burn burn burn

“and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn burn burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes, “Awww.” -Jack Kerouac On the Road (1957)

That is without a doubt one of my favorite Kerouac quotes. He pins my feelings exactly. Yet, so often we settle for so much less. I’m a mad to live kind of person. Today was a good example of that. I left my cozy burbs in order to venture into the city on a hot, muggy July day. I enjoyed the company of four good ‘ol guys. The kind of guys that are good for inside jokes, a little rough housing, and easy going enough to tolerate my idiosyncrasies. It was a Kerouac kind of day…mingling with the city, her crowds, her dirty lower level streets, and all the cars. We were free from a schedule and any expectations to be anywhere. Take away the cell phones and plasma t.v.s – we could have stepped back in time and been beatniks.

So that juicy quote, can’t leave it as I love it. The most hypnotic and powerful part must be the “burn burn burn” line. You know these people, right? Those driven ones that can’t sit still, look at everything deeply and open their mouths to say something so deep it takes your breath away or so funny that you end up ROTFLOL – (guilty pleasure using that, sorry).

I feel like we should all find a “mad one” and thank them for all the energy they bring to our lives. How wonderful is that bi-polar friend? What about that friend that is all about just one thing, tapping into their passion and oozing it in their sweat? Our memories of otherwise bland moments are transformed into fantastic, enduring stories for us to enjoy over and over again for the rest of our lives because they stepped into the picture lighting it up with their personality fireworks. On the Road is a wonderful story in and of Sal’s adventures on their own. But add Dean Morriaty to the mix and holy crap does the story produce that “Awww” factor. Dean was that “mad one” in every definition and we should all be so lucky to have a Dean.

I have mine.

My Dean is my best friend. A crazy, smaller framed nut-job who relishes his Italian heritage and blames it for all his best and worst personality traits. He blurts out “theories” on everything from cultural truths to psychological proofs. The antics range from innocent pranks to potentially dangerous stunts. He recognizes “the line” and tap dances right over it again and again. He challenges me on anything he judges to be a boring or a too complacent aspect of my life. He is loyal to a fault. His loyalty is as intense as his insanity, rage, and competitive nature. He is truly mad to live.

He was not with me on my Kerouacian adventure today. He was home with his new baby. Thus, I sought out the opportunity to baptize the newbies into the realm of “cool.” It was fun and educational. How often do you really cut loose and lay out one truth after another having fun playing pool while also sharing an honest moment of confessional conversation which you would have never thought would sneak out of your cerebellum’s P.C. vault? Those are the connections we need. We need to embrace our madnesses and seek out, welcome, and create a place for our friends’ madnesses to escape to as well. What is good food without the added spices?

This is short as I am wiped out. Returning from the city, I am certainly aware of all my comforts at home. The quiet. The order. The space. Our life is all about achieving a balance, so no wonder I am feeling grateful and more balanced after a long day of burn burn burning!

~ by the10sdoc on July 3, 2008.