What's To Come

The holidays fade away, and the New Year proceeds. I need to earn money.

Tomorrow, my youngest son takes the city-wide exam that will determine whether he gets into the high school of his choice next September.

He seems calm tonight, confident in his ability. But only a tiny percentage of students get admitted to this school; not only do they need all A's, but very high test scores and other attributes.

He's studied the requirements and knows being accepted is within his grasp. My only advice is to get a good night's sleep.

Every week brings a new challenge for at least one member of my family. Everyone is actively pursuing their next goal; we are not people to sit still for long.

Me? My goal is to earn more money. I'm the financial engine behind my family, and I was laid off from my last job exactly a year ago today.

This year I have to fix things. My health is returning, my energy will follow, so there will be no excuse for anything but success.

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Today, and the Next One

(My oldest son and youngest grandson.)

Back in the "real world" the past couple of days, I've been reeling. When was the last time you checked out of the world for four weeks? No news programs, no TV at all, no meetings or lectures; no driving a car, or shopping for groceries; none of the regular things.

It is invariably a shock to rejoin the normal routines after such a hiatus. I suddenly sympathize with the prisoner who is released, or the astronaut who returns.

It was not such a long time, but long enough for me to have forgotten how many decisions, large and small, have to be made in the average day. Maybe that explains my profound tiredness; that, and a sense that I'd like to change my life going forward.

For health reasons, I must change certain things about my diet and lifestyle, and I shall do so, easily. My restrictions are minor compared to those who have much more serious problems, and common-sense in any event.

But for emotional and spiritual reasons, I need to live in a new manner.

More about that in the posts to come.

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The Elusive Hunt

There's not all that much you can say to a teenager about the journey he is on that will get through right away, but using your own life as an example -- both positive and negative -- will probably trump any lectures.

In that regard, I can't remember enough of my own teen years to be useful, but I have both succeeded and F***ed up my adult life so royally that there is plenty of ammunition for us both to draw upon.

Then again, getting well enough to do the simplest of fatherly tasks -- playing frisbee in the park -- is a new experience for me. Sometimes he tracks down my throws, sometimes they soar beyond his reach.

Either way, I know he's happy I'm "back."

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