WRESTLING WITH DEMONS

When I was younger I used to think there was something cool about living fast and dying young. For myself personally this view was probably influenced less by the premature deaths of Hendrix, James Dean or Marilyn and more by that immortal line from the movie Highlander when Kurgan screams "I got something to say, it's better to burn out then to fade away". I know that the line is really from a song, but I honestly believe Kurt Cobain was referencing Highlander as much as he was Neil Young in his suicide note.

The older I get the more I come to realize that my best years are still ahead of me. I honestly can't wait for my 40's. After all, my 30's were exponentially better then my 20's, which were exponentially better then being a teenager. This view is reinforced on a daily basis in the world all around me. Just a few years ago critics claimed Mickey Rourke's career was over, and last night he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama for his role in the critically acclaimed film The Wrestler.

The same goes for Bruce Springsteen. I can honestly admit I was never a fan of his earlier work but I became a fan after hearing his 2006 release We Shall Overcome. His latest release, Working on a Dream, is nothing less then a masterpiece, and his title track for The Wrestler also won him a Golden Globe last night for best original song.

Clint Eastwood just keeps getting better with age. When he directed 1992's Unforgiven it was widely acclaimed as the best western ever made. He followed that up with instant classics like Million Dollar Baby and Letters from Iwo Jima and everybody thought he would never be able to do anything better. Then he goes off and presents us with the awesomeness that is Gran Torino.

So I will end this post with a favourite quote of mine from the liner notes from the 1993 release of a classic, and mostly forgotten, Toronto band known as Dinner Is Ruined.

"Old is good, old is wise

fuck youth culture lies"

The quote, which I can't completely remember right now went on to tell you to turn off your computer and go outside, take your bike for a ride, kiss someone you love, and enjoy the sunshine (or something along those lines... pretty good advice regardless of your age).