I love this quote by Stephen Elliott.

He said, Do it for awhile and make enough money then you can do whatever you want. I already do whatever I want, I said. It's just [money].

 What Elliott actually said was [healthcare], but that only makes sense in the larger context of the quote and I think it's effective enough on its own with that tiny bit of tweaking.  The point's the same.  It's really interesting to me how much time most people spend doing something merely for the sake of making money, so that eventually they can hopefully pursue their dreams.  Or at least their favorite leisure activities.  Don't get me wrong, I'm part of the culture of which I speak, and I certainly haven't yet developed sufficient talent/guts/whatever it takes to break the mold.  Instead, I do something I like during the day, and hope for the magical combination of energy + free time to do what I love.  I don't even really need the money.  For me, it's more about living up to other people's expectations of me.  I could quit my job today and live comfortably for two years, but I don't.  Because how would I explain it to anybody?  They'd never believed I'd chosen that life.  Not at my age when I'm just starting out.  But starting what?  My career?  Doing something I know I'll never love as much as writing?  Because I don't think I have the talent to write?  The drive?  The dedication?  I'd rather surreptitiously scribble than proudly pen?

I wrote this today.  My Thursday night got a bit out of control, and when I awoke Friday morning I was instantly and quite painfully reminded that I'm no longer in college.  That my body's older, that it doesn't bounce back quite so quickly or deftly from certain things, such as massive alcohol consumption and a couple short hours of sleep.  Work yesterday was an uncomfortable nauseated daze.  Then, for the 79th time since it started getting airplay, I heard Fun's hit song We Are Young.  My first thought?  No.  We're really not.  Then I started drafting "We're Not Young" in my head.  This morning, I finished it.  It's definitely a bit more on the morbid side than I originally intended.  I meant it to apply to those my age who were starting to realize their post-college physical limitations, but instead it turned into We're Not Young:  The Geriatric Edit.  And of course what makes it to paper is never as good as what lives in your head.

Also.  No disrespect to anybody who needs the money they work for, I just happen not to.  So really, the joke's on me.

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Give me a second I,                                            Give me a second I,
I need to get my story straight                            I need you all to stop and wait
My friends are in the bathroom getting              My friends are in the bathroom stealing

higher than the Empire State                              Mints and ruing what they ate
My lover she’s waiting for me                           My husband he is waiting for me

just across the bar                                               Heating up the car
My seat’s been taken by some sunglasses         My seat's been chilly lately and regardless

asking bout a scar, and                                       I can't see that far, and
I know I gave it to you months ago                   I know my license 'xpired months ago
I know you’re trying to forget                           I know you think that I forget
But between the drinks and subtle things          But between the trifocals and things
The holes in my apologies, you know               That help me so that I can see, you know
I’m trying hard to take it back                           I'm trying hard to get it back
So if by the time the bar closes                         So if everything's not roses
And you feel like falling down                         And your hair is falling out
I’ll carry you home                                           I'll lend you my comb

Tonight                                                              Alright
We are young                                                    We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                             Will someone stoke the hearth fire?
We can burn brighter than the sun                    I am so tired; this night's done

Tonight                                                             Alright
We are young                                                   We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                            Will someone stoke the hearth fire?
We can burn brighter than the sun                    I am so tired; this night's done

Now I know that I’m not                                 Now it's clear that I've got
All that you got                                                Extreme gut rot
I guess that I, I just thought                             I guess that I, I just thought
Maybe we could find new ways to fall apart   Maybe I could eat a hot dog from the minimart
But our friends are back                                  But the pains are back
So let’s raise a glass                                         I've got so much gas
‘Cause I found someone to carry me home     It's a good thing that I ate this at home

Tonight                                                            Alright
We are young                                                  We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                            I feel like my heart's on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun                   I am so tired; get my Tums

Tonight                                                            Alright
We are young                                                  We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                            I feel like my heart's on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun                   I am so tired; get my Tums

Carry me home tonight (Nananana)                Let me get through the night (Nananana)
Just carry me home tonight (Nananana)          I really want one more bite (Nananana)
Carry me home tonight (Nananana)                Though that hotdog made my insides fight (Nananana)
Just carry me home tonight (Nananana)         And my pants are already too tight (Nananana)

The moon is on my side                                  Your pillow's on my side
I have no reason to run                                    These covers weigh a ton
So will someone come and                              So will you get up and

carry me home tonight                                    Help me to the bathroom tonight
The angels never arrived                                 But you never arrived
But I can hear the choir                                   And now I'm laying in mire
So will someone come and                             When will someone please just

carry me home                                                 Throw me a bone

Tonight                                                           Alright
We are young                                                 We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                           The situation's pretty dire
We can burn brighter than the sun                  I am so tired; too much sun

Tonight                                                           Alright
We are young                                                 We're not young
So let’s set the world on fire                           The situation's pretty dire
We can burn brighter than the sun                  I am so tired; too much sun

So if by the time the bar closes                      So if by the time the mall closes
And you feel like falling down                      The elevator's down
I’ll carry you home tonight                            Who'll carry us home tonight?

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