Living la Vida Loca?

Yesterday, while I was having lunch with two coworkers, one of them said something about how I should write a piece about my crazy life for one of the local publications. "My crazy life?" I replied, a little perplexed. She clarified by reminding me that I'd just been talking about having attended and reviewed three concerts in as many days, all of which occurred on weeknights. I was truly surprised that someone would classify that as crazy. Crazy connotes padded rooms and men in white coats. Having a jam-packed schedule? That's irrefutable evidence that my life is good.

I've lived like this since moving to Portland six years ago, so it's nothing new to me. It started with roller derby. I had a normal 8-5 job, and punctuated it with two hour practice sessions three days a week. Sunday endurance practice, Wednesday scrimmage, and Thursday team. Add to that team meetings, parties, and monthly bouts at the Expo Center. On top of all this, I spent half of 2008 planning a wedding that took place the weekend after the league championships. I am well acquainted with busy.

It all reminds me of a line from The Good Girl. The monologue shown below is about having an affair, not being over-scheduled, but its message rings true all the same. I've found the following words particularly inspiring over the years:

After living in the dark for so long, a glimpse of the light can make you giddy. Strange thoughts come into your head and you better think 'em. Has a special fate been calling you and you not listening? Is there a secret message right in front of you and you're not reading it? Is this your last, best chance? Are you gonna take it? Or are you going to the grave with unlived lives in your veins?

Today, my wrists are stained from days of door stamps granting me ticketless access to concerts and proving that I am of legal age. I haven't seen Bobby for more than 10 minutes since Sunday. Dishes are piled sky high in my kitchen, and the cats keep looking at me with sad eyes as I toss food in front of them and race back out the door.

Reviews of The Joy Formidable and Francis and the Lights are linked. Ani DiFranco should be up by tomorrow. I'm off-duty from shows until midway through next week, and then I have an empty two week period before I dive full-force into May's frantic concert schedule (with a pause in the middle for my high school reunion). This is the life I've built, and I wouldn't - couldn't - live it any other way. I refuse to be small, and there will never be unlived lives in these veins as long as there is blood in them.