Being the chapter where the hero of the tale has an uncomfortable encounter with a big bus and other adventures of a similar magnitude

I was in town the other day buying some stuff. I was walking along happily in my own little world when I stopped at the traffic lights. Thinking the coast was clear, I took a step forward when I saw a flash of white from the corner of my eye. Instinctively I took a step back and a millisecond later this huge bus whizzed past, inches infront of my face- it must have been going at about 80 km/hr. It would be dramatic to say that it was a brush with death, but it got me thinking how easily I could have been six feet under because of one careless moment. One minute I'm walking down the street with a happy song in my head and everything is cool and then the next, my body is being scraped off the sidewalk.
When I was about seventeen or eighteen, I realized I was going to die. I knew it could be that day or the next week or 50 years down the line, but I realized that sooner or later I was going to die. It took me most of my life to come to terms with this, and when I did I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For most of my life I had been unconsciously terrified of death, but only when I worked it out in my head and did the self-therapy thing did I get used to the idea.
Death would have been a valid excuse for missing club on Wednesday. I had been psyching myself up for it thinking I was ready and then when the time came, I just couldnt be bothered about it. I was on the phone to a friend and then I started reading Emily Dickinson and it kind of slipped my mind. Am I growing too old for this? I havent talked to Geoff yet, but I can already picture our conversation.
Geoff: I thought you wanted to come out on Wednesday. What happened to you?
Me: I was...erm...watching porn.
Geoff: Porn? Good man!
I wasnt actually watching porn on Wednesday, but that's the kind of respectable 'manly' lie that will save you a lot of teasing. Can you imagine how strange the truth would sound? "I was on the phone for quite a while and then I started reading some poetry and kind of forgot." Yes, I think I'm growing too old for this. Might as well get my pension while I'm at it.
Of course I'm not really too old for this- im turning 23 in just over a month- but it does feel that way. My brother at 29 IS old and should be looking for a wife (as he is constantly reminded, poor guy) In a story that is unrelated to this topic but tickled me anyway, we were at the party the other day in a room playing drum and bass and my brother was sitting in a nice big chair infront of a table which had a delicious looking slice of cake. I saw my brother stare at it for ages with a look in his eyes that the World food program is certainly familiar with. Then he reached forward and just slowly gobbled it all up. I was thoroughly amused. Whose cake was that? I shouted to him.
He just shrugged his shoulders "I dont know man!"