I apologise if this cartoon offends anyone. It simply struck me ironically modern.
Today we turn to a different type of tale. It involves the hubris of youth and the realization that the abyss also looks into us. Most of those who are reading this know of my battle with drugs and alcohol. It's nothing new, exciting or even different from the millions that have gone before me. As someone who reads this blog likes to say "I'm just a garden variety drunk" Just the usual war stories of people like me who were lucky enough to ask for help before they died. Without going into excessive detail, I would like to share a few of the lessons that have helped to set me free. Plus a few of the clues that I discovered after the fact, that could be of some use to those interested. First and foremost I attribute my recovery to AA and NA. What lead me to these programs was a treatment center in West Palm Beach called The Hanley=Hazeldon Center. Long story short, I did what I was told and got better. It doesn't seem like much at first. I invite you to take a look into your own life and see the times you did things, especially when new better. This is where our story is going. The names in the title are metaphors of those who played and paid the ultimate price for thinking the rules of life didn't apply to them. So with that in mind let's begin our journey. A little back ground for those of you not brushed up on Greek mythology:"Prometheus was an ancient Greek Titan. The Prometheus myth first appeared in the Greek epic poet Hesiod's . He was a son of the one of the Oceanids. Hesiod introduces Prometheus as a lowly challenger to Zeus' omniscience and omnipotence. At a meal marking the "settling of accounts" between mortals and immortals, Prometheus plays a trick against Zeus . He places two sacrificial offerings before the Olympian: a selection of ox meat hidden inside an ox's stomach (nourishment hidden inside a displeasing exterior), and the ox's bones wrapped completely in "glistening fat" (something inedible hidden inside a pleasing exterior). Zeus chooses the latter, setting a precedent for future sacrifices; henceforth, humans would keep the meat for themselves and burn the bones wrapped in fat as an offering to the gods. This angers Zeus, who hides fire from humans in retribution. Prometheus, however, steals fire from Zeus and gives it back to humans for their use. This further enrages Zeus, who sends mortal man the first woman, presumably Pandora : "From her is the race of women and female kind: of her is the deadly race and tribe of women who live amongst mortal men to their great trouble, no helpmeets in hateful poverty, but only in wealth." Prometheus, meanwhile, is chained to a rock where his regenerating liver is eaten daily by a vulture. [2]Heracles would shoot the vulture and free Prometheus from his chains."This was taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus
Next in line is the tale of Icarus and his escape.
Escape from Crete
Icarus' father, Daedalus who was a talented artist attempted to escape from his exile in Crete, where he and his son were imprisoned at the hands of King Minos, the king for whom he had built the Labyrinth. Daedalus, the master craftsman, was exiled because it was he who built the faux cow for the queen to climb into such that she could copulate with the bull. The result of this coupling was the Minotaur, who grew to become violent and dangerous and thus had to be imprisoned in the Labyrinth.
Daedalus fashioned a pair of wax wings for himself and his son. Before they took off from the island, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, nor too close to the sea. Overcome by the sublime feeling that flying gave him, Icarus soared through the sky joyfully, but in the process he came too close to the sun, which melted his wings. Icarus kept flapping his wings but soon realized that he had no feathers left and that he was only flapping his bare arms. And so, Icarus fell into the sea in the area which bears his name, the Icarian Sea near Icaria, an island southwest of Samos.[1] This also was taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus_(mythology)
"Sisyphean task" or "Sisyphean challenge"
As a punishment from the gods for his trickery, Sisyphus was compelled to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, but before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again.[2] The maddening nature of the punishment was reserved for Sisyphus due to his hubristic belief that his cleverness surpassed that of Zeus. Sisyphus took the bold step of reporting one of Zeus's sexual conquests, telling the river god Asopus of the whereabouts of his daughter Aegina. Zeus had taken her away, but regardless of the impropriety of Zeus's frequent conquests, Sisyphus overstepped his bounds by considering himself a peer of the gods who could rightfully report their indiscretions. As a result, Zeus displayed his own cleverness by binding Sisyphus to an eternity of frustration. Accordingly, pointless or interminable activities are often described as Sisyphean.
