How do you live?

Working in the restaurant business, I run into lots of different people.  It's like people watching at work.  It's extra interesting because our shop is right next to Union Station.  But it has its up and downs.  I love hearing about different types of people.  I remember one guy who was about to catch a train to Las Vegas.  He was getting a sandwich on a Tuesday right before his train.  He told us he would make it to Las Vegas on Friday night.  Whoa!  There are also some bitches.  People who are rude and people who seem to think their demands are normal.  I constantly wonder what makes people happy.  But this is not what I want to talk about.

What I wrote on a note to myself last week is the following: "2 sides. Who am I to tell people how to live and what to enjoy? OR Come on do you really need bacon added on this sandwich? Live!  What's more important? Living well? or just living?"  These are my exact words.  I wrote it down after a lady came in who is clearly overweight and could be so dangerously.  She got her usual Ham, Mushroom, Egg and Swiss sandwich.  As I was finishing the sandwich, she asked me to add bacon to the sandwich.  I love bacon just as much as the next guy but I don't find myself needing to add it to every sandwich I get.  Am I missing out?  Am I the one who is refusing to live?  Or am I the one who is living by avoiding excess?

This is not the only time I have had these sorts of thoughts.  I remember a family of three came in near closing time.  It was a mom, a dad and a daughter, who was not older than 14.  All three looked like a veggie salad could do wonders.  Instead, they all ordered BIGs Meatball, Italian, and Wreck.  Quite possibly the worst three things to order on the menu.  At that time, I couldn't help but ask myself why parents set such poor examples for their children.  The dad even made sure that his daughter wanted a BIG sandwich!  I laughed on the inside but felt seriously conflicted about whether or not to say something.

Once again I am forced to ask myself what is important in life.  Is life about enjoying and living as happily as possible at every individual moment? or is it about knowing that life does not last and that is it the most precious thing we have and that it must be protected at all costs?

I am reminded of our campfire song "Fight Test".  While the song might be about subject material completely unrelated, I am still inspired by the lyrics: "I don't know how a man decides what's right for his own life. It's all a mystery."  In the final analysis, I fall on the side of living with the knowledge that this will not last forever.

My eyes won't enjoy looking at the blue skies, and the blue lakes, and the lovely people forever; and my ears won't hear laughing and music and fast cars and conversation forever; and my hands won't touch the Stanley Cup and guitar pic and grass and the steering wheel and the grip of the golf club or baseball bat forever; and my nose won't smell freshly cut grass and tasty food and red wine and cold beer forever; and my mouth won't get to taste french fries and sushi and ice cream and steak forever.  So let's enjoy what we have while we have it but while always being mindful of the fact that no one has forever.