Shooting Stars
January 6, 2010
Moments. I think about life in terms of moments. In a particularly special one, I try to take in everything that goes with it. The colors, the people, whatever it is that will make that memory strong enough to echo in my senses years from that moment.
Tonight, I was out for a walk. I happened to pass a sub shop that had a pulled pork special sandwich. special pork? after ordering, I took a moment to watch the college game that was on the flatscreen next to the exotic soda display.
GT and Iowa were playing in the Orange Bowl. In the closeups, I could see the eyes of the players eyeing the field. And the thought struck me, for some of them, this would be the greatest night of their lives. Whatever else should happen, this was the pinnacle for some.
What would that be like, to look out a clock winding down on the greatest night of your life? Winning or losing you had sixty minutes to make your mark on history. 59…58…
When I walked out pondering that very thought, I saw a shooting star dropping down and then fading out.
This is what it is for our characters. They live entire lives with no cameras on before this moment. But then something happens. They’re set up for what is going to be the greatest moment in their lives. In any movie, doesn’t matter which, pick one. The camera starts shooting a little before this life changing moment, then turns off after the resolution. Then we never see them again. They fade in to the night sky.
How could we possibly deal with it if the moment has faded? The band RUSH tackled this one in the song “Losing It.”
The writer stares with glassy eyes
Defies the empty page
His beard is white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage
Thirty years ago, how the words would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision
And he stares out the kitchen door
Where the sun will rise no more…
What if that moment has passed you by and all you remembered of it was the time slipping away before it was done?
I’ve had moments that felt timeless. I did tonight. It was a hell of a sandwich.
Until later -
Burning Pictures.
