“Why does it Get Hard to become an American Idol and one of the Pillars of Eternity?” Saturday/Sunday thoughts with Vickie Lester…

Darling, that’s one of the questions for the ages, isn’t it? Most likely even our precious Google couldn’t supply the goods, although, it never hurts to ask.

Turns out Get Hard, etc., are this week’s trending search terms.

Scrunch them all together into a sentence and, yes, it may appear weird but it also looks like a coded question that cuts to the heart of First World preoccupations.

I’ll give you MY take on it, as a toiler in the circles of development hell turned novelist — turned accidental self-publisher.

This is something I’ve learned through fifty-five years of shakin’ and bakin’ it and trying damn hard to keep from breakin’ it — things get less hard. I’m not referring to your abs or various appendages, I’m talking about life, things that were emotional tsunamis as a teenager turn into gentle rises in sea level. It happens. Turns out, it’s inevitable. It’s one of the nice things about getting older.

Now, about becoming an American Idol… Speaking as a denizen of Hollywood and one who has observed from the sidelines (trust me it’s often much more interesting — and safer — to be observing from outside the spotlight’s glare)… I have long been a sympathetic ear. Many of those who attain the celebrity they craved find it corrosive to the soul, and damaging to their sense of selves as something other than a commodity or an object of fascination. Sure, you might think that is obvious, but it’s really not. Be careful what you wish for.

Let’s take a look-see at that Pillars of Eternity phrase, shall we? As you probably know the reason that is such a popular search term at the moment is because of a very recently released video game. I have cute rug monkey relatives (okay, some of them are in their thirties but still, who is writing this, me or you?) who play and even design such things. If you were to ask your Auntie Vickie to interpret, or critique, that particular word-salad of a title (Pillars of Eternity?) first of all — remember this, I was programmed and booted up way before video games and home computers. I’d recommend being a bit more concise. If the name were something like, Game of Thrones, it might convey the fantastical nature of the (up to) six hero quest, and possibly the duration of the game (70 hours!) and the length of text (lots and lots of reading required) to engage in real-time tactical battle. That said, I hear it’s a rip-roaring fun adventure. If that’s what floats your boat, primes your pump, inflates your zeppelin, or whatever the case may be.

What floats Auntie Vickie’s boat?  Well, to be honest, not video games, having lost interest around the time of Pong. Pillars? Only if attached to outstanding architecture… Eternity, as in seeking to live for one? Nix. I can’t say I’ve ever aimed for that. Many people search for something that will make them feel more…to transcend…to stand out…for some that may involve idols — American or otherwise, or 15 minutes of fame. In truth, and corny as it may seem, the only worthwhile transcendence is to be found in love, both given and received. If you are fortunate enough to have that, then you have gained an eternity in every moment.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Corinthians

That’s enough for now, be good, and have a great weekend.