Forever Paisley

It’s 12.20.2012. Some believe that tomorrow is the end of the world, as we know it. An apocalypse is on the horizon. Doomsdayers are stocking up on water, food and toilet paper. Many fear the loss of themselves, as well as the ones they love.

Fortunately for me, I don’t believe that my life, the human race or planet Earth will spontaneously combust when the clock strikes midnight. I plan to go to bed peacefully. I’ll rise early and head to The Yoga Mat for a Vinyasa infused morning. I will return home, eat avocado toast and listen to my “grassy” playlist on Spotify. I will shower. I will brush my teeth. I will go to work. After eight hours at the office I’ll unwind with a bottle of wine and a blank canvas. I will paint. I will dance. I might get tipsy. If you ask me, tomorrow will be … just another day.

From there, my future awaits me. I have decades to experience, continents to travel, people to love and time to understand. With all of this talk about the end, I feel fortunate. Fortunate to have escaped the wrath of fear. Fortunate to be looking forward. Fortunate to have the opportunity to live on.

Even in my state of forward thinking, with murmurs of the end swarming around us, it’s hard not to give a pause. Step back. Ponder. What if tomorrow really was, the end? My imaginative mind has taken me there more than once over the course of the year. I have no doubt that yours has too. If the end of the world was upon us what would tomorrow look like? Would I …

• Abstain from expressing the thoughts and feelings stirring through my head?
• Concern myself with the way I look, the cleanliness of my home and the stack of mail on my table?
• Spend eight hours of my day trying to develop a solid Q1 marketing plan?
• Tell the tatted barista to hold the cheese on my hummus sandwich?

Hell. No. Screw work, pass the cheese and throw those strategically placed pillows on the floor. Oh, and did I mention … I love you? If tomorrow really were the end of the world, there would be no holding back. Game on. Given my current location and resources, I’d imagine it would go a bit like this …

• 6:00AM – Wake up, pass on reading the Economist, nothing is newsworthy today. Set my intention for the day while watching select clips from Pulp Fiction, The Big Chill and Harold & Maude.
• 6:30AM – A little water, a little OJ and yoga class prep. I’ll keep the pants and sports bra, but pass on the tank top. Today, I want to feel free.
• 7:00AM –Yoga for breath and challenges. Crow pose? Sure, why not?
• 8:00AM – Return home, dig that hot black dress out of the closet and slip it on. Who cares that it’s 8AM on a Thursday. My end of the world story does not include a dress code. And, showering? What a waste of time.
• 9:00AM – Brunch. I’ll take the benedict with extra hollandaise please. With the end of the world on the horizon, my intolerance to dairy is no longer significant. I should also mention that I’ve offered to fly in some of my favorite people for this part of the day … we’ll see who shows up.
• 11:00AM – Quick change and off to the dance studio. One more opportunity to sweat it out at the barre, work towards perfect alignment and express myself in front of full length mirrors. I’m going to miss these moments. Actually, nevermind I won’t … the world is ending.
• 12:30PM – To the mountains, exact location unknown but it’s high, it’s beautiful and the air is fresh.
• 2:00PM – Summit. Breathe.
• 4:00PM – Hop a plane. I know, I know … I opted out of showering to save time, and am now choosing to spend hours on a jet plane? It was a tough decision, but after much thought I’ve decided that there is only one place that I want to be when the world ends. The UP.
• 5:30PM – Hiring a masseuse to join me on the plane was an excellent idea. Now if only the flight attended could grasp the concept of a stiff drink. First class isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
• 7:00PM – Arrive in Marquette. Stop at Togo’s, Rice Paddy, Border Grill, Portside, Black Rocks and Ore Docks for all of the components that make up my ideal end of the world feast.
• 7:30PM – Wetmore’s where friends and family have gathered for the last Yooper beach party. There is plenty of fire and whiskey to keep us warm as we reflect on the amazing life we have all experienced together. (Ang, just so you know … I flew you in hours ago. Hopefully this fits into your end of the world plan.)
• 9:30PM – While I am not typically considered a recreational drug user at this point in the evening I would definitely be looking to secure some form of psychedelics. If the world is ending, I expect one remarkable show. Why not kick it up a notch? I think I know a few people at the beach party who can provide such goods.
• 9:45PM – Quick stop at the wishing tree, “may my end of the world of experience be a memorable one”. Ironic.
• 10:30PM – Arrive at the top of Hogback. Take some time to appreciate the sounds of Lake Superior, reflect on the places I’ve been, the people I’ve loved, challenges overcome and the experiences I’ve been blessed with. Reach contentment.
• 11:00PM – Ingest previously mentioned psychedelics and prepare for the world to do what it must … end
• 12:00AM – It’s over. No need to hike down Hogback in the dark (though it wouldn’t be the first time). Thank you world. Thank you life.

There you have it my end of the world agenda. Sarcasm aside, while December 21, 2012 may end up being just another day, it certainly will not be insignificant. Threats of the end surround us. Our minds are wandering. We are questioning ourselves. We are questioning others. Through all of this, December 21, 2012 presents us with a unique opportunity. Take a deep breath and reflect. Look back. Look forward. Identify what’s working. Change what isn’t. Ask yourself, would tomorrow be a perfect day to die? In considering the possibilities December 21, 2012 presents us with an opportunity to define, not the end, but the beginning.

Day 10,290. Looking forward.

Cherrettie