19 Jun 2024
Have you heard of the sitcom "Seinfeld" that came out in 1989? Today I attended a stand-up comedy show by Jerry Seinfeld, the star of the show. Apart from Jerry Seinfeld, who played himself, the other characters are not real people. Although the name is the same, the Seinfeld in the show is technically a character too. I remember feeling sad when I had no more episodes left to watch because I enjoyed their complaints and frustrations, finding satisfaction in them. Now, he's 70 years old, and honestly, I was a bit worried. I wanted to keep the youthful vibe of the sitcom in my heart, but my desire to see a famous person in person was stronger, so I went to the show, and I'm glad I did. Seeing that he can still sharply observe the world and bring joy to people at 70 reassured me that aging is inevitable but doesn't have to be a hindrance. Plus, being in a cheaper seat far from the stage probably helped maintain some of that illusion.
The opening act was Mario Joyner, and he set the perfect tone—not too long, not too short, not too formal, and not too rude. He wittily shared his observations from walking around Brisbane, making relatable jokes about rarely seeing Black people and the name Woolloongabba. He also talked about his cool life at 62, never having been married or having kids (he balanced this well, not coming off as too boastful). By the way, Seinfeld got married at 45 and mentioned that marriage requires many compromises but isn’t a bad thing. It was refreshing to see two people with such different lifestyles perform together. Both seemed genuinely happy with their lives.
Unexpectedly, the show helped me get over my fear of aging and reassured me that it's okay whether I get married or not.