The past year: a reflection

The past year has been an interesting one in my life on this earth. Hell, in the last couple months many changes have been made in my life. Back in August, I got it in me to take off....to leave everything and start over, travelling around and working from place to place. I desperately needed a change. I thought that was what I needed.

So I gave notice to my family and friends, as well as my road crew job, and started making very rough plans to head towards Fort Myers, FL. I took off on a mountain bike that was given to my by Nathan Delong (an old High School friend who thought I should have it, seeing as though both bikes I had previously had been stolen). It was a very nice thing to do, especially seeing as though Nate and I have barely talked in the past decade or so.

I packed up as much as I thought I could carry with me, which amounted to about two sets of clothing, a tent, my camera and tripod, a blanket, my father's old laptop, a little bit of food in the form of ramen noodles and rice, a sterno camping stove, a pot and some silver ware...as well as various other matches and camping tools I thought I would need.

I made it 160 miles on my newly acquired mountain bike. I made it to Lima, OH....and I knew that was about as far as I was going to push myself.

My back and apparently the rest of my middle aged body had had enough.

That moment would be a benchmark for the rest of the year.

I am not as young as I once was....

...and what I thought I needed....to escape...was not what I needed at all.

Don't get me wrong, it was good for me. I learned alot about myself and about people on my little adventure, but after coming back into Wyandotte for Austin's 16th Birthday, I knew I had to stick around. Once I got into town, I knew that there was no way I could leave again.

Fort Myers was great. The location and the weather were beautiful....simply breathtaking at times. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. But, when your life tells you that you need to do something, sometimes you should listen...

And now, my mother has decided to start a family business in the form of an antique and furniture storefront on Eureka across from Cahalan's Party Store and and auction house located in Monroe...which was another reason I felt as though I should stay in town...Better to work towards a family business that to work for anybody else in my opinion. My mom has always dreamed of going into business for herself, and if I can help her do so, than I really see no other option.

The past year has humbled me. It has aged me, it has made me very aware of my own mortality. I have learned much in the past year, I have alot more to learn still.

Let's hope I do.

There is alot of improving to be done...if I am ever going to meet the girl of my dreams, I have to first make sure that I have it in me to be the man of her dreams...

much love everyone.