Lost at Sea

I’ve never sailed a ship, nor have I ever taken a cruise. My feet have never felt the sand between my toes within a mass of water. In fact, I’ve never seen the ocean(and was of age to remember it). Yet, I have come to know what it’s like to be overwhelmed. To feel incredibly lonely. To feel all hope sinking in the abyss. To feel surreal physical pain and agony. To feel lost at sea.

Some of life’s voyages are short, with the destination in plane sight. For these voyages, there are limited points of failure. Minimal chance of running into any mishaps. No maps or guides needed. Even unexperienced sailors would arrive at their destination unscathed. Such voyages would resemble what to eat for breakfast, or what time to wake up in the morning or what shirt to match what pants. Easy voyages, voyages over time would need to be challenged or elaborated on to avoid routine. Some of life’s voyages are clear cut, a simple map with wind directions and water currents and a “X” that marks the spot of destination. Sailors with limited time behind the helm master these trips and eventually become bored. With each voyage the the sailor feels a lack of satisfaction and over the period of time demands a real voyage. Perhaps demands is too strong of a word. In times like these, it’s required that we take these so called real voyages, not for the sake of one’s pride or accomplishment(although this could be a case), but it’s required to survive. It’s these voyages that resemble graduating high school, moving away to college, getting married, graduating college ect … Anything that would require a change from your daily routine in a big way could be considered a real voyage.

It’s these voyages that really test a person’s character. Its these voyages that really define who we are as individuals. Every one of these voyages is different and ever changing. Every one of these voyages has it’s own unique story to share at the end of the day. Most importantly, it prepares oneself for the next voyage in life.

Sometimes however, unforeseen obstacles can get in the way. Be it the Captains pride, the crews ego … or Poseidon himself. One moment you can be fat and merry, and the next lost at sea on nothing more than a few random pieces of wood assembled as a raft and a watered down map with step by step instructions. Useless instructions. So many unknowns it didn’t warn you about. So many factors that could potentially decide if the voyage  was a failure or success. So many things … All in all it wouldn’t have made a difference if you knew it was coming. There are some lessons in life’s voyages that need to be learned through experience that no book can teach you. A lesson that no Master can teach an Apprentice.

For me, I’ve felt this quite a few times. The feeling of being lost at sea. My experiences with cancer, graduating high school, the pressure of graduating college while juggling a full time job, the diamond creating pressure of finding a job in my field after graduation. All of which have been so surreal, so incredibly overwhelming and *gasps*:

Rewarding.

The truth is, if Homer had re-written the Odyseey in a way that every time Odysseus found himself in trouble he’d avoid the situation, there would be no book. He never would have gotten off the island of the lotus eaters, he never would have escaped the Cyclops nor would he have had the encounter from the sirens, he would have never eaten Helio’s cattle. He wouldn’t have found himself in a shipwreck or washed upon the shores of Ithca half dead. He wouldn’t have been re-united with Penelope. He wouldn’t have had the war wounds and stories to share. Most importantly he wouldn’t have had the survival skills to make it through the next disaster.

Like Odysseus and everybody who’s experienced life, I’ve learned my lessons. I know there will be plenty more lessons left to be learned. I can only imagine how many more of life’s voyages will leave me stranded and alone, lost at sea. For me however, I feel I’ve had enough experience stranded and lost that I can use it to my advantage.

I can see the newspaper headlines now … “23 year old found at sea” … Captioned with “As seen on a resort styled flotation device with an unlimited supply of sunscreen and margaritas” ….

… towards the end of my article …
“Sources indicate he’s refused rescuing”.

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So, this month is the National Blog Posting month. Supposedly everyday one should blog once a day for the entire month of November(which I’ve done quite well this month thank you , *points to peanut gallery* shutup! I know it’s only been 3 days) I hope I’ve done it creatively up to this point. For those that get the feeling of depression in my writing, remember it’s just words and my writing style. When it comes to lyrics in music, I find the more depressing and the more I can relate, the better the song. Just me I guess. Life has been going well for me latley(minus maybe a little self imposed stress)

Of course, it never hurts to share life’s lessons, Life’s voyages with each other. I do what I can. I’d like to think although I’m young I’ve been through quite a bit and if anybody wants to listen, I can talk … and talk … and talk.

Everyday really is a voyage. Different or identical it doesn’t matter. Todays voyage left me with a voiceless … uhhh, voice? Oh, and hungry too …

With camera and backpack in tow, I made my way downtown to Cherry Creek. For those that don’t know, Cherry Creek is very posh. So much so, that if Posh Spice herself made here way down to Cherry Creek, she’d be just Spice. It’s the only place where one can see a Porsche and think “Poor mans sports car”. Don’t believe me? I have proof It’s the only place in Denver where if your car is worth more than your house, it gives you the abilty to run stop signs and 4 way stops.

I hate it. I hate it because it’s everything I don’t want to be, but everything I want. I can’t even imagine some of the lifestyles of some of the people that shop there. I say there, but it’s here really. Right in my backyard. I live in the ghetto though. If you go to my flickr page and check out my entire adventure.

I’ll give you the quick summary though

I left this morning tired and hungry. But determined! I needed food. Not just any food. Quiznos! Yummy! Anyways, I leave the house and hear a ton of noise! I follow the noise only to come up to the new stadium that was just built. Nothing too big or fancy but I had always wanted to check it out. Come to find out today they were playing semi-pro rugby there! Awesome! 5 bucks to get in! I didn’t go today but I stood and watched for a good hour or so …. only to move on. Makes me happy to live here, supposedly there will be a ton of concerts and other fun things there. All a block or so within my apartment.

I continued to Cherry Creek, only about a mile or so away, taking photos here and there. Mostly of the color changes I see everywhere, ontop of that, the Cherry Creek Creek …. After about 20 minutes or so, I finally made it to Cherry Creek. Only in Cherry Creek will you find two mercedes parked next to each other of the exact same type(different colors). Only in Cherry Creek where seeing a Lambo ISN’T a big deal. Although they aren’t everywhere, it’s not uncommon to see one a visit. Or an Austin Martin, or a Ferrari or some other car that costs more than my college education, my house, my parents house and my future life’s saving all combined.

Yes, that is Valet Parking, at A FREAKING MALL! Can you say ridiculous? /sigh.

What else … Oh yea ….. I finished the first leg of my journey succesful. So tasty. The commercials weren’t lieing. Mmmmmm  Mmmmmmm good.

So if this blog has not bored you, or you just can’t get enough of my day … than feast your eyes upon my photoblog here.

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