Today, or was it yesterday

Today I went swimming again. It is my summer resolution. So far I have done a pretty good job of it. It’s nice to float in the cool water at Barton Springs and to lay on a towel in the sun while people watching. I’m planning on going tomorrow too.

After that I went to see the new Danny Boyle zombie movie, 28 Days Later. It’s about an infectious disease appropriately called ‘Rage’ that turns people into blood vomiting zombies. If any blood or saliva gets into your body you have about 20 seconds until your a goner. I don’t think I could handle having to be one of the last people around on top of having to fight infected zombie people. I often wonder if I would be able to survive something like that or if I would just freak out and run off into the hills until some zombie finds me in a fetal position hiding under something. Not that I would welcome any opportunity for such an experience, it’s just that you often wonder if you are really made of sterner stuff.

One really positive thing about the movie (and damn the reviewer that made me think of this because I can’t claim it solely as my own idea) was the message of how important family is. The interdependence of human beings and how wonderful it is to have someone outside yourself to relate to. Not just that, but when you’re alone in the world and everyone you know has become zombiefied you really appreciate how important other people are. After the move (which thankfully ended happy and hopeful in its own way) I wanted to find someone to hug tightly and thank them for being with and around me as a fellow person.

Once when describing my fear of death to a friend, I was given the insight that a fear of death is often a fear of being alone. I think there is something to that. If I imagine death as a solitary experience it does seem very frightening. But, if I think of it as a thing I share with all other human beings and as an experience within the context of my life and relationships it doesn’t seem so frightening.

3 comments

  1. The last insight was rather Donnie Darko, in a way. Both you and my sister agreed that 28 Days was really good–perhaps I should go see it after all. I have to see the Cremaster Cycle first though. Would you like to go this Thursday?

  2. Sweet, I didn’t even know the Cremaster Cycle was coming to Austin!

  3. i don’t even know how i got to this site, but i totally hear you. I’ve known for way too long that i’m afraid of being lonely, spiders,clowns, and thats all. And i can deal with the spiders and even clowns if im not lonely. word.

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