Ho Hum!

There is a story I have to tell. It involves contacts of daily frequency. Friends, colleagues, associates. People just like you and I, plodding along doing ‘things’ and getting good things accomplished. At least we think so.

How we do things and yet get along with each other is part of the story. Drama is normally not a part of the story although there is plenty of drama; just not the kind that sells tickets in theaters or sells novels and grand author signings. No, these are dramas of everyday life.

What is drama? Besides the definition that is almost exclusively related to literature – poetry, novel plots, story lines, plays – having much to do with life conflicts and emotions, I’m using the term differently. Drama to me is the excitement life offers as it unfolds. Excitement of life and birth, deaths of significant others, completing a college degree or graduating from high school, getting a first job, or gaining a major career promotion…these are the sort of things I’m referring to.

War and peace may be a theme, after all the world is almost always in a state of unrest somewhere, but our young entering military service, their challenges during that service, and yes oftentimes their serious injury or death, or absolutely coming home unscathed. Each offers moments of fear and joy and surprise.

That’s the drama I mean here.

The passage of time in an ordinary life is cause for drama for most of us. Celebrating successive birthdays and entry to different life phases presents excitement. Approaching high school days, going on the first date, heck, just contemplating the first date and what we will do and how we will get to know each other. The entire saga of puberty is unique for each of us. How we come to terms with the sexual mystery in each of us is a story line filled with drama. Angst, the old German meaning of the word, and its pronunciation! Fear and trembling of the unknown but looming. What will it bring to my life? To yours?

Approaching marriage or committed relationship with a significant other is a prime drama for each of us. And first pregnancy, birth of children, raising those kids through thick and thin, good health and bad…those life stories provide much drama. And then those kids go off to lead their own lives through schools, relationships, marriages and births of their own kids – your grand kids! – along with the entire saga of empty nest syndrome, pre retirement planning, actual retirement, first hints of old age and its health challenges.

We each go through these phases of life. They are the stuff life is made of. How we handle it. How we let others into our lives at those times. And how we reciprocate in their lives, too. All part of living in one larger community of life. Experiencing the challenges and joys. Oh so many challenges and obstacles. Oh so few joys. Or is that even true?

I suppose we are observers of others as well. Watching others engaged in their life stories taught us much about our own struggles in turn. When we were most in doubt we watched more closely! Even asked questions of friends and trusted relatives. Remember those times? We were trying to find a comfort zone in which to live normally.

One day we awake to the certain knowledge that others are watching us, too. What kind of role model am I, have I been? Oops! Did they see me in each of my low spots, too? When my role model powers were not so good? Or did they catch me on the good side?

Of course no one knows for sure. Life is there. Sometimes just there. Soft and comfortable. Rough and tumble with sharp edges. Expected and not, life’s moments happen and move us forward to tomorrow.

Like any good story, I wonder how it will turn out?

July 31, 2013