August 17, circa 2010. I was working at the University of São Paulo. I had spent practically all day in front of a computer. Estimating models or some such. Ok, working might be a slight exageration. I might also have been checking a favorite celebrity gossip website. Be it as it may, it was at around seven pm that a friend sent me a birthday message. Until then, I had been completely unaware that it was my birthday. I ended up having pizza with dear friend Ana Maria, and a couple of kids from the graduate program there. Such episodes where I would, if circumstances allowed, completely forget my birthday were not uncommon. This one, almost coincidentally remembered in Brazil, simply illustrates how much of my attention is usually directed towards this rather unremarkable date. Today, however, my birthday was impossible to ignore. My sister Mariana was there to remind me of it. She brought reinforcements too, just in case I turned stubborn and pretended not to notice. In addition, too, there were some endogenous forces in play. I woke up this morning, with a strong urge to reflect. You see, today I am thirty-and-fourteen. Statistically, I have reached the mid-point of my life expectancy, which of course I took time to check (raise your hand if this surprises you...huh, I thought so). At any rate, the life expectancy for an openly Canadian man like me is 88 years, even if you throw my Mexican heritage in. Or particularly if you do. The reason for this is that I have relatively good quality Mexican genes. Three generations ago my ancestors lived to be ninety or older. Admittedly, the next two generations of my ancestors screwed things up for themselves by taking up the nefarious vice of smoking. That said, barring some unfortunate accident, it will only take some basic precautions to reach at least my statistical life expectancy. Assuming too that global warming doesnt cook me along with all of you before then. Realizing that I am very likely at the mid-point of my vital history was a somewhat sobering thought, one that Ive carried for some months with me. This realization was particularly acute today, and threatened to throw me into an introspective mood this morning. Fortunately, my unshakeable determination to not learn anything at all from past experience held steadfast, and the rest of the day was spent in blissful extrovertion, with nary a look inside. Instead, I have enjoyed all demonstrations and expressions of affection like a man who is convinced he deserves them. Over the course of the day I have felt grateful for all members of my family and friends old and new, who remembered (or were reminded by Facebook) that today I can stamp my passport with a seal that reads one more turn around the sun. I am grateful for having such wonderful travel companions, and I wish for time enough to return all the love and all the affection that they deserve. And so it is that, having decided earlier that I would learn nothing, I now go to bed having learned that there are enough wonderful people out there to make this crazy journey enjoyable and worthwhile. Love you all.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 05:42:18 +0000
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