A Year in the Life

Talk about living in challenging, unprecedented, decidedly apocalyptic times! Who among us could have predicted our present situation? I mean, a year ago, did any of us imagine we’d be watching Monday Night Football and thinking, “Man, I wish I got a bazillion dollars to wear funny pants and play games in empty stadiums!”

Okay, maybe lots of us did. And some of us may have also fantasized about duct taping a banana to a wall and getting a $120,000 reward for our artistic genius. Or was that just me?

But this particular week is perhaps the most stressful in the history of the world. I think you’ll agree that it is off the hook in terms of cortisol production. The reasons are obvious: This is Us started off with a two-hour season premier that almost jumped the shark (that’s still a matter of debate) and the Dallas Cowboys sank to a new low of 2 and 5 after losing to Washington’s Team. Washington’s Team! Who rose to a record of 2 and 5.

(Insert disgusted headshake here.)

Add to that the fact that the time change is coming up (nooooo!!!!) and this weekend is Halloween, yet Christmas decorations are already popping out... You’ve got the makings of a global emotional breakdown. Things could only be worse if there was a highly-contagious, bat-borne virus roaming around, rioting in the streets, wildfires devouring huge swatches of the planet, and a crazy-contentious election coming up in the most powerful nation in the world. Thank God that’s not the case!

Given the fact that the “what the...?!” factor is currently pegging at 11 (yes, those knobs go past 10), I realized everyone currently living on the surface of the earth (as well as those living in elevated homes), could use a break. That’s why I’m sharing this video.

Here’s the backstory. The year is 2015. Yes, the ancient past. A young(ish) guy is working for an organization called Biblica, which has an international headquarters located in Colorado Springs. Not just located. Positioned perfectly to provide a phenomenal view of Pikes Peak on a daily basis. Yes, that Pikes Peak - of Purple Mountain Majesties fame.

So this guy is working in plain sight of Pikes Peak and, since he considers himself a budding photographer, he thinks:

Himself: You know what I should do?

His other self: Stop asking yourself questions?

Himself: No. I should take a picture of that mountain every day when I come to work.

Other self: Why?

Himself: Because it would be cool!

Other self: You’re weird.

Himself: So are you.

Other self: Yo mamma!

Himself: I think it would be a great project that would one day come in handy and benefit humanity, in case the who shebang implodes or something.

Other self: Or something??

Himself: I feel inspired to make a difference, to leave a lasting impression, to do something significant, to...

Other self: Yeah, yeah. Ok. Well... It might not be a total waste of time. Maybe. But it probably will be.

Himself: Yep.

And so it began. For one year, from October 2015 to October 2016, each day, as he entered the building and scurried to his cubicle, he paused just long enough to take a quick shot of... (insert a snippet of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture here) the mountain.

Most work days (except when he forgot), no weekends, no holidays, no sick or vacation days, and with no tripod or hesitation, pics were taken. They were then downloaded to a hard drive. They were then forgotten.

In 2020... Eureka! While looking for something else, archeologists discovered the lost pics. They immediately loaded them into Final Cut Pro X, told it to do what it does best, and voila! A video popped out!

Thus, here is my contribution to this unique pinch point in time: 2 minutes and 53 seconds of a beautiful, natural feature that is immune to controversy, immune to sickness, immune to hatred and bigotry, immune to financial desperation and political debate, all set to lovely, free, non-copyrighted music.

Click the play button. Sit back. Relax. Meditate. Ponder. Pray. Give thanks. But do it now. Before the fit hits the shan.