In morbid defense of the good times

At the beginning of life there's a period of rapid growth, which is followed by a long plateau, which is followed by decay and disintegration.

1. growth
2. the long plateau
3. decay

These three phases aren't distinct and orderly, but overlap.

A few weeks ago Mark, formerly of markandwanda, was talking about the third phase and how, during certain periods of time, it accelerates.

The movie Synecdoche, NY is about this (and much else besides). It takes place in a world where decay is real and not something we blithely pay lip service to.

I'm not at the end of my long plateau, but I'm near or past the midpoint. The decline is less theoretical now.

Some days we wake up feeling great, other days we wake up feeling... off. We have a cold, our body aches, or there's some strange new unexplained unpleasantness we have to deal with. But whatever happens, our experience tells us we'll feel better tomorrow, or soon enough. And usually without help from a doctor.

But one morning we'll wake up not feeling our best, and things won't improve. We'll never again feel as good as we felt yesterday. The plateau begins its decline. And this sort of thing is happening all the time.

The only thing that seems to help is this: More good times. Make the most of what you have and live until you don't.