The Spin of the Ball

Yo Adrian: I watched the Rocky fight scene again. Maybe the 20th time this year. My favourite parts are:

1. Round 1 before the music starts. It looks like a real fight. Rocky takes many punches to the head and the commentators mention it. I try to imagine it happening in real life and I think to myself, “This fight should never have been staged! An amateur versus the best in the world? It’s irresponsible!”

2. When the music starts and the woman holds up the round numbers, dressed as the statue of liberty, painted silver. It’s genius. When the trumpets come in I get a very intense feeling inside.

3. When the fight is over and a gentle piano motif plays. Apollo says, “Ain’t gonna be no rematch,” and Rocky says, “Don’t want one.” Then the final theme plays, with bongo drums, and members of the media swarm the arena. Adrian fights her way into the ring and says, “I love you,” to which Rocky responds, “I love YOU.”

It gets me every time. It reminds me of a scene with my ex-girlfriend. While she is long gone, she helped me understand the love feeling. Now I feel like Rocky in the ring with both my eyes swollen, calling out for Adrian. I think she is on her way. Yo Adrian, hurry up!

Making Amends: I’ve done some unkind things in my life. Things I’ll probably never tell you. Perhaps there are some things you aren’t telling me. That’s fine. I used to think, “How can I possibly be forgiven?” But then I think, if a jerk suddenly started being kind to me, I would probably forgive them. Perhaps it’s never too late to be kind.

The End: When I find myself in a boring scenario, I like to imagine it’s the last thing I’ll ever see. Suddenly it seems interesting. I don’t take it for granted anymore. I’ll be on a train carriage, looking around at all the people on their phones. They don’t know. I’m the only one who knows the universe is ending.