Too Late

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Procrastination is like masturbation.  At first it feels good, but in the end you're only screwing yourself.”

-Unknown

There is a reason why the Gun’s Quote is coming out late this week. It’s partially because I thought it would be fun to play on this week’s theme. The other and larger part is because last weeks’ Gun’s Quote got out on Wednesday so I needed to put a little space between the two.

I feel like I have gotten a lot better about procrastination. Yet, this past summer I hit a brick wall, and I get to pay for it now.

We’ll start with how I was without a car last week. Again. This time, it was clearly and undeniably my fault. You see, I knew my transmission was going out. (Reference Gun’s Quote: “Desire”) I had made the decision to repair it as buying a car right now is equivalent to buying stocks while they are high instead of low. Did I fix the car? Sure I did… but only after the transmission went out in the middle of the highway and I had to call a tow-truck to haul my sorry butt to the transmission shop. Naturally, because I didn’t make an appointment, they couldn’t get me in right away. One week later, I picked up my car on a Friday night. I owe Erik, Laura and Kris many thanks for pitying me enough to taxi me around town.

Perhaps the more painful thing that I managed to mess up, however, was tickets to the symphony. I love the symphony. I have always gone as often as I could and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I’ve always felt it was one of the best-kept secrets in Kansas City. Well, that secret was let out after the opening of the Kauffman Center. (Reference Gun’s Quote: “A Day with Dad”) While I had the opportunity to buy season tickets this past summer for less than $300, (For 14 concerts) I turned it down because I didn’t think I could make every one and I didn’t think I wanted to see them all.

Oops.

The first symphony they played this year featured one of my favorite songs of all time, the Pines of Rome. (YouTube Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYz7PfHrDWk) I missed it. Why? Because it was sold out. So is Yo-Yo Ma. So is Beethoven’s 9^th. Nobody slept to get tickets for the German Requiem except me it seems. All of a sudden I’m not the only guy in the city who wants to go see a symphony. It would appear, however, that I will not get to see many of them at all. (Those that are left have fairly high ticket values going right now… two or three individual symphonies now cost what 14 would have this summer.)

Procrastination was one of those things that you could do as a kid and get away with it. Teachers would let you turn in assignments late, or you could get an extension. Mom and Dad would usually let you get away with doing your chores later. There were no huge consequences, it seems, for not getting things done on time.

To be honest, there still aren’t. Now, so many good things in life simply pass you by. I’m not hurt nor suffer any consequences because I’m not going to the symphony this year, but rather I know that a real opportunity was lost and real beauty will be seen by others, but not me. The car still got fixed and my friends will be my friends and will forgive me. Yet, I had to ask them to go out of their way for longer than what I should have. I have inconvenienced them even if they claim otherwise.

We all know better than to procrastinate, but it seems I have re-learned the lesson the hard way. I do hope my pain will serve as a reminder that this path is not the preferred one. Life’s too short to miss out on all the wonderful things that cross your path. Jump at them if you get the chance. Don’t wait. It isn’t worth it.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!