Monday, February 19, 2007

Do any human beings ever realize life ...

... while they live it? — every, every minute?
- Emily (Thornton Wilder)

I went to see Our Town yesterday. Now there's a poignant tear-jerker!
I'd never seen, nor even read, this play before.

I'm sure that if I would have seen it when I was younger, it would have gone right over my head. However, now being closer to death than birth, I guess it's just too real not to be sad.

Why do we, as humans, waste great opportunities at every moment?

12 comments:

TWISI said...

Poignant thought. I need to revisit that play, I haven't seen it in years and like you said I am sure most of it went over my head.

Anonymous said...

One of our local universities is also putting that play on now.

We do seem to excel at wasting life!

Joe Jubinville said...

"Life it what happens while we're making other plans."

John Lennon

Red Seven said...

It's an utterly fantastic piece of theatre, usually ruined by high schools and struggling theatre companies who are attracted to it because it requires no set and is therefore cheap to produce.

But, when handled by a gifted cast and a competent director, it's pure magic, isn't it?

Bugs said...

Saw the old 1940 movie years ago and loved it.Living life like today is IT :)

Matt said...

INCREDIBLE play. I haven't seen it since high school (!) but I still remember it being very poignant. I need to re-read it or see it (live if possible), too.

I think even when we start realizing our own mortality, we refuse to accept it unless actually faced with it. Good reminder, though, to fight that instinct.

Grahamburger said...

I've seen Our Town seven times and enjoyed it once. It takes an incredible amount of skill to do that show well...I assume you saw a good production.

I think it's in human nature to take things for granted, honestly. I know I do, and I think if I took the time to appreciate all the things I should be appreciating and am not I wouldn't have time to do anything else!

Gill said...

Okay, I am reading a book that addresses this very subject.
The Voice of Knowledge...by Don Miguel Ruiz. He wrote the Four Agreements.
Basically, you have to learn to trust emotion, the most basic of human instincts. Even when heart and head tell us otherwise. You may enjoy that book. It is helping me to "live" now!
xo

Spider said...

Because we always think that an ever BETTER one is coming right around the corner...

Doug said...

I think it's fear that makes us miss opportunities. Fear keeps us in our ruts, keeps us focused on what we know, keeps us from looking up and noticing our surroundings.

Preeti Shenoy said...

Havent heard of the play or seen it,but can relate to what you said.Had mentioned something similar in two of my posts(kite runner and tyler durden)We realise how precious each moment is, only when we are confronted with our mortality.

john said...

I remember sort of seeing it when I was younger. But you are right, I didn't understand it back then. It just seemed like a boring play about a small town.