Taken from wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus
Last in our line of mutual sufferers is: Pandora "giver of all, all-endowed"she was the first woman. Each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mould her out of Earth as part of the punishment of mankind for Prometheus' theft of the secret of fire, and all the gods joined in offering this "beautiful evil" seductive gifts-According to the myth, Pandora opened a jar (pithos) in modern accounts referred to as "Pandora's box", releasing all the evils of mankind— greed, vanity, slander, envy, pining— leaving only hope inside once she had closed it again. Taken from wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora
All of this is not intended as a history lesson, but rather as a point of reference to just how ancient the human dilemma is. It astounds me that this awareness has existed for so long yet so easily ignored. I suppose that's why it's called hubris(excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.) The reason I have brought these tragic characters together is that after surviving almost fatal addiction, there are times when it crosses my mind to use again. Knowing this to be normal, I have the tools today to survive thoughts like these. A friend of mine who also happens to read this blog used the following quote until it finally sunk in. A shout out to Todd thanks. I hope this is right. The quote is: "Good decision making is often the result of experience. Experience usually the result of making bad decisions." I don't know who said it, but it rings true in that new part of my mind that can hear and recognize it. This will not be in any order . Just times in my life that I now feel apply to these concepts. Right off the bat, I will use the story my daughter loves to hear and laughs at any time she hears or thinks of it. This is the infamous tale of " Smokey and the Bus" It all began when I was about 7. I would be at the end of our driveway waiting for the school bus with unc. We had 2 Weimaraners named Samantha and Amanda. I saw a Wemaraner trotting up the street to where we were. I thought it was one of our dogs. Unc pointed out that it was a male and that "Smokey" was trouble. He also said " Boy don't you let that dog get near you. I said "Ah, unc he's not going to bite me so don't worry. I just want to pet him. He likes me." Unc shaking his head says " Are you going to have to learn everything the hard way? Stay away from him or he'll pee on you. " I laugh " Pee on me? Why would he do that I just want to pet him." Unc throws up hs palm in disgust saying " You're getting on that bus if he pees on you or not. You hear me?" Patting my thighs with my hands I call him " Here Smokey, here boy, come on that's a good boy." Smokey comes trotting up to me and I turn to unc saying "See he won't pee on me he knows me." No sooner did those fateful words leave my lips did our friend Smokey lift his leg and piss all over my new pants. Still talking to unc about how wrong he was I start to feel the warmth on my leg. Looking down I am soaking wet full of Smoking Steaming Weimaraner piss. I yell and run, Smokey trots off and then I hears the groan of the Bluebird school bus downshifting and starting up the hill to where I am. I turn to unc on the verge of tears and pleading " Oh unc, I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you, I 'll be right back I got to change." Unc snaps his fingers to get my attention and looks at me . I start to cry wailing "Unc, Unc Please they'll make fun of me and I will be called piss boy for the rest of the year. Is that what you want?" Unc doesn't say a word he just points to me and then to the bus and finally to the ground by his shoe. Which I know means "You. On bus. Now or else." The bus rolls up I am wiping tears from my eyes and get on the bus. It doesn't even take 2 mnutes till someone starts yelling " Check out Shultz he pissed his pants. Oh my god it smells! Eww! Shultz pissed his pants Ha Ha!! Nya NYa na NYa nya. This chant contines to the next stop where the bus driver gets up and walks back to me and asks very nice and concerned like "Jody are you alright?" I snap and jump up pointing at my pants saying " Ohhh! I don't Mr. Numb Nuts bus driver. What do you think? I got dog piss all over me and I going to be the fricking school idiot for god knows how long. So just how do you think I'm doing Putz!" He starts turning red and spittle starts coming from his lips as he stutters "Yyyou lllittle SSShit, ttthats it get the fuck off my bus right now you hear." Suddenly realizing I just crossed over from trouble into the deep shit department and it's only 7am. Wow a new record." I push my way past everyone and grab and pull the door opener. In one jump I leap down and start walking. The bus driver runs after me and says "Get back on the bus, I 'll radio the school to call your parents. They can meet you at the principles office. If it was up to me you'd be expelled ." I smile and say "Well I wonder why that is? You'd think they'd give you a little more control over your destiny Bucko." Blocking my way forward he hides a grin and says " Look if your good the rest of the ride. I'll forget it happened. " I turn and mumble to myself " Don't do me any favors." Hearing me he says " Oh believe me I'm not, your class mates will do the rest for me. Shaking my head I say "You ever have any days like this?" He says " Just get on the bus wiseass." I get to school and now everyone is telling everyone about what happened. I turn to the bus driver and say "Shall we go visit your boss and mine?" "Lead the way" he says. It went pretty much as expected, except they couldn't reach my parents on the phone because it was busy. Unc, I bet putting the cherry on the cake of my day. I did become piss boy. I was kicked off the bus for 2 weeks. I was grounded with no T.V. for a month. What I didn't do was pet strange dogs anymore. What I did have was uncs' compassion. A very rare comodity. I did have a story to tell my children and now you. Thanks Goodnight. Jody
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