| Due to Popular Demand, We Will Forgo the National Anthem Being of Italian descent, and spending a fair amount of time with my grandmother, "la dolce vita" means many things to me, most notably "the sweet life." Direct transla-tions aside (mostly because it doesn't exactly fit), defining "the good life" could be an arduous and rather unpleasing task, especially when one has to write about it. I suppose that some people look forward to a bright future, others nostalgically reminisce about the past, but I do my best to live for today, and I try to define "the good life" in that context. I would be quite happy if I could spend my days in the company of my friends, carefree, comfortably wealthy, and without children (spouse optional). Of course, it doesn't work that way for an 18-year-old college student attending the sixth most expensive university in the country solely on financial aid and student loans. So far, I've only achieved one of those goals, the lack of children, though that's technically the lack of achievement. How depressing. One thing I am pleased with is my apparent want of certain emotions and feelings. Apathy, like ignorance, is truly blissful, for then one is seldom, if ever, let down. [Note: I regularly develop my own aphorisms and coin phrases, only to discover later that similar ideas are quite well-established. To the best of my research capabilities, the preceding statement is a Lucas Heffer original.] Despite the tone I get from proofreading, I am not bitter, nor a sociopath, but I prefer to not become "emotionally attached" to others, though I am sociable and engaging in conversation. Sometimes. Since I have done my best to describe what I perceive "the good life" to be, I think it's only fitting to also mention what it is not. Pop culture very clearly dictates, that once I have the means, I should "bling bling" it, with all the platinum, gold, and dia-monds I can find a spot for, in my car, home, and even teeth, or otherwise fake it. I did cave to this societal stigma somewhat, in that I very proudly cruise around Rochester, NY in a '92 Buick LeSabre. I have not added any ostentatious decoration to this beast as of yet, nor do I intend to, but its simple presence inflates my ego to rap-star status. The fabled "American Dream" does not interest me either. As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to selfishly avoid children, and marriage is too final. A modest home in the suburbs is not nearly as exciting as the urban environment to which I am accustomed, and a white-collar desk job might actually kill me. I have no reasoning for this that I can put words to, but I do detest station wagons and minivans, perhaps that is an underlying factor. So, in summation, "the good life" is essentially that which I lead at any given moment, because I don't have time to have misgivings or forethought. "Sha-la-lalalala live for today…" and so on. The less time I have to analyze what I'm doing, the better I feel about it. Teacher's comments: "You seem to have some very philosophic thoughts & you have definite opinions. That's good - but be sure to back them up w/ support and evidence." |