Sally Starr's Martian Dilemma.

The "Face" on Mars

Uncle P is not currently (nor has been for quite a while) in a long-term relationship (though not for lack of trying). Like most of us however, I would not be adverse to being in one. It's basically what we all want, isn't it? That one person to spend our lives and grow old with. The person who makes our hearts beat just a little faster and who 'gets' us like no one else. I've thought I had "The One" at least twice... but I was painfully wrong both times. That doesn't mean I won't find "The One," despite having told my friends I've given up on doing so. "Hope," said Ms Dickinson."is the thing with feathers."  By now you are asking yourselves "What the hell does any of that have to do with Mars?" Well, I'll tell you.

Sonia Van Meter is among those chosen as a semi-finalist for the Mars One project, which hopes to establish a Human colony on Mars starting in 2024. That's just 10 years from now. If you are anywhere near Uncle P's age, you'll realize that 10 years is merely a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of Human history. 

Mars One, of course, is a one-way ticket for those taking part. Best estimates with our current space flight technology put travel time to the Red Planet at 6 years. Once there, colonists would then spend several more years building and establishing a sustainable environment for human life. And while I find such an endeavor to be both exciting and frightening, I can't begin to imagine what and/or how those family members of the finalists must feel. Van Meter's husband, Jason Stanford has written an excellent essay on what it might be like to have his significant other potentially go away, forever.

And again you are asking, "What the heck does Sally Starr have to do with any of of this?" I know I've told the story about my High School teacher and his cousin who rode the Ferris wheel to get a better look at local TV personality Sally Starr at a local carnival. When my teacher's cousin got sick on the wheel, Sally's dilemma was whether or not to stand her ground and get puked on, or move and get puked on. So my question is: Do you let your soul-mate/significant other/loved one go on what may well be the most important scientific expedition of the 21st Century or be selfish and demand that she/he remain with you here on Earth? I'm not sure I could make that choice and I think that I would only agree if I could accompany him/her. 

What would you do, given this situation? Especially after seeing this:

Would I go? Maybe. Would you?

More, anon.
Prospero

Why I Regretfully Declined

I recently received an invitation to a friend's wedding. My friend is a talented actor and musician and I am truly happy for him and his bride-to be (whom I have only met twice). I responded with my "Regrets" to the invitation. Our mutual friend, Q, posted a message to my Facebook account - "So you are unavailable for ----'s wedding?"

My response to her was: "I have nothing to wear; no time or money to find something to wear and no one to bring as my 'Plus 1.' Besides, I usually hate weddings, They only serve to remind me of how alone I am." 

Honestly, that's not to whine about being alone. It's just a simple fact. It's also true that I do not own a suit and haven't for at least 20 years. I hate suits. They represent everything I despise about Corporate America. That's not to say I haven't worn one in the past 20 years. I've donned several as costumes for various shows and/or events. I even wore a (rented) tuxedo for the JTMF 5th Anniversary Gala. But the thought of owning one just rankles me to my core -- I shouldn't (nor should you) be defined by the clothes I wear. Luckily, the Day Job allows me to wear jeans and even shorts to work (though I personally wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing a T-shirt).

But this isn't really about clothes. It's about pretending to be happy for two people who have decided to spend their lives together when I can't seem to find someone who wants to spend more than a few years or months with me. Is that selfish and childish? Maybe. But I don't care.I just can't bring myself to be happy about something I'm unlikely to ever have. 

Now, don't go feeling sorry for me. Uncle P has long ago resigned himself to life alone. And it's not like I never had a long-term relationship. The relationships I've had were good while they lasted. And I haven't lacked for a sex life (TMI?). But the older I get, the more apparent it becomes that I am not meant to have a "soul-mate," whatever that means. And who knows... I may have yet to meet the man with whom I will spend the rest of my life in connubial bliss. Stranger things have been known to happen. Still - I'm a realist. I know that the likelihood of meeting someone at my age is slim-to-none. And I'm okay with that. At least, I think I am. And I'm certainly not lacking for love. I have several very dear friends (Q, K, Dale, Tracy and D, among others) who love me very much (as I do them).

If you are lucky enough to share your life with a special someone, please don't take that for granted, If, like me, you have yet to find that special someone, take solace in the fact that you not alone. And that's okay. Not every pot has a lid, despite what my grandmother used to say.

More, anon.

Prospero