Hello, my name is Dave. And I'm a junkie. But in a good way.
Last month I took the TGV from Marseille to Paris, in order to watch the 2007 Tour de France finish on the Champ Elyéese. As I watched the péloton roar by, I was struck by fast they were moving. I mean, I had raced my bicycle on and off for over 10 years, but this was the first time I had ever really "been there" at the tip of the spear professional level, up close and personal. Let me tell you, I was getting goose bumps. Sure, I get goose bumps when I get cold...but not these full-body tingle, eye-twitching, dangerously viral, somebody gimme some Prozac, holy €3§* goose bumps like I was experiencing. If you have never had that type, I sincerely hope you're immune, because otherwise you're probably prone to doing silly things. Like riding a motorcycle on the street, riding a bicycle at faster than the posted speed limit, driving your car at more than double the posted speed limit, sea kayaking when boats stay in the harbor, joining the French Foreign Legion...the list goes on and on.
Ever since I've been here in France, I have been asked "why?" by other Legionnaires, as well as the odd civilian. And while there are a myriad of logical reasons...the bottom line, as I closely as I can figured out, is that "I don't know!". But I'm starting to realize that I seem to always be searching for the next "high"...and while experiencing it vicariously by watching others do wild and wacky stuff is a viable substitution in the short-term, there's nothing better than the real thing. Again, it makes no sense logically...it's not like I'm going to earn a living doing it (well, I guess I am right now, sort of), or even attract the opposite gender (unless chicks really dig scars...which in my experience is not true). But standing on top of the Eiffel Tower and wondering where I can get one of those cool flying suits as I'm looking down at the Seine, is from what I can gather, not a normal touristic response to the view. Maybe that's why I still haven't gone to the Louvre...I just don't think I'd enjoy it. Too static, not enough interaction.
I don't think I'm crazy. I know I'm not unique. Most of the English-speakers in the Legion are similar...for example, 100% of the ones I've met has ridden or owned at least one motorcycle. Any other correlations I leave for sociologists to figure out. Perhaps there really is no particular reason or conclusion to this post, just my one tiny little corner of the blogsphere. But maybe, just maybe one of y'all will read it, and try something that you've always wanted to.
There's a gentleman, and a great writer, who wrote this article "Vitamin X" which much more eloquently talks about this subject. Be aware though...once you try it, your life may never the same.
And that's a good thing.
