Today has been my birthday. I am 40. It’s the first age ive considered being. I like it oddly enough. I like it a lot. I asked my son Oliver what it felt like to him for me to be 40. He said, “it feels old”. That’s about right from his perspective, I remember thinking that myself of the age. However, I feel truly like life is only beginning. I am excited about it. It’s all possible. All the best things.
Today I received the best gift from 4 of my favourite people on Planet Earth. 3 of those people are my family, Laura , Oliver and Arthur. The other person is my dear friend Rian. I’m rarely enthusiastic about my birthday. I just don’t mind, so I wasn’t expecting to feel anything extra special today. It was absolutely amazing to be surprised. I had new feelings. Over and over. I must share this while it’s still present enough because it’s good feelsies.
Jace and The Wheeled Warriors is a cartoon I watched when I was 5 or 6. The main character is looking for his dad across the galaxy, and must fight weird aliens that are half plant/half car. The theme tune is incredible. The experience that I have with this song goes deep and links into core memories. Its like a little key that unlocks the door into a few different places. A mix of abstract loneliness and hope. It’s like a little journey back to the core. But then also it’s just lots of fun and great feels and air guitar and air drums and joy.
As an adult I often blast out the theme tune four or five times on a weekend morning. I’m pretty sure the family love it too. At the very least they know I love it. They like that I love it…… and thats the best bit there. I just realised as I wrote that, that THAT is the best bit. They know I love it, and thats why this present is the best present ever.
This morning when I woke up, my family played me a song on the phone, it became clear very quickly what the tune was. A huge smile on my face, pure joy, knowing something great was happening. It became clear I was listening to my family sing Jace and The Wheeled Warriors along to an incredible backing track. Some incredible new version that I loved that I couldn’t even begin to imagine where it came from or how it was happening. It was all so epic. I didn’t know what to think so I just really enjoyed it in the moment and then asked questions after. I danced and smiled and had tears of joy and hayfever running down my face. They were all so excited. It was such a moment. How has this happened? Did Oliver figure out how to use the studio or something?
No, sure they only went down to Rians studio to sing along to a completely original and amazing new version he had crafted; no doubt in a number of enjoyable hours. This is extra good because I know Rian enjoyed doing this in many different ways. There are many levels to that appreciation and connection I can tap into. Understanding that on listen two brought the expereince to a whole new level.
There have been many levels over the day as I’d listen to it again and again. I can tune into lots of my favourite parts of these 4 brilliant peoples spirits listening to it. I can see my kids at the mic. I can hear their beautiful thoughtful, creative, loving, souls. Their natural care, and love and creativity that I see and hear when I close my eyes is something to behold. I can hear Lauras excitement and the joy in her giving, and the joy in the doing, I can feel all the laughs and fun. I can see the whole situation and imagine all the different parts and thoughts surrounding it. I can appreciate all the connectors and sparks between everyone. It’s magic. It’s all so pure. Everything is so pure in this expereince. I can laugh and cry and feel hope and love and excitement listening to this. I think I will forever. It is the best gift i’ve ever got. It is also of course perfect timing on so many different levels. It’s a wizard. We are wizards. What a hilarious and beautiful gesture this gift is and this life or at least can be if we choose it to be.
This particular gift is my trophy forever. Thank you Laura. Thank you Oliver. Thank you Arthur. Thank you Rian
Maybe we are all different squiggles on the one over soul. Fingers of the same hand. A big puffy squishy hand. Space hands. hands on hands on hands forever.
How?, how has this become. What else? Whats next?
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