definite goal in mind. And, of course, wouldn't have spent all that time downing Dubra (apparently Russian for dredged the outhouse) vodka, but hey, regrets are to learn from. At any rate, 10 years ago would put me at the ripe old age of 22, wherein I was still at home, getting married to my now-ex wife, and not a care in the world. Or a plan of how to get there. I was hoping to enter the priesthood (a dream which has not changed, though has become clearer in terms of how and what I wished to accomplish in this sense). But it would be a few years down the road that I meet the love of my life, Tabatha, and subsequently join the Army. A crazy, mixed-up life, to be sure. But would I trade it for the world? More than likely not, every screw up has been a lesson, and every step has put a little more iron in my soul and a little more steel in my spine. It is what it is, as the saying goes. I don't want to dwell on the past- the secret is find a balance between the two- take the lessons, take the good and the bad, and from there develop a comprehensive idea of where I'm going. But here, in more or less random order, are some of the things I've done or not done that I'm proud of

-Never worn a Christmas sweater, one of those goofy red hats, or anything expressing holiday sentiments. Don't get me wrong, I just think it's tacky.

-Never owned a singing fish- while I have owned fish, I have no memory of them singing. Perhaps because they were underwater

-Gotten my life more or less straightened out, though I'm no longer the young man I once was

-Done 75 pushups at a stretch (and still can)

-Driven across the country, then subsequently halfway across the country

- Eaten the worm, and lived to tell the tale (see previous...)

-Made life easier for more than one person

-Fought for a dream against impossible odds

- Rappelled down from a height greater than 50 feet

-Learned to shoot, fight and blow stuff up, along with the discretion to know I'm not likely to have to do any of these things in everyday life.

-Never been identified as a 'cat person'.

-Overcome a fear of heights (I still don't like them, though)

-learned to cook

- Found the one true love of my life, that is, apart from family and kids- well, you know what I mean

-survived the toughest (and most effective) basic training the Army has to offer, apart from Ranger school, (and still hoping at a shot at that)

-And perhaps in a most general sense, made the world a little bit better than when I got here.

But in retrospect, I guess it's been a good decade. Perhaps in 20 years I'll look back and say that was a good career, and here's hoping for a good retirement. Perhaps, or perhaps I'll be wandering out of the Nevada desert, tattered clothes on my back, beard and hair grown wild, and bring a great revelation to mankind. Nah, that last doesn't seem likely. I would like to see Nevada again, though. The desert is really a sight to see.

Well, I hope looking back your own life gives you inspiration, both the good and the bad. This world is, after all, what you make of it. Let your light shine before all men, as it says in some book or another.

Looking forward to the new year, and hoping all of you out there reading this have a year filled with hope, promise, and most of all, joy. Each day is a gift, use accordingly. Okay, enough greeting card sentiment. Go outside and enjoy the cold, or something! But do it with an open mind, and see the world as it truly is!