31 Years Ago

 June 15, 1992. My first day at the job that would turn into a 30-year journey. A job I thought would last maybe five years. I survived numerous layoffs, and I was at the bottom of the totem pole several times in seniority. My buddy that was hired a few months after me, was laid off. He got transferred to another job and after a few years wound up back where he started. He's still there! 

We went through a lot out there together! Now I'm here and he's loving life there! All is good!

In two days Thing 2 turns 27! Amazing! 

I can tell you that being a parent is one of the most terrible experiences in the world, and one of the best. Thing 2 is visiting South Korea, her BF is stationed there. She's planning on moving to Japan in roughly a year to get her grad degree while her BF is there for two years. 

Loving your kids is wonderful and hurtful at the same time. You appreciate the time you get to spend with them as adults and long for them when you can't see them and spend time with them. You sacrifice, pray, hope, and cross your fingers that they have a better life than you, and when they succeed you can't be prouder of them! You hope you raised them to where they can be independent, and self-sufficient, and have equipped them with some skills that will benefit them as an adult. 

You shouldn't be shocked when they utilize those skills in living their lives but still, sometimes your heart and soul hurt when you aren't able to spend time with them and bond as adults. I always wanted a road trip with them, just the three of us driving to something (doesn't matter what) but the point was just to show them something you three want to see and experience.

Dreams tend to fade over time, ambitions lose their drive, and life moves on. New people come into your life, beloved people can disappear, and you make what you can with what you have. Childhood memories will fade but for some reason, some don't. Some things stick with you. 

People, situations, good and bad, everything changes over time. You grow up and you begin the task of putting your childhood behind you. Age takes its toll and my girls will go through what I'm going through. They'll become reflective and look back and what I or any parent hopes are the good times the family went through together. The journey begins again and then again, over and over as time keeps it's pace. 

That journey all started on this day, 31 years ago!