In the previous post I mentioned Nine Inch Nails organizing a fund raiser to help Eric De La Cruz get a heart transplant. They’re doing this by asking for large donations and in exchange they give you and a guest VIP access to any concert you want to attend. I’m here writing this to let everyone know that my sister and I are now officially VIP attendees of the upcoming KC concert on Wednesday the 27th, and it’s an experience I’ll be telling people about for years.
Now most of you out there (or at least anyone who isn’t really into NIN) are probably saying, “Why would anyone spend that much money just to get backstage and gum it up with people they may never see or speak to again?” Well… let me put it this way. Imagine you could meet any single person in the whole world who you’ve wanted to meet for over a decade but couldn’t. Just think of your favorite actor/actress, or author, celebrity, musician, mad scientist perhaps… I don’t care who, just think of someone who you’ve always wanted to say, “Thank you.” to in person because that’s just how much of an influence they’ve had on you and you want them to know. Then one day, you’re offered that one chance. That’s kinda what this is like. An opportunity to do something you’ll never forget for the rest of your life.
Besides, all the money is going towards a worthy cause. I’ll get to honestly say that I met my favorite musician of all time (one of just a small handful of life long goals/dreams I have) and contribute towards saving a human life in the process. And I’ll be proud about it for the rest of my life. I imagine myself decades from now thinking back on the life I lived and appreciate such an experience more so than, say, the experience I’d probably get from spending that kind of money towards something completely material, like an expensive HDTV. I couldn’t imagine myself retired years from now telling my grandkids about the day I bought a new HDTV and expect them to marvel at my totally boring story.
For me, the things that matter in life aren’t things (stuff) at all. The things that matter in life are experiences, events, people, emotions, passion, romance, ideas, adventures, thrills, challenges and also remembering that one of these days you’re gonna die. Because if you do like most young people and tell yourself it’s too far away to bother thinking about it right now, you might start to procrastinate and regret not doing the things that would otherwise hold their value to you forever.
So, here’s to being ALIVE and happy to finally get to do something I’ve always wanted to do but never believed would ever occur.
Oh, one last thing. THANKS DAD! You’ve always been there if I needed a favor or help with about anything and that means the world to me.