“… and the last

shall be first!”

I have an important message for whoever is reading this right now. Whatever you’re doing and however you’re doing it, stop all that Jean-Claude Van DAMN worrying about how many people seem to be outpacing. Your only competition in this “race track of life” gig should be the “you” you were five minutes ago and no one else!

And THIS …

Even when you’re actually on the road and there are a boatload of cars in the lanes ahead of you, aren’t there also always cars behind you? Umm, YAH! There really are. First? Last? Middle?

SCREW THAT!

With that, I would now like to send a very special message to my incredibly talented and handsome son, Christian Peter, who turned 31 today at exactly “4:50 pm”.

Son, please don’t run your engine so hard that you burn out your motor before you hit the finish line. Find time to relax, cool your engine, look for the rest stops, and even revel in all the boring stuff so you can enjoy the views as you’re rolling on down the road. You are where you are … nowhere more and nowhere less … and as long as you’re doing your best, being kind to yourself and others, and going “all in” to the utmost of your ability without sacrificing your precious mental wealth …

YOU’RE – ARE – WINNING!

Slow down you crazy child, because Vienna really does wait for both you and that savage QUEEN God created JUST for you. There’s no need to rush to some imaginary finish line that, in fact, doesn’t really exist. Besides, I’m 2,000% certain that on the day you meet The Maker, He’s not gonna be asking to see your racing stats. He, like me, is just going to be glad you got Home safely. Happy birthday, son. I LOVE YOU!

~ “BMITW”

VIENNA

Slow down you crazy child. You’re so ambitious for a juvenile, but then if you’re so smart tell me, why are you still so afraid? Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about? You better cool it off before you burn it out. You got so much to do and only so many hours in a day, but you know that when the truth is told that you can get what you want or you can just get old. You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through. When will you realize … Vienna waits for you? Slow down you’re doing fine. You can’t be everything you want to be before your time, although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight. Too bad, but it’s the life you lead. You’re so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need. Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know you can’t always see when you’re right. You got your passion, you got your pride, but don’t you know that only fools are satisfied? Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true. When will you realize … Vienna waits for you? Slow down you crazy child. Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while. It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two. When will you realize … Vienna waits for you? And you know that when the truth is told that you can get what you want or you can just get old. You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through. Why don’t you realize … Vienna waits for you? When will you realize … Vienna waits for you? {Billy Joel}