Irony

 "At the end of life only irony will remain."

Great quote, don't you think? I like the sound of it. Think of it this way. One definition of irony is " a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result".

I'm wondering how many people, on their death beds, look back on their life with irony. When you're 25 you think your life is going to be "this". When you're 75 you realize it turned out to be "that" - not even close to what you imagined or wanted.

Now, I'm not sure you can find this amusing. I'm guessing most people shed a few tears before their last breath. But if you can die with a smile on your face it makes things easier on the undertaker - it's important to be considerate.

I got the quote from a movie called Parthenope. Parthenope is one of those movies that confuses you. As you move along there are many scenes, situations, and quotes that make you shudder - "oh my God", you think - "I just learned something meaningful. How can I apply this to my own life and make myself happy? And why does this movie make me feel so small, so ashamed of my own existence?"

When it ends, you are not sure if the movie is inspirational or pretentious. Still, I like the quote. There is already a mountain of irony buried in the detritus of my life. Not sure I'll be able to muster a smile when the time comes, but I'll give it a shot.

Gary Oldman plays a rich, jaded, drunk in the movie. His character is spectacular.