Forever Golden
On a recent trip to the coast with my family, I had an epiphany. Well, maybe not an epiphany; a brief emotional breakdown with permanent ramifications is a more accurate description. I'm in my prime middle aged years, the fabulous forties, and my parents are a few decades older. They're aging gracefully, but they won't be around forever.
Let's set the scene:
We're at a brewery by the water, sitting at an outside table. My parents' faithful dog is with us (he's about 97 in dog years, but that's another story), and my wife and kids are happily working on some coloring books, fighting hard against the ocean breeze. My dad is taking a look at the menu, and he's stressing about the menu prices, exclaiming that a burger shouldn't cost $18 in this universe or any other. I agree, but eventually Iconvince him that that's just the price of things these days, and he grumbles and orders it, and we all enjoy a round of drinks while we listen to seagulls overhead. The vibes are immaculate.
At that moment, it hits me. All that worrying about the price of a meal was inconsequential; in this golden moment, I realized that at some point in the future, I'd pay a hundred dollars, a thousand, ten thousand, ANY amount of money, to be transported back to this dinner by the beach with my parents and wife and kids, even for a few minutes. Life is precious and fleeting. That thought hit me like a freight train; I teared up, and I walked quickly away with no explanation, around the corner to the parking lot to properly bawl my eyes out and contemplate human mortality. After a while, my mom came by to ask if everything was ok; I composed myself, and joined them once again at the dinner table.
Appreciate what you have, here and now. The only guarantee in life is that you won't always have it. Treat every moment, as you live it, like the shining golden experience that it is.
Artist: Steve Walasavage
Series: Non-Fungible Travels
Collection: Steve Walasavage Editions
Edition: 1/? NFT
"Steve Walasavage Editions" is a set of editions released over the course of my career as a photographer, artist, and multidisciplinary phenom (citation needed).
All editions are ERC-1155 tokens minted on the Steve Walasavage Editions custom smart contract.
Extended Editorial License: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The License includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.
