Last Bite Sensation
My wife and I often refer to our last bite sensation when enjoying a really good meal. We like to end those meals on a high, so we sequence our remainding morsels to ensure we end on a better bite. We savor the taste with the knowledge of knowing it's the last one.
There are only two Northern White Rhinoceros remaining in the world and they are both female. Someday, the last one of them will take her last breath.
The stoics have a practice of acting as if they are doing something for the last time.
"Let each thing you would do, say or intend be like that of a dying person." — Marcus Aurelius
This reminder that everything we do, will indeed have a last time I do them. In fact, many things I've done over my life, I've already done for the last time. Reminding myself of this notion causes me to slow down, be in the moment, and savor the experience, much like a last bite sensation.
I Got the Line Wrong, Again
I love movies, and I'm impressed by people who remember movie quotes. Some do a great job acting them out. Some can hear someone else give a quote and name the movie and scene it came from.
I don't have either gift. I bumble quotes and have to actively work to memorize them if I want to get them right. And even then, the accuracy of my memory is short lived.
For years, I quoted a few lines from Get Shorty. I often call people Yayo after the young man sent to exchange drugs for money. When people ask me what I'm going to say, I respond, "I'm not going to say anymore than I have to, if that." And when someone brings up a crazy idea I want to dismiss, I say, "I don't know about that. That just got added."
The other night, I introduced my daughter to the movie and rewatched it for the first time in years. I've been saying that last line wrong. It happens when Chili and Harry are at Karen's kitchen table, and Chili is explaining his idea for a movie.
Chili says his main character comes to L.A. and Harry excitedly interrupts him with,
It drives the guy nuts, he's winning but can't tell anybody who he is. You show in a back story his motivation, his desire to be famous, you know, pal around with celebrities, the headliners doing the big rooms. Now he's got the dough to buy his way in, mix with celebs and he can't resist...
Harry then turns back to Chili.
HARRY So he comes to L.A...
CHILI I don't know about his wanting to meet celebrities, that's something new. But, yeah, he comes to L.A. Then after that, I don't know what happens.
The original line is better than my version. We'll see how long I can remember it correctly. Memory drift is a version of the game of telephone where one person whispers a pharse to the next and passes it down the line. The ending phrase is a different product than the beginning phrase.
When do we fight to prevent drift from our core origins? How do we do that? And when do we embrace drift as "adjusting to new circumstances"?
Here are a few common misquoted movie lines:
Wizard of Oz
- Misquote: “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
- Actual Quote: "Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Field of Dreams
- Misquote: “If you build it, they will come.”
- Actual Quote: “If you build it, he will come.”
Dirty Harry
- Misquote: “Do ya feel lucky, punk?”
- Actual Quote: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”
The Empire Strikes Back
- Misquote: “Luke, I am your father.”
- Actual Quote: “No, I am your father.”
SCOTT OUTRUNS Todd in December
Scott has run over 2,000 miles four years in a row. In December, he destroyed me and crushed his previous monthly mileage record with 304 miles. In 2019, he was my toughest target for my year of pettiness where I compared my mileage to someone who ran less than me. It was his awareness that I was chasing him, and his constant one step ahead of me, literally, that inspired the outrun challenge.
Scott planned out a taco-earning month that he executed with steady determination. He kicked off the month with an amazing 10 miles a day for 10 days!
On December 19 at Winter Shoustice, he completed 141 laps which is one more than what he did last year and over 38 miles. He dug deep when hip pain showed up for miles 16-30. He completed that last lap with less than a minute before the official sunset.
On the last four days of the month, he ran 45 miles, 37 of those around Mackin Park. On December 29, he powered out a half marathon in freezing rain, sleet, and snow. He came home caked in ice.
Scott was the champion of both distance and duration for running during this year's Holiday Streakers, a challenge that runs from Thanksgiving through New Years Day. He logged 343 miles and over 57 hours of running. The next closest in distance was 220 miles.
Scott is one of the most consistent runners I know. He's so impressive. He works problems as they arise, and has a desire to keep moving forward. He's kind, witty, positive, and a tremendous running partner. I'm thrilled to see him have such a dominate finisher to 2020.
