Everything Ends. And there are no happy endings

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of pleasure. Pursuit of happiness of course sounds better. Attaining happiness is a bona fide upstanding endeavor. But it's not happiness we  pursue, it's that disingenuous, selfish momentary pleasurable feeling which we seek.  Happiness is a state of being.  We experience pleasure and call it happiness because we do not know happiness.

Happy endings only live in stories. The story ends at The End because that's as far as the story teller cares to go. The characters in the story continue on with their lives after we close the book or leave the theater. The untold story is the rest and it ends unhappily forever after. Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back. Everyone is happy. Story telling is over.  But, the story continues.  We're not there to see it, but the end of the story is always boy or girl loses girl or boy. Someone is left alone ever after.

We bother to chase pleasure in the name of the happiness when happiness is inside of us for the taking . No pursuit required. Detachment from pleasure or pain may be where happiness waits for us. In the end, everyone goes away. And when they are gone, someone is unhappy.

The pursuit of pleasure is a worthless endeavor.  The book ends of life are pleasure and pain.  To avoid the pain, do not pursue the pleasure.

If It's Not Too Late

It's never to late son. Your spot in our canoe is waiting for you. Your paddle is still here. A piece broke off a few years ago, but it still works.   I used it to paddle down river this morning. This is the view I've had for 13 years without you. I like the one of you  sleeping in a bundle in the bow a lot better. You were always able to sleep as long as you were cozy. Do you remember the coat I bought for you for duck hunting? It was not waterproof, but it was super soft and warm. Just your style.

The last time we hunted from this canoe you were 15. We were on the Grand River. After two ducks you said, "Let's go Dad. We each got one."  We left with two ducks, two happy guys, and one dog who was not ready to go. On the way off of the water we found the channel blocked with a floating bog. Walking was tough going but you told me to stay sitting. I remember you swung your long legs out, and taking hold of the bow handle you told me, "Sit there Dad. I'll pull you. You've pulled me all over the place. It's my turn to pull you."  I never enjoyed a trip off of the water more. Miss you AJ. 

Molly's gone. You never met Doc. We got him to fill a void around the house. Didn't work. As much of knuckle head Doc  was, nothing fills your void.  I kept hunting. I always wait for you. You're stuff is laid out. You don't need long johns. Waders are warmer. 

If it's not too late, you're always welcome.  I wait for you always. Maybe you make it. I'd like to think I've never been out without you. If you were there this morning you know we each bagged a mallard. Then we left. Two is enough.