Today I was teaching a class about Bob Dylan. I have a whole class devoted to the man. Don't really know why. Love his music, not a fan of the person though. However I thought that after I had gotten the nice scrapbook, DVD, and the CD from the recent "No Direction Home" marketting blitz I would have enough material to run a simple class for a few months.
Well it has worked pretty well for the past few weeks and it shows few signs of slowing...however my point was to tell you all what this mornings revelation was.
Here it is: some of you know the story of Bob Dylan as well as I do, but the thing that hit me this morning was the actual desire (emotion not album) that the man had at the age of 19.
Bob Dylan was from a small town outside of Duluth, Minnesota. After graduating from High School he went to North Dakota for a bit and then off to Minneapolis for college. There he found Woody Gutherie and eventually got the notion to take off to New York city. Not even 20 he left during a blizzard and hitchhicked to New York. Thus launching his musical career.
After teaching this little bit for about twenty minutes I began to ask the students what their passions were...one had another student translate "he wants to be a translator." Another wants to open a traditional Bed and Breakfast.
As we went around the room I kept thinking, "what's my passion?" I've picked up everything, sacrificed a great deal, and still I haven't gained a whole lot. Bob Dylan went to New York in December of 1960 and was playing Carnegie by November of 1961.
Sacrificing personal things and relationships isn't that trying to me. It's just the reason for the sacrifice that I don't understand. Theoretical benefits is all I know and even now, as my time over here comes to an end, I'm starting to tally them all up in an effort to rationalize my time...and lack of growth.
"To not live an ordinary life" is the only passion I can remember having. This is all I desire and all that I crave. However I have been left with the feeling that just about everything and everywhere is ordinary once you get there.
4 comments:
Danny, you're a disgrace to Depression. I love that line in "As Good as it Gets". Seriously, Danny, you have gained so much more in my eyes than Bob Dylan could ever have dreamed. You have a kick-ass girlfriend. You got to see my drunk ass in Japan. You got to play rugby, and you are in the best shape I have ever seen you in. You sing a whole hell of a lot better than Bob Dylan. The strength of character you have gained by being able to live on nothing and still survive is the greatest tool you will ever have. Danny, your prizes are so much greater that even I can see them. Cheer up, me love you long time when you get back.
"To not live an ordinary life" is the only passion I can remember having." I can honestly say you have never lived an ordinary life.
one man's ordinary is another's extraordinary dano. but i understand where you're coming from and i'm not going to tell you how proud i am of your courage and your gumption and your talent and abilities... because i don't think that that's what you're really questioning. seems to me that you're just having a day (week/month/seemingly lifetime) and all i can do to help at all is to tell you i love you, i support you, and i'll pray for you. i'll also say that you can (and most often do) make extraordinary moments out of the mundane. to get a little halmark on you: a sunset, a bird, a flower, a smile, a street light... all are extraordinary if you're looking at them right. YOU're extraordinary and you're going to get through these decisions and be glad for this turmoil in the end. love you!
Ha Ha! I knew you were gonna stay. That whole thing about, "boo hoo! My life is so boring...my humongous testicles hurt," b.s. was all just a huge hissy over whether or not you should stay. HA! Next time you bring your little depressed shit on here I'm getting in my car, driving it on a plane, flying over to Japan, and whooping your big ass all over the pitch. I love you Danny. Good to hear that you and Noriko still have a chance to have some of the largest children ever born in Jaypan.
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