A life of purpose gives satisfaction. I am a solution to fill your needs (and your stomach!). And the wheel of time turns. You see a lot as it slips by. Secrets, lies, truths. The deceptions people tell each other, the deceptions they feed themselves (only one beer this evening). Faces change, friendships change, but they all want the same thing.
But life moves on.
You can still do it, still fulfil your purpose, but things are slowing down. New models are out, bigger, quicker, quieter, cheaper. My God, even greener. And then it happens, without warning. Maybe I should have seen it coming. Maybe we get complacent, too arrogant to see the writing on the wall. But it happens. You are replaced.
Sure you're still in use, but you're secondary. Power down, an empty shell of your former self. The visits are less frequent, the handling rougher, the surroundings colder (hah – but warmer for me). There's less work to do and your own face begins to wear along with those around you. But still you see the secrets and lies… perhaps more so.
And life moves on.
Hope begins to fade. Will you even be able to work if called upon? The light inside dims, goes out. Never to turn back on and you find yourself wishing for one last deed, one last purpose to fulfil in life. Then you can bow out.
I was lucky. The opportunity came. All in one day, to be filled up with the deceit and then to become part of the solution. Oh what bliss. That's all I prayed for and I got it. The chance to fulfil a last deed and then go out with a bang…
