The Road to Hell

There was a concert on Tuesday and I went with some of my colleagues from work. What I liked most was a more difficult piece by a French composer, which resembled Beethoven in terms of energy of the composure and the Russian composers in terms of intricate plot. One of my colleagues had come to the concert immediately after work, and was obviously more concerned with biting off his fingernails, scratching his stool and looking at the decorations of the concert hall. I suppose that is a way to say "I'd better like to be home than in this concert where I only sit to save face". At least he reacted, though, and left before the bis. I know plenty of people (being blessed with an easy-going social attitude which enables me to gather many stories) who are strangers in their own lives, but fail to notice it, save reacting in a way.

But what does this mean? I've read a short-story by Turgheniev a long time ago. It was about a woman who re-married three times, with three different men, who had different personalities and different jobs. Each time she married, she took on the habits and the personality of that man, and in between marriages (they all died, either in the war or in stupid accidents), she did not know what to do with herself, until she eventually died. It's the same with most modern people. They start off doing a job, or getting involved in a romantic relationship, or do something... And then they forget to stop and evaluate all the good it might bring. They forget about their dreams as teenagers or children and then whine at the end of their lives and try to place the blame on circumstances or people that might have deterred them. Instead of that, they should be looking at the way they themselves have decided to live their lives and spend their hours, days and weeks only to liaison with the past hour, the past day and the past week. They live their lives with short term purposes, and grand plans and dreams mean nothing to them than a child's play. It's much too "idealistic", they say, and do nothing but to regret. What I think is that most of us are on the true road to hell once they stray from their Golden Path.

Speaking of which, latest news: I've finished the 5th book of Dune (The Heretics of Dune), I've seen "Something's Gotta Give" last night and I'm going to another classical concert tonight.

I said 'mama i come to the valley of the rich
Myself to sell'
She said 'son this is the road to hell'
On your journey cross the wilderness
From the desert to the well
You have strayed upon the motorway to hell
(Chris Rea, The Road to Hell)