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How are you spending doomsday?
According to some fundamentalists, this Saturday is the beginning of the end of the world.
Well, I'd argue the beginning of the end started a long time ago. Like when "American Idol" debuted.
But seriously, this weekend should be a good dry run for the wider group of conspiracy theorists who think the world will end in December 2012. That nonsense should make Y2K paranoia look like, well, Y2K reality.
Obviously, I don't believe doomsday is coming either on Saturday or next year, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this hoopla has given me the tiniest bit of pause. After all, I don't want the world to end. I like the world. I like living. I'd like to see the Brewers someday win the World Series, too.
Selfishly, considering how much I make fun of people who preach the coming of the apocalypse, I would certainly be one of the poor suckers who doesn't get raptured up to heaven (or whatever is supposed to happen).
According to these soothsayers, the end of the world will actually take five months. If they're right, don't count on any more blogs from me. I'll be spending the days until Oct. 21 doing something cool, that's for sure.
Work, truly, will be for jerks.
But again, seriously, or at least as seriously as I can take any of this, it hurts my brain to ponder the end of the world. What happens to the astronauts on the space station? Are they let off the hook?
And really (for real this time), would I be content if my time was up? Yes and no. While I turn 37 at the end of the month, I've already lived a wonderful and privileged life, rich with experiences and adventures. But no, there's a lot more I want to do before some asteroid comes crashing into Earth.
Most importantly, though, like all parents, it's really not about me anymore, anyway. I don't want the world to end because I want my daughter to have a long and great life.
So there. That's my serious answer to a ridiculous question. That's what I'll be doing on Saturday: briefly contemplating, then making a few jokes, then moving on. I'm 99.9 percent sure the world will still be here on Sunday morning, and I plan on tweeting and joking about it basically non-stop until this non event comes and goes.
But joking aside, these kind of prophecies remind me that my real purpose in life isn't just to live, but it's to make the world a better place for our children.
And, when I think about it like that, these ridiculous prophecies are another reminder that we've all got a lot of work to do, and a limited time in which to do it. Let's get cracking.
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dolphinlvr7 | May 20, 2011 at 2:12 p.m. (report)
While I definitely do not support Mr. Camping's predictions, and I do love the life I have here on earth, and I want my kids to have a wonderful, long life here too...I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there will be a Rapture of believers someday, no one knows when, no one can accurately predict when, but it IS going to happen and you can be prepared for it. John 3:16. Life, after the Rapture, for those who truly believe what that verse says, is going to be more wonderful than our simple minds can comprehend.
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TosaJim | May 20, 2011 at 12:46 p.m. (report)
I have about 5 restaurant gift certificates and I'm going to start using them around 4PM today...and use them all up before midnight...hopefully the rapture will still be able to lift me to the heavens above.
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joe | May 19, 2011 at 3:06 p.m. (report)
happy prelated birthday, Milly
and don't worry about the Rapture happening this week, next week, or any time during this year or 2012. We aren't going to have any biblical episodes up until September 13, 2015.
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Milly | May 18, 2011 at 4:03 p.m. (report)
Sunday is my birthday, so if I wake up, and there is still a world, I'm gonna have two reasons to celebrate! I also plan to play the Blondie song "Rapture" at some point this weekend. Might even get crazy and post a link to the video on my Facebook page.
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