Total Eclipse

This Sunday I say so long, farewell, and goodbye to my twenties.
We started out on the wrong foot, my twenties and I. I was a soldier; Not quite a man, but no longer a child, with responsibilities of the highest degree, I gave it my all. I got to do things I could only dream about when I was a kid, but despite being highly regarded by my superiors (first time, I think, I really accomplished anything really worthy of praise), I think by the end of it, dedication took its toll.

Repressed into regression, by the time I was released (and maybe a bit before, if I am completely frank), I was like a teenager again; free rein and reckless, happy-go-lucky, with a nougat-y core of mischief. The club years were some good years. I regret nothing. Good people, good music, good times. I look back at them fondly, though I feel like I’m past it now. Probably have been for a while. But it’s okay; We all have our time, and I’ve certainly had mine.

I got to travel coast to coast in North America, which is an experience I will continue to cherish for a long time.

I left home to live on my own (with a little help from some friends), in my own world, under my own terms in Tel-Aviv, the city that never sleeps. I got to live pretty much free of discomfort. I studied philosophy and psychology, my first choices, and they both, in their own way, inspired me and opened my mind to new thoughts and ideas. I feel what training the military gave my mind was only refined further and strengthened in academia. And the best part is, I still have curiosity about the world and a desire to learn more, which sadly, is not always the outcome of education.
I got to work at a comic book store. Hell yeah. The first employee of the first comic book store in Israel, and it was an amazing experience from beginning to end. I got to meet some wonderful people, and to work in my favorite medium, even if only as a retailer. I think that’s more than most get to do, and there’s nearly no better way to pass your time than share with others the things you love. Much like certain aspects of my military service, it was sort of like a dream come true.

Following school and some despair over continuing my education, I got a job at a web startup. A quintessentially Israeli experience, one that I had postponed for myself for far too long. Again, I got to work with some incredibly talented, fun, and smart people, doing some amazing work and ultimately bringing the startup to the exit-line, a few months ago. Though my role in the sale of the company was small, I do feel some degree of pride, which is occasionally a good thing, no matter what people say. The little startup sent me to live in New York, the first non-executive they relocated. I’ve wanted the New York experience for myself for years, and I’m happy I got to do it in my twenties.
Again, I met here some wonderful people, and besides that whole New York City extravaganza, with its sights and sounds, music, shows (d’you like comedy?), and architecture – I also got to co-habit with one of my favourite people in the world. Romantic relationships were never a strong point of mine, but so far, so good ..! This is all new to me and it’s quite marvelous.

I don’t really want to write a summary paragraph.. As if by summarizing my twenties, I somehow close the book on them. Truthfully, I haven’t really been paying attention to my age for some time now. I just started noticing how my friends have gotten married. Some even have kids. But when I think of myself, it’s hard for me to imagine I’ll be on the other side of 20.
William Shakespeare says the age of man that follows “soldier” is “justice”: “In fair round belly with good capon lin’d, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances;”. Sounds about right.

I can only hope the next decade holds as much wonder and grace as this past one. If so, I’m in for a treat !

Tagged as cruising down amnesia lane, getting fucking old, nostalgia, Shakespeare, Shay Brog, thirty, twenties, שי ברוג + Categorized as Meta/Personal