Madison, Conn., early 1970s, while I was in medical school
Time is said to move faster as we age. At least our perception of it. People who study such things relate this to a diminishing pool of new experiences and things to learn in life. In our youth, such activities fully engage our consciousness and slow our internal clock, so time seems to march slower. I guess the implication of that is that our lives become more homogeneous–dare I say boring–as we get older. That’s what the psychologists say.
I cannot be happier than to say that I feel I’m the exception to the rule. I have experienced and learned more in the past decade than at any other time in my life. And these have been the important things–things that have nourished my soul and taught me about wonder and beauty and friendships and love. As it should be, most of these lessons have been gloriously enlightening, but also some painful beyond measure. Regardless, I’ve come to see each as an important part of the true quest: a full life is not one that simply seeks experiences, or even knowledge, but one that seeks understanding, and that comes in all flavors.
In these pages, I’d like to share my journey with you. As these things go, more emphasis will be found on my recent life, not because of failed memory of distant happenings, but because of a preponderance of meaningful content that exists closer to the present. As intermediaries, I’ve chosen the two modalities with which I have the most comfort–the written word and the still photograph, which I have woven into what I hope to be a reasonably presentable tapestry depicting a life. But like all tapestries, this one has a smooth presentation side and a rough knotted side. While the latter cannot be dismissed, the truest representation overwhelmingly emphasizes the former. I have lived a wonderful life.
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