Vacation (pt. II) Upon Returning in Elephant Architecture

After I got my drink on I felt much better. I realized that I needed three hot yoga sessions a week to drink and still feel good. Balancing a healthy life vs. an artist’s life is not as easy as it may sound. We must access what the Greeks and German philosophers call Dionysus or the creative portion of our minds. The portion we use for poetry & weddings. When we think in terms of business and hard facts we are only accessing one compartment of our minds. However, this is a double edged sword. The times in my life I stayed in a business state of mind I would lose sight of what I was working for and if I stayed drunk too much I would lose sight of hard facts and grades. This is where the Greek concept & philosophy of Eudaimonia comes in when balancing a well rounded or balanced life or Nightowl’s pot belly in Watchman (or at least in the comic). I have extra pounds I need to shed for health reasons, however, I live a life consisting of reading, writing and schoolwork: reliving the “freshman 15” as much as I dread it, there it is. It’s all about fluctuating and balancing what life throws at you.

My thoughts drift to my times with my philosophy Prof. and his love of Watchman. One never knew such merriment around this man. He would facilitate us snot-nosed, spoiled brats and our embarrassing antics. He gave us jobs and taught us about food in class and at work. He has the finest dining our school could offer and he gave me a job during the 2008 Global Recession when businesses raised-high signs in their windows stating “No We Aren’t Hiring. Please Stop Asking”. The P_s, however, adopted every student like they were their own children. I would message Dr. P_ upon learning the news of Dr. F_’s passing. He would send me the Programs, recordings and tributes.

Later that week, I would friend request my creative writing professor on FB. I had printed off my transcript from Montevallo in order to apply for the Nursing Program at my new University. My C.W. Professor gave me an A. What a walk down memory lane for the better. You see, there are some faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse we call humanity. Our Professors are some of them. I had been somewhat timid about a friend requesting Prof. M_. He is a well known, published poet. People get sort of hung-up with social-media sometimes but I forget how much our Professors cared about us not just as students but as people as well. It’s like a great family reunion when you visit the folks of Montevallo. You get caught up in the great, vast world of Industry with folks who don’t really care about you. You get used to it and you become cold too. But our professors are like family. I am accustomed to my work persona where I am a hard business man and that’s what they need me to be. They need me to be pillar: unfeeling and perfect. But, talking with my professors is like taking off my bat mask and they remember my wild side. My days of being passionately in love with a college romance and nothing could pull me down.

That really brought some resolution to my vacation with great memories. I am doing super well in life and I have a lot of that to owe to my professors. Detoxes are painful. Detoxes are emotional. Detoxes can be psychologically devastating. They hurt. They are not fun but I have taught myself to love the pain. I love the pain. I love it because I know that just around the corner are great feelings (right after the nightsweats, terrors and devastating nightmares). And there is Prof. M_ saying, “No worries, Man”. Just like right around the corner there is grand merriment with the Pattons waiting to be had.
Well, I am heading back into work for my first shift back from vacation. I’ll ride my bike and feel the cool, crisp through my refreshed hair. Detoxed and ready. Feeling good and I’m choosin’ life.

Last updated May 13, 2024