NEW BEGINNING? HERE’S WHERE YOU START

Most of us have had a new beginning at least once?

Does that sound right?

“With this high school diploma the world is your oyster,” was a saying.

Not, “The world is your clam,” but why quibble.

That changed over the years with:

“With this college degree you’re all set to apply to graduate school, then the world is at your beck and call.”

Sounds good, eh?

A professional degree gains you entry to a professional career and higher pay and a better life?

That doesn’t sound like an oyster or a clam, but a driven goal.

Achieved goals create a new beginning.

Do a quick check: what are your life goals and how close are you to them?

After all is said and done, you’ve got your academic work done to do your dream work, but you hate where you live?

Some would say, “Too picky,” while others say, “Welcome to adulting.”

But you say, “I want it all.”

So you start a new beginning in a new town.

 

Starting Over In A New Town

If you’ve seen people in a store buying new cleaning supplies, a mop, a broom, soap, you know what’s going on.

They’re setting up a new place with housekeeping at the forefront.

That’s a good move, but do you ever wonder where they were moving from? And what happened to all that other stuff?

For me, starting over began with Ashland and college, then to Monterey and the Army, to San Antonio, Philadelphia, Eugene, Delaware, Brooklyn, and finally Portland, Oregon.

Each place was a new beginning, with start overs a few times at each stop. Four places in Philadelphia, four places in Eugene, three in Brooklyn, seven in Portland.

The thrill of it all never stops amazing me. What was I, a rolling stone gathering no moss?

Eventually I settled into my favorite role, my best place: baby boomer daddy and Granddad.

In other words, I got married, settled down, and had kids who have kids.

After thirteen years of fuck-all, I dedicated myself to thirty-seven years of marital bliss. So far.

Some jackass said, “Life begins at forty,” but I disagree.

How many times have you seen some zippy forty year old swinging life by the tail like a stray cat?

There they are with their spray tan, capped teeth, and hair plugs tooling around in their new convertible scoping out new talent.

Oh, I forgot to add their new divorce, so they are as free as the wind, baby.

At least that’s the first impression.

Once all the ‘new’ wears off, they start with the regret and remorse about their past.

And it never ends because your light isn’t bright enough to put their past in the shadows where it belongs. (Whose is?)

Besides, it reminds you of your past and maybe you’ve got a few skeletons rattling around.

Let’s just wish them all good luck and move the hell on.

 

The Real New Beginning 

New life is the new beginning.

From home births, to gender reveals, to 100 Day celebrations and birthday parties, now it’s our turn to put life into perspective.

New babies, new dogs, new love in the young people, are the new beginning. You’ll know it when you see it.

Go ahead and complain about being invisible, or feeling like a piece of furniture around the house.

The babies don’t know and don’t care.

All they want is you, the you that holds them like they’re the most important thing in your world.

They want to feel your warmth and love without judgement or opinion.

It’s a pretty good gig when you think about it.

Holding that baby and looking into their eyes stops time; they are time stopping with every hope and dream in front of them.

Baby stops your time to reflect on which direction you’ll suggest they take.

Believe me, parents love hearing that from the grands.

The best new beginning includes your loved ones who join you on the journey.

Raise your hand if you’re up for it.

You in back, I see you.