I saw a meme that said grab the closest book to you, turn to page 47, and post a few sentences.
And I figured why not.
It's a Monday, I am sober and not feeling particularly creative.
Normally the closet book to me would be the story of my life, "Living with Crazy Buttocks" but a neighbor borrowed it and I had to go with the other story of my life, "Confessions of a Dumb, White Guy: Tales About Life, Love And The Risks of Wearing White, Thong Underwear."
Take A Chance On Me
Published April 26, 2012
For those of you familiar with the ABBA song referenced in the title, I apologize as I know you might have trouble getting that song out of your head.
It has happened again, I have turned another year older.
It certainly beats the alternative and it is nice breaking my days alive streak again.
As I approached this milestone, I found myself thinking quite a bit about being this old.
Is there where I thought I would be at this point in my life?
Honestly, no.
I never thought I wanted to be married, I really never thought I wanted kids, and I really, really never thought I would be at home all day taking care of babies.
Fortunately, fate, chance, destiny, or whatever you want to call it thought otherwise, and here I am.
I also realized how often I have lived my life by taking a chance.
I also realized how often I have lived my life by taking a chance.
Hoping that my instincts were right and that I had embarked on the right path.
After I got out of the Navy when I just turned 21, I was still unsure about a lot of stuff including what to do with my life.
After I got out of the Navy when I just turned 21, I was still unsure about a lot of stuff including what to do with my life.
I literally and figuratively had no clue as to what I wanted to do.
I almost joined Army, I almost moved to Las Vegas, I almost went to a small college to play soccer, but then I watched "Animal House."
I knew what I wanted to do.
I wanted to party, and I wanted to be in the Greek system.
I knew what I wanted to do.
I wanted to party, and I wanted to be in the Greek system.
That is all it took to convince me to go to the University of Idaho.
I then joined a fraternity, and if it was not for me trusting my instincts and taking a chance, I have no freakin' idea where I would be right now.
Without the fraternity, I would not have met some of my closest and dearest friends and I would not have met my lovely wife.
Without the fraternity, I would not have met some of my closest and dearest friends and I would not have met my lovely wife.
Taking a chance on love, I decided to forego film school to see if she was the one, and it turns out she was most definitely the one.
And without the lovely Mrs. Shife, I would not have two babies that I love with all my heart and that have changed me in such profound ways.
Trust me, I have also taken chances that have not been so fruitful and led to some painful lessons learned.
Trust me, I have also taken chances that have not been so fruitful and led to some painful lessons learned.
But in the end, all of the chances that I did take were leading me down a grander plan that I could not even comprehend.
As Garth Brooks once sang, "Yes my life is better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance."
I hope to do better tomorrow.
Stay safe, take care and thanks for being there.
Stay safe, take care and thanks for being there.
I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream.
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
That's a great essay by an excellent writer :D
ReplyDelete:-)
ReplyDeleteStay safe, loves to all.
xoxoxo
Excellent. You write so well and, yes, you have the ability to bring tears to my eyes. I loved every word and could identify with some. Isn't it good to have something to be grateful for?
ReplyDeletehehehe...lol
ReplyDeleteglad to read that your own life story was written in many books....
# Stay safe, healthy and virus free
Well, that is just lovely. Ok, I know guys aren't really into "lovely". It does show that you have beaten the curve ~ you're a guy that grew up. Most men I know are responsible, sure...but they just didn't complete that maturity level one would expect from a person of that age. Kudos! Funny how we look back and think that you're in a place where you probably didn't think you'd be, and you're happy about it!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's hard for us to see sometimes is the paths that we take always lead someplace, even if that path is like stepping barefoot on Legos sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly why I like you. Check my whole blog roll, and there is not another young father I follow. Keep loving your wife and your happy marriage and your great kids. That's all you need to do to be a happy guy long after I'm gone.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting that so much good & great in your life came out of watching Animal House. To echo another blogger, it's just so lovely.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, however, do you ever miss, assuming you don't do it much now, playing soccer?
You've done good and you have a lot to be proud of!
ReplyDeleteAhhh!
ReplyDeleteI saw that meme going around in the Twitterverse.
I like your prose. I'm going to have to read you.
XOXO