Mars. Mightiest of Planets

[kingtycoon]

The radiators burble up to full and fill the house with heat, it's almost stifling in some rooms. In others the drafty windows barely hold back the wind - which seeps underneath in some suspected process where the cracks and gaps allow only the coldest air in. There's no possibility of comfort or moderation. You must take your coat when you go out and maybe wear it and maybe not but you need it with you just in case the snow blows or the freezing rain comes.

It is March. This is how things go. And to celebrate it all and more than that, more than the arrival of final delinquent spring or the inconstancy of the vernal season, we celebrate all the Mars-born the warrior kings and queens of my clan. I'm very proud, always, the next day, after I've done this. This thing I do.

Do I think that Whirlyball is the sport of the future? No. But I don't know - it's got that futuristic vibe that things had in the 90's. It reminds me of Star Trek and Virtual Reality. Maybe it's the perfect 90's cyberpunk sport. I don't know. It takes place in this decrepit old warehouse, it's noisy and industrial and has a slapped together feel that I enjoy. And it's now ritualistically ingrained in our lives- a part of Spring. I invented it.

We contend, all of us like champions - it's a pretty weird thing to be all involved in, but I think too it's a great thing of the family.

Here's what I have to say - I thought of this, I scheduled the place and rented it, and invited everyone (it's hard getting everyone back to town, here on time - my people are late by nature, and difficult to gather and more difficult still to coerce into unity in particular for this particular purpose.) I get them to agree and then I fret over prices and worry over attendance and then it goes off beautifully, the aunts and grandparents doing their part - supplying cake and gifts and songs and love, it's a concerted effort in the end and I'm pleased beyond pleased by how capable and helpful and collaborative everyone is. The party goes on and on for a long time, we break off into conversation and other competitions. We are contenders, all of us, and inveterate lovers of games and ideas. I have a good family and we are good and together.



We meet again after the events to talk about our laser-tagging abilities, to praise babies and teach each other cons and magic, gypsy tricks and admiration for our youngest and our best, our wisest and eldest.


You could be confused or surprised, to find a clan of heroes all born in Mars' month, all under that red star contending, all great and becoming greater. I have my people and am of them and that is a power in the world that I could not do without, a power in the world that I do what I can to nurture, to grow. It's spring and these are the rites performed in aid of the robin's return, the tulips bloom.


And then today there's a fond feeling, a goodwill that blooms outward and carries you through the sudden snow, and more- there is cake for breakfast.

Comments

[immemor.livejournal.com]

Whirly Ball looks like a lot of fun.

Nice to see that you’re still on LJ and making great posts.

- Rob, from U of Akron (The one who hung out with Jen and Lynette all the time.)

[kingtycoon.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty good time man. I remember you. You still talk to those ladies? How's everything?

[immemor.livejournal.com]

I do. Not as often but we’re all still in touch. Lynette works for a law firm in Texas. Jen’s in Phoenix, AZ. She was just married in December. I stopped working to go to nursing school, which sounded like a good idea at the time - haha. How are things on your end?

[kingtycoon.livejournal.com]

Huh, they must've hated the snow even more than I do - which is shocking.

Nursing seems like the way to make a living. As for me? It's the best of times, it's the okayest of times.

[mordicai.livejournal.com]

Late by nurture!

[kingtycoon.livejournal.com]

I think you might mean abuse. It's different than nurture.

[rasa.livejournal.com]

I am also Martian. Vernal equinox, in fact! (Well, the year I was born the first day of spring was 3/21.)

[kingtycoon.livejournal.com]

Well you should come next year!