![[Jerry's Home Page]](/jhan/pictures/jdogs.gif)
"...he has forgotten that the starships of the Federation are the physical, tangible manifestations of humanity's stubborn insistence that life does indeed mean something."
Who said it, and under what circumstances, isn't important for the purposes of this article. (Though, I do recommend the book, whole-heartedly.) What is important, to me, are these words: "humanity's stubborn insistence that life does mean something."
I don't know why this has struck a resonant chord at this time. It just seemed important to me to highlight this phrase, to highlight the idea that life does mean something. It isn't just some weird torture, or some random event. What we do, what we are, it all means something. Even when we feel abandoned, at our worst, we are not alone. Somebody, somewhere is looking out for you. To them, you mean something. That must never be forgotten.
For when it seems that there is nothing to live life for, when it seems that exhaustion and desolation have taken their toll, when it seems that nobody gives a damn, it means something to somebody. You mean something to somebody. Live life for that. Remember that.
Here's the tip of the month- if you ever have any Wisdom teeth pulled (or any surgery)- go for the General Anesthetic. Don't try to stay awake and aware. You don't want to know what they're doing to you. It isn't very pretty. It doesn't feel very good either.
How come any medical practice runs on the principle of seeing you anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour after your appointment time? Dr. McCoy's or Dr. Crusher's or Dr. Pulaski's sickbay was never run like that. The only way you can get immediate service is if you come in with a knife or two in your back- and even then, they might make you wait.
If you're ever really bored sitting in a doctor's/dentist's office, have you ever tried staring at the fish in the fish tank? Don't laugh, I'm serious. Staring at fish can be beneficial to your health. It's relaxing. (Unless you're scared to death of fish, or if you happen to be staring a shark in the mouth, with no glass in the way a.k.a. Jaws) Especially when one of the fish is staring straight back at you. Then basically, both of you trade looks, neither side blinking. Consider it the ultimate in staring contests, because fish don't have eyelids. The fish can't blink. Therefore, the fish can't lose. Consider it a form of the "Kobyashi Maru" no-win test. Of course, you might get some strange looks from staring at fish, but, then again, most of you would get strange looks anyway. (;-)
For something actually related to Star Trek: Will I get a chance to see Cliff Cartier (my superior officer- Chief Engineer) sometime soon?