"We Ain't Ever Getting Older"

By Austin T. Murphy

This world, if one chooses to see (the beauty/its beauty), is a place full of amazing people and experiences. In less than a quarter century, I’ve had the great fortune of meeting the best of these amazing people, and have witnessed truly miraculous events. Though there are few limits to how incredible our respective lives can become, there are undoubtedly some truly deplorable aspects of this world.

From childhood, we are forced to accept consumption of media through two (channels/avenues): the big, black box in the living room, and the voices in our car. The meaning of a life worth worshipping is determined entirely through its exalted presence on TV, at the top of the charts, or in the World Wide Web. Figures with such presence are glorified beyond reason, and inevitably fall short of our impossibly lofty expectations that may only be aptly described as Messianic. These people exhaust their respective selves in a futile pursuit of the perfections we expect from them, and once they falter, even slightly, our natural proclivity against imperfection results in rejection of the fallen star, and a search for yet another ‘savior.’

You’ll forgive the religious metaphors; the annual War on Christmas was purportedly waged again not so long ago.

So the cycle begins again; our painfully ironic idolatry continues with a new hero who might accomplish the impossible and best immorality. The sad fact is that they never will; the sadder fact is that we, as followers, are so deeply impacted.

The Chainsmokers released “All We Know” in 2016, and although the song and accompanying video each focus more on love and relationships, the refrain of “’cause this is all we know” seems to speak more to an idea of blissfully ignorant innocence and a sense of helpless following. We do what we do because we see our elders, parents, and heroes do it first. We consume copious amounts of alcohol because we are told by its purveyors that it is cool to do so. We smoke tobacco and weed for the same reason, and we experiment with drugs because, once upon a time, Eve demonstrated for everyone that followed how to disregard the rules (we tend to ignore the ensuing lesson). It stands to reason, then, that when the older generation turns around and informs us that we are wrong, lazy, and impure, and that the shortcomings of their ideas about our lifestyles are our fault, it feels disingenuous. After all, they were wonderfully effective teachers. I want to know where the end of the cycle occurs, and when the great machine breaks, because at this point, all I know is that I don’t ever want to give up and play by their rules.

Maybe someday, things will change: the stigma of youth will fade away, and the young and old will coexist peacefully. Until that day, however, I’m going to keep drinking more than I should, listlessly staying up until 4 am, and driving countless hours to see my favorite artists play my favorite songs far louder than they have any business playing.

And if you can’t understand why, then all I have to say is:

Lasers, baby. Beautiful… fucking… lasers.  

© Austin T. Murphy 2017