Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for October 08, 2021

And when you look into the Abyss…. (underrated James Cameron flick too)

If you ever get to the “WOTHEHELL” stage of life, no need to flip a coin, just go for the excitement.

“Same Old” also goes into the “Abyss” – only less abruptly.

Took me a sec, I must be tired

MOST of us just buy a new sports car. Or take up skydiving, home brewing or knitting. Or a different spouse. Though I guess this one might qualify as skydriving…

Schrodinger’s coin.

Option 3—just stand there and let the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate decide.

He got out of the car to cut off his Slauson. He is still looking for the fork in the road.

Decisions, decisions…

What if the “Sameolsameol” leads to “The Abyss”? ;D

Darwin award winner in wait

I can’t bring myself to “like” today’s strip. I think it’s Abysmal.

… Not sorry for this one.

Heads I win, tails you lose.

Is there a reverse?

I’ve a theory that our brain thrives on novelty. mediated by dopamine. that’s why it’s a good idea to keep learning. because exposure to new ideas is the only way to keep the dopamine going and keeping the brain young.

while it’s need not be as drastic as car-diving off the abyss. it’s certainly something to keep in mind.

Though “Same Old Same Old” doesn’t sound appealing, Bob probably doesn’t fully understand the meaning and ramification(s) of “The Abyss”.

“More than at any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

— Woody Allen, “My Speech to the Graduates”

Certainly not New Jersey (circles, U-turn turnabouts).

maybe he should turn around and go back to that left turn at Albuquerque

Thing is, you don’t flip the coin. It flips you.

My same old same old was pretty great at that stage of life, so I saw no reason to do anything different. Well, I did take up ice skating at my son’s request (so I could skate with him).

The road less traveled

Howsabout the road less taken?

Thelma and Louise

I just passed that intersection. Did you know an Indian Chieftain Motorcycle will only go 114 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats? I do. …gotta figure a way to short out that governor next time.

When one reaches a certain advanced age, the difference between the two roads is much more difficult to see.

Is this one of those “hold my beer” moments?

Bob’s been retired for a bit. A quick end has it’s appeal.

“May you live in interesting times” is a curse. Same old, same old may be a rut, but you know what to expect. That isn’t all bad.

And when Alexander saw the extent of his empire, we wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.

As children we are all Alexanders, conquering our empires. Somewhere along the way, most of us stop. We lose our curiosity. We get comfortable within our personal domains and we jealously protect their borders. All of us stop growing physically (except maybe sideways), but too many of us stop growing mentally and spiritually. We become the walking dead.

Reclaim the three year old within you. The one that can study, with great fascination, the mundane work of an ant and wonder and imagine what it would be like to be one.

Now that I’ve reached the point where it is obvious that there are more years behind me than in front of me, I’ve managed it. Those around me see a crazy old man – harmless, but a bit eccentric and off the deep end: someone who does not care that people are laughing at him for he laughs at himself as well, someone whose actions do no always bestow dignity: someone who is apparently oblivious to all the chaos around him – yet somehow survives and does great things.

I’d not have it any other way. In the final analysis, all we have is ourselves and each other. Everything else is artificial. I still play, either by myself or with my friends. It’s great being a 72-year-old child.

We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

I weep for those who live in fear of what isn’t real, who feel compelled to defend the borders of their petty kingdoms with every energy of their soul, who chase money and power and worship false gods. What a waste of a human life!

A first century Jew put it better than I can, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?”

They’re different???

when you look into the abyss the abyss looks back at you!

And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack

And you may find yourself in another part of the world

And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife

And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?”

- Eno / Frantz / Byrne / Harrison / Weymouth, October 8th 1981

L’appel du vide (what America is experiencing)

Bob is flip-flopping on whether to “walk on the wild side”

Looks like Wiley just needed a filler for today’s strip.

On a side note—Non-Sequitur was a Jeopardy answer 10/7/21 (Latin translations).

Time to get a better GPS. Life decisions are never binary. There is always another way that doesn’t involve suicide or infinite boredom.

Into the abyss,

Kiss a young Miss,

Thru a red mist,

Feel the hard fist,

Of the Miss who wouldn’t be kissed

He needs a jeep to go down that road

My problem is that the ‘Same Old, Same Old’ isn’t that much different than the Abyss.

When confronted with 2 untenable options, invent a new one.

No guts, no glory!

oh my – such insight

My last car chose for me. It threw itself into a large culvert without asking me. Fortunately, the seatbelt and airbags were on my side so I walked away.

The problem solved itself.He’s out of gas.

Just go off the abyss it is quicker.

Also known as the “Too Old to Rock’n’Roll, Too Young to Die” stage.

He has a car that can turn its wheels ninety degrees! Wow!

I’ll take “The Abyss”…James Cameron is a talented filmmaker…

Yes there are two paths you can go by but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.

" ♫ Into the abyss will I run….♬ " Disturbed/Stricken

Frost wrote about the Road Less Taken.

Welcome to the Road Hardly Ever Taken.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Alas, a bird only…