Perplexed Immortals

I wish I could live for a thousand years...at least.

As my number of years residing on this planet increase, so does my curiosity. Things come. Things go. And some things, like the 80's, keep getting recycled.

I could do without the 80's repeats, but so many other aspects of human existence are endlessly fascinating. It seems remarkably unfair to me we are allowed only 80 or so years, if we're lucky, to observe this phenomenon called human life. Subtract twenty or twenty-five years off that number so we can mature to the point where we even bother to look at the rest of the world. Barring any unforeseen disease or lightening strikes, we're left with a mere 55 to 60 years to observe and try to take in a vastly unique and colorful tapestry which is millennia in the making.

There is a character in Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series whos task in life is to weave the cloth of human existence. It is never ending and ever changing. Some threads shine brighter than others, some only have the time to weave themselves an inch or two into the cloth before their role ends. Still, regardless of length or color, each thread undoubtedly contributes to the whole, giving it structure, giving it character.

Humans, in some form or another, have been on this earth for millions of years. Civilization for thousands. Yet somehow, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, we as a species seem to forget this. We plan for the immediate moment, not for the moments to come. Yet somehow, some way, we manage to keep moving forward. Oftentimes in strange and scary ways, yet nonetheless fascinating.

I wish I could have the time to see what is to come. I want to see us mature and pull ourselves back from the brink. I want to see us refocus, to reach out to the stars and out to each other. I want to see what strange theory or invention the next free thinker of the day pulls out of their proverbial hat.

I would like to say that if we can't do that, if we cannot endure then I would like to be there to bear witness to our end. But I honestly can't. The earth will go on without us. The thought is both comforting and intensely frightening.

Give me a thousand years. Let me observe and take note of our crazed, diabolical, ingenious, and hopeful species.

And after a thousand years...I will ask for another thousand.