Am I One of the 99%? Are you?

As Mike Doughty so eloquently sprechgesanged, we are all in some way or another going to Reseda, whether to die or make love to a model from Ohio whose real name we do not know, or some other reason altogether, I do not know.

Likewise, in some ways, we are all one of the 99%.  For example, I do not have type AB- blood.  Thus, I am like 99.4% of the US population.  I have no evidence that I am a descendant of Genghis Khan; this puts me in the august company of 99.5% of the world's population.

The 99% moniker has lately been co-opted by the Occupy Wall Street/America/Iowa/Des Moines/That Tree Over There movement.  And more power to 'em, I say.  As a duly-designated representative of the 99%, let me say that catchy yet vague slogans, spontaneous, poorly-thought-out civil disobedience, and lack of a unifying message appeal to me on a very fundamental level.  Hell, I've been a registered Republican for longer than I can remember...

And yet, part of me bridles at being identified with these angry-yet-befuddled folks. I do not want to be one of the 99%.  Not because I want to be one of the few who control almost half the wealth in our country.  Although, between you and me, that would not suck.  Nor is it because I am put off by their collectivist, we-know-what's-best-and-we'll-tell-you, querulous attitude.  Well, maybe a little...
But more so, it's because I don't want to be like 99% of the people out there.  It isn't because the 99% aren't fine, salt-of-the-earth people; it's because I want to be me.

I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you all to do the same.  Be yourself.  Do something to set you apart from the pack.  Go back to school, run a marathon, look up an old friend you haven't talked with in a while.  Take up mountain biking.  Or dwarf tossing.  Seek serenity inwardly, or imagine what you'd like to do differently; then make it happen.  Pray fervently.  Hope ardently.  Love completely.  Take a chance.  Throw caution to the wind.  Live.  And know that you will make me exceedingly proud of you when you do.

Because life is short.  And the mere fact that you're reading this blog pretty much labels you as atypical.  So don't be one of the 99%.  Be the 1%.  Be you.  You can be whatever you want to be.  Your path is not set, not completely.  Figure out what it is you want, you need, what makes you happy, what makes you feel alive.  Then get it.