The anatomy of disappointment

Despite his genius, da Vinci failed to record accurately the human anatomy. Although swarmed by the populace that was renaissance Italy, opportunities to truly observe the body intimately were rare. So rare that even the master artist/inventor/philosopher never got it right. Galen, Harvey, Aristotle, and Hippocrates also stumbled on what was simultaneously so apparent yet so concealed. Instead, it was the butcher Vesalius who finally unearthed what lay beneath the skin and the sinews stuffed within the bones.

If repetitive association and hands on experience are the requisites of an anatomist, then the pervasiveness with which disappointment and I cross paths should make me its pre-eminent observer. And while it comes in many forms and circumstances, it also resembles the body in that it conforms to certain molds and tenets. Although my enthusiasm has long faded, it's likely that I will end up a life-long pupil of this art. Hopefully, I'll eventually walk away a more well-learned person.

A sore loser

Inadvertently over the years, I've endured a number of failures. Some setbacks, a few catastrophes, and occasionally a simple unembellished defeat. Friday night, defeat reaquainted itself as I lost the title match at some second-rate tourney. Still sore, but in the most literal sense as I'm now sure there is something wrong with my wrist. But since beach activities require very little wrist action, it's not so bad.

Surprisingly, this particular incident has not been shrouded with disappointment. Unlike six months ago when pride and racquet suffered brutally, both escaped unscathed. Rather, both came out stronger as coming second still entailed free food, a crate of giant apples, some silverware, and most importantly a handsome cash prize. To my own astonishment, I was actually happy to see our much younger foes play out a proud moment in front of their beaming parents. Who knows when it'll ever happen again. The combination of aspirations, encouragement, cohesiveness and celebration may never encounter generosity and a soft spot. Victories will always be around us, but will friends, parents, and smiles? Enjoy, young bucks, while it's your time. Someday soon, you'll be happy just for the free food.