Hyperion Avenue

Tomorrow Virginia and I will embark on the next stepping stone of our lives by turning another page and closing a chapter. The adventure continues. Not too long ago, I was faced with choices of where I was going, most of time the answer seemed to be “no where”.  I knew so much, yet so little in the same moment.

I will never forget the moment that three wonderful brothers, John, Shay and Jason, would open their apartment to me  to sleep on a slightly busted sofa and redetermine my hopes and destination in life.  Shortly after, they would open the same door for my wife, Virginia.  A short time later, two of them would stand beside me as I married my wife. Who knew what was to come?

Our footsteps traversed journeys of religion, spirituality, childish laughter and serious dreams.

Tomorrow, we will move out of the home that sparked our beginnings.

In a short time, Virginia and I will chase each other around our first home together and make entirely too much noise and accidently spill eggs on the floor.  We will have guests that can visit and use our sleeper-sofa (coming soon).

This past year has provided more learning opportunities and growth than I could have ever anticipated.  I am certain this coming year will provide more.  That will merely be the beginning.

Guys, thank you for everything you provided me and allowing me to strike out on my next adventure.  It will never be forgotten.

Measurements of life’s achievements in common terms is something in which I know I will never succeed.  I never got the rule book and the right measurement stick.  Guess it got lost in the mail.

Self above others alluded me also.  Yep, successful people are commonly viewed as the one’s with expense accounts, arsenal of weapons in the basement, frequent flyer miles, new cars in the drive way and a wine of the month club.  I have a Ford truck with a cracked windshield and a Ian Tyson disk I bummed from Pops and a determined soul inherited from mom.

I am the one that is the lover of “lost causes” and being nobel.  The funny thing about nobility is that is not tangible and sometimes viewed as attention seeking.  My causes are never closing a door on the handicapped, never leaving someone stranded on the road and if needed, loosing my shirt.  I have gotten pretty successfully at that one.

It is a pretty good gamble that I won’t amount to much by this world’s standards.  Just another dreamer that writes a few notes here and there.   Certainly no John Grisham.

Nope, none of those.  I will someday stroll up to the gates of heaven.  Worn out ball cap, worn out jeans, worn out back.  I will likely have a Pabst’s Blue Ribbon in one hand and a Marlboro in the other.

My only hope is when I meet Jesus, he puts his arm around my shoulder and says, “Well done, son.  Well done.”

Step right up, you too can change the world for just $1,100.  No waiting period.  In a world where positive acts are met with apathy and megalomaniacs are looking for their moment of immortality, look no further that Blackwater ProShops!  Right here, you too can become the proud of owner of an assault rifle and a “how to defend yourself in close quarters” manual.

Straight to you from the people that brought back waterboarding, testicle manipulation (car battery sold separately), how to use sodomy and rape to get what you want (cargo container outside of Kabul not included), a short synopsis and learning the truth through introspection of just how awesome you are (cool Oakley sunglasses, flack jacket and meth cost extra).

Apparently after Blackwater contractors were banned from Iraq for killing 17 citizens without provocation, it was determined a name change and selling off their extra weaponry was in order.  Good thing is it is all available at the gift shop.

Xe, now promising to walk away for billions of “no bid” military contracts (yeah, right), will focus on training military forces through Afghanistan and right here at home.  I feel better already.

We can’t seem to invest enough intellect into stopping an oil disaster that will decimate the Gulf of Mexico for decades to come, but have no fear, we are well enough trained to just take over another nation and sell our brand of  “freedom”, by force if necessary.