Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Such is Life

I was just folding the laundry (just a little glimpse into the life of an international woman of mystery and intrigue) when one of my daughters' shirts got me to thinking. It read: Music is Life. You've seen, perhaps even worn, variations on the theme: Football is Life, Lacrosse is Life, Cheering is Life, Star Trek is Life - whatever your 'thing' is, someone is out there willing to take your money for the opportunity to allow you to advertise it. My husband's online moniker is Bass is Life.

I don't lay claim to any of those slogans.

And for a moment there - as I folded that shirt - it made me a little sad. It must be nice to have a passion that is so encompassing that it defines life for you. I have no such passion. I like to knit - but is it LIFE? I couldn't imagine a day without writing - but is it LIFE? Music, reading, shopping for shoes - all enjoyable pastimes, but LIFE?

It doesn't feel like living without sunshine. Maybe sunshine is life. But that can't be - because it's not all I need. A beautiful sunny day with a toothache still sucks.

Then I turned my thoughts towards my hubs - Bass is Life. Not a lot in this world makes him happier than his bass. And not a lot in the world makes him more angry, frustrated and depressed. He experiences moments of great pride and accomplishment behind that bass and moments that make him feel worthless. There's a fine line between love and hate, and his feelings for that instrument balance on it tenuously.

Hmmmm - now that I think about it, that DOES sound a lot like life...

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Good thoughts.
I guess I would say reading is life, now I have many other passions, but reading is something I do every single day, it might be a book, a blog, a newspaper etc, but I always read. I love to read.
Just so you know, food runs a close second!

dkWells said...

I believe anything creative is life...life giving...life changing. Folding laundry is like Zen, and zen is life too. Perhaps you should start a new T-Shirt line, that says "Part of Life". Music is Part of Life, Football is Part of Life....I think that is more accurate.

Sir Hook Who is Part of Life Everyday of Warrick

Macey said...

I would like "Family is Life." Right?
But if not, I'd take a "Food is Life" one. :)

JennyMac said...

Oh, I would have a maxim that "laughter/friends/family/travel/thinking/feeling/loving/great books/a beautiful son/(and wine) is life. LOL. Thats not going on a bumper sticker anytime soon. LOL.

Mama-Face said...

I often long for the days when I had a real passion for something. I guess that I will always have a passion for my family and that is really what matters when it comes down to it.

ha. Had to laugh about the laundry-I always have such profound thoughts while folding laundry or vacuuming. Not that I get them down in writing though.

Unknown said...

Could chocolate be life????

Carma Sez said...

I had to re-read this because I thought you were talking about bass fishing and the instrument being the reel. I srsly need to get more sleep.

Cheryl said...

Oh crap. I had to go reread this too because I thought the same thing as Carma did. My excuse is less noble. NASCAR and my life. The most common bass in both is edible not musical.

Everything is Life.
Life is Everything.

BONNIE K said...

I'm the third one to wonder if it was a fish bass or an instrument bass. I can't think of any one word I could say is life. It's the whole pile together.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

The REAL t-shirt says "Baseball is life." The others are just cheap imitations. Okay, just kidding. Blogging is kinda like life, too. And gardening. Work is definitely NOT life.

Katie Lane said...

The only thing I would say 'is life' is my religion. Would that count? Stopping by to say hi, hope you are doing well!

Gibby said...

How about a Joan Jett t-shirt?? Kidding, I just read your comment on Tiffany's blog about The Runaways and your daughters. I have been laughing for the last 20 mins. Hilarious!

Traci said...

There was a time when my shirt would have said Theatre is Life but now I am not sure what it would say. I think I'm still working on that. Still finding my Big passion. Good question. As per usual, you've got me thinking.
:-)
Traci

Anonymous said...

These days, Facebook feels like life for me. How pathetic am I? I really need to get hired.

I agree though, your hub's outlook on bass is definitely a great analogy for life in general.

Amy DM said...

I think "Food is Life" can be the only true T-shirt. It's true on a variety of levels.

Great post!

Anonymous said...

I think mine would say "Family is Life" too....

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

I always think of Steve Martin in the Jerk, "All I need is this chair..." and by the end he's got a whole trailer full of crap he can't live without. I can't get my life simplified to just one thing. My daughter's t-shirt reads "All you need is dance". I immediately think "and food, water, oxygen...." My brain is just to active for simple slogans!

gayle said...

I don't know the answer to that for me!!!

MaryRC said...

creativity is life..