Courtesy of The Far Side

I was extremely distraught when I was fifteen.  Gary Larson announced that he would no longer be making the Farside.  How could the greatest cartoonist ever just decide he’s done?  Shouldn’t we be able to vote on a decision this important?

After that, I never read the comics as religiously.  I felt like I had been betrayed — tricked into loving something was destined to break my heart.

But ever since I started writing, I understand where he is coming from.  There is a real humility in admitting you’ve taken something as far as you can without jeopardizing its quality.  I admire him for bowing out at the peak of his popularity instead of trying to cling desperately to any sort of cultural relevance.  I try to remember that modesty while I’m writing.

This memory came back to me recently after watching an episode from the Farewell Season of The Office.  I realized I no longer care about the plots.  Everything I wanted to see has happened.  I have gotten to know the characters as much as I wanted to.  The new plot lines feel like they’re stretching reality so everyone can have one more paycheck.

Thank you, Mr. Larson, for never putting me through that.

Courtesy kimberlynelsonphotography.com

I was always a fan of the Corinthians “love” verse at weddings.  In fact, I even read it as a teen at my cousin’s wedding (and got asked afterwards if I was considering the ministry).

But since becoming a father, it doesn’t sit as well with me:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I think being a child or a man is a false choice.  You don’t have to be one or the other.  The best path is the middle ground (a man child? :)

Kids are jubilant and energetic.  They don’t worry about making their bed when they get up because they’re too excited about pirates or rocket ships.  As an adult, I don’t want to put those dreams of stars behind me.  I think ideally we should day dream about the cosmos while we throw the comforter over the bed.

I started putting away my adult ways of thinking when I took improv classes at Comedy Sportz.  It was such a relief to leave my day job of meetings and long term plans to think of rhymes for noggin’ or soap.  Through improv, I have realized that bringing comedy, a childish heart and passion to my job not only makes work more productive, but it helps comradery and creative problem solving.  (After figuring out how to capture a jello monster with a fishing net on stage, planning for a difficult software release is a piece of cake!)

Writing kids books has also been a connection to the carefree world of children.  Kids don’t want to read about brushing teeth or putting dishes away… not when there are princesses, trolls and dragons in the world.

So I ask you to reconsider the idea of choosing a childish or adult life.  Remember back to your dreams as kid?  Back when there would never be anything cooler than dinosaurs.  Then figure out how to bring that glee into your daily life.