Wednesday Afternoon

After a dreary day at work, I returned home stopping briefly at my mail box to see if anything important required my attention. Betwixt the scant pile of junk mail that claims my usual Wednesday mail, a letter from my university required my attention. I did not need to open it; the letter was regarding my upcoming graduation (pending passage of my currently enrolled classes this semester).

Setting all my mail on my dining room table, I sat back a bit. Wow, I have come a very, very long way. For all this time, for better or worse, for all those things, I am so close to achieving a major milestone in life. I thought back on all those past experiences which also marked major milestones for me: age 9, moved to a different country to receive an education in my mother's language. Also, first time ever living with a bunch of unruly women. Age 12, got my first job as a busboy for my parent's restaurant. Age 14, found out through rum cake about my allergic reaction to alcohol, and the following day, won my very first state competition in a business event, and decided then that my life would be best lived as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Age 15, met many people, including European soccer girls, who all completely altered my then jaded perspective on my life. Age 17-18, graduated from high school and realized that life is what I make it, not what others want for me. Age 19, paid my first real income tax for actually making money doing something with my life.

My memories sped up -- more milestones came flying forward. But my beautiful, unscathed cell phone buzzed at me, reminding me that I just landed from my roundtrip down memory. I stood up, stretching and groaning simultaneously, and glanced back at how much time was spent sitting back. I set aside my university's envelope, beneath the other credit card envelopes-- unopened, untouched...