Consequences

I so hate consequences. That’s the name of a song by Relient K. The lyrics are so true for most of us, if we’re honest with ourselves. I gotta get away from all of our mistakes. We would prefer to live the life we want to live without any negative effect or bad consequences. Often we fail to realize that everything we do has a consequence. Some consequences are irrelevant but some have significant implications.

A simple example of this idea is something that has stayed in my memory for several decades. When I was a young child, I was shopping with my mother in a store called Jumble China. This shop was packed full of breakable items. Somehow, either I broke something or had a near accident with something of value, and my mother or the owner, can’t remember who, impressed upon my young brain that if an item was broken, it would have a consequence. Either my mother would have to pay for it, or the store owner would be without the ability to sell it. Just a simple concept, but everything has a consequence.

Last week my husband and I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody. A movie about the life of Freddie Mercury of the band Queen. I started listening to Queen when I was in junior high school. Mainly on the school bus going to field hockey games. Two songs were always played and sung loudly: We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. I can remember stamping our cleated feet as we drove to and from a game. Oh the poor bus drivers! I think they were used to it though and perhaps even enjoyed our enthusiasm- on some level.

I love music and I love rock music and I love Queen. I thought the movie gave a very good glimpse into the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Of course it is only a snippet of the whole and a degree of reality and truth, but it did create a story of a very talented artist, which in turn made for a good film.

While Freddie Mercury was alive, and I was in my teens, I really was unaware of his life and lifestyle. I liked their music mostly because it correlated with something else I loved, being on the field hockey team. The movie however, brought to the forefront details of Freddie Mercury’s life that I knew on some level, but never really gave it any thought. There were so many parts of the movie that I found poignant, touching and sad. He was such an incredible talent, which I knew, and yet he was surrounded with such conflict and heartache, which I did not know. I’m sure many of us wish we could rewrite his story. Like many other artists, we wish he had more days here on this earth.

I certainly am not here to judge or condemn. He lived a lifestyle, surrounded by illicit drugs and promiscuity, that I cannot relate to. And yet I feel sympathetic to his struggle on many levels. I wish he had people around him to help and guide him. Perhaps that could have changed the course of his life, so he wouldn’t fall victim to the consequences of his life decisions. Then again, maybe he did have people around him but he chose not to listen. He had a family, but they did not seem to understand him. Their lives were culturally unrelatable. He had a girlfriend who he loved deeply, but her voice, at least as portrayed in the movie, was kept from Freddie and he seemed to follow the voice of someone with an ulterior motive.

Don’t you wish you could rewrite so many endings to certain stories? Or maybe, if nothing else, have a greater influence on those you know and love? I always seem to think that I could write a better life-story. But what makes me think my ending would be better? Maybe the life that someone like Freddie Mercury had was enough? Why do we need longevity for a life to be considered ample? I suppose the answer is more complex than we just don’t want the absence or void. We want people we know and love in our lives as long as possible. I think that’s gist of it. Right?

Freddie Mercury clearly was responsible for his life and his actions. However, that being said, it doesn’t mean you or I can’t feel sad about the choices he made and wish for a different outcome. It is a very difficult topic. I am the type that recognizes that we are incredibly influenced by external circumstances that sometimes, even if we know better, are difficult and almost impossible to overcome. Yes, nothing is impossible but often certain behaviors are hard to undo, and I think that is where one’s faith and belief system comes into play.

Some will wonder why I would even write about Freddie Mercury. He like us are all part of something bigger than ourselves. We are here on earth for a designated amount of time. I am not here to judge ones life or lifestyle. I saw a man who had an incredible gift and followed a path that ultimately caused his premature death. I’m just hoping, in the end, he made peace with his maker and he is singing with the angels. I’m always dreaming of a happily ever after.