The Greatest Adventure Continues in The Stuff That's Not Interesting But Is The Most Interesting Stuff I'll Write

I spent a lot of time writing that last entry (The Greatest Adventure in Things That I'm Grateful For), one of the longest amount of times I've spent writing any of my entries. I spent nearly six days looking up those people and writing notes to recall memories or specifics of these people whom (with the exception of Chris) I have not spent a significant period of time dwelling upon in some years.

The memories and events that occurred during that relatively short period of time are some of the most vivid which I possess. My memory has always been very good. My mother has said that my memory is one of the most vital she has ever seen simply because I can remember things as far back as 1985, which would make me barely 2 years old.

I spoke to my mother the other day. Something she casually volunteered for has the potential to turn into a career for her, which is something she desperately needs. It was only a year ago that I sat with her in her front yard as she told me that she's ready to die. It was something I had seen coming for many years, as my little brothers transition into adulthood, she started taking a look at her life and realized that there was nothing there. She had devoted nearly her entire being into raising my little brothers and caring for my eternally-ailing grandfather. Well, the boys are nearly grown. Cameron graduated high school, is a highly-paid Best Buy employee and starts college in the Fall. Chuckie has become the darling of his church and actually is leaving for Mozambique in a few weeks.

She confided in me that she's unhappy with her marriage but she doesn't imagine that she'll divorce my step-father because she can't imagine herself dating. I quietly reminded her that she is now the age my grandparents were when I was born, and having spent so much time with them, I can say that life really can begin at fifty. I'm not sure that helped alleviate some tension, but I was just trying to help. She also said that she doesn't know what she'll do with her time. She hasn't worked since 1995 and she believed that she no longer had skills on par with the needs of her career.

Well, that fear seems to be unfounded. A year ago, she ran for the school board and was elected chairperson. She has since discovered that the school through which she has been home-schooling my little brothers is totally corrupt. They embezzle money, fire teachers, don't meet standards, the works. So a judge and attorney both suggested that she form her own organization and petition for a charter to start a new school. Over the last several weeks, my mother has been gathering people together and is beginning to get everything set. I think it's good for her and I'm glad that she's got something.

You know, it wasn't just the people I mentioned in The Greatest Adventure that made that period of time so exceptional. It was the fact that I had a reason and opportunity to really think about myself and my reasons for things I was doing and had done. It was the first time that I really thought through about myself. Hardcore introspection. People find it shocking that I wasn't always like this, but it had to begin somewhere. Evaluation and critique of my actions became a template that has pretty much guided me ever since.

However, there was an added element, one that really prompted the previous entry. I had the guys. I had these men who would hold onto my secrets and who would be other perspectives in these situations. I had other people with whom I could discuss the difficulties of my life. It's really the only time in my life I've had that on such a complete level. I recently realized that I've attempted over and over to recreate that situation but it has never been as perfect or successful as it was then. Maybe the only exception is Caite in Paris... and I was a dick to her, so it's not even that ideal.

I think it's nice that sometimes I can provide that for my mother.