Life is the Greatest Adventure
Age provides a certain introspection that is lacking from our youthful experiences, in my life at least. I have plastered my younger years on the pages of this blog for three weeks now. I wrote of bad times and good. At times, I forget how much I have changed over those decades. I think that is the true story of our lives. We all started as helpless newborns, depending on our parents for everything. Years later, we move out on our own and create new lives.
Circumstances change, jobs change, and the people in our lives change as well. Having been a military brat, change came more quickly than for most. We never lived anywhere more than three or four years. I would build a new cadre of friends and acquaintances at each stop. Not long after that, we would move and have to start the process all over. I am not complaining. That was just the way it was. Many others have had similar experiences whether due to military duty or job changes and promotions. Most of my friends along the way were military brats too. Some of you have noted that you still have friends from early school days. That must be awesome. After relocating so often, it became too easy to let those relationships go, as I knew I would only be in the new location a limited time.
Then I came to sunny California. After leaving the Midwest in mid-winter, the sun, warmth, and ocean breezes here were hypnotic. I was sold on day one, and I have remained here for forty years. That was a monumental change after my previous experience. Yes, California has grown loonier by the day since then, but it is still home.
I was a true Midwesterner. Now, thanks especially to my life with Aida, I am quite different nowadays. I understand Spanish quite well. I speak and write it too, but my comfort level there drops quickly. For years, we would watch Mexican soap operas together in the evening. Those were the days before drug cartel violence became the core of more recent programs. I used to love hot chiles and spicy food. Age has reduced my tolerance for heat, which is a shame in some ways. It is a benefit in other ways, but that is not suitable to discuss here. I still make my breakfast quesadilla every morning, except when we go to Cafe Jalisco for Chilaquiles en salsa verde con pollo y huevos.
My San Diego family became the core of my existence. Ultimately, I am a simple man. I do not need much to be satisfied. I am firmly confident about my place in God’s universe. If age provides those insights, we are all blessed to watch our hair turn gray, although I do understand those who dye their hair. I wear my gray like a badge of honor.
Satisfaction is a wonderful thing. Every life has ups and downs. When we can stop fighting reality and just enjoy the ride, it gets much less bumpy, at least for me. Now, I focus on what really matters to me. I suppose I was a fool for too long, searching for meaning in something silly like a job. Well, I learned. Better late than never. Enjoy the day.
Hi, Karl! This resonated with me. I’m glad you’ve found satisfaction in your life. As a military brat, I never dreamed I’d be satisfied living in one place for long. Dad used to say we had Gypsy blood, and I believed it, albeit metaphorically. And yet, I am also content with my life. If it’s age-related, then I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to get here.
Blessings!
Patty
Patty, I think the desire to move around is a military thing. It is just part of the job, especially for those who serve for decades. I am much happier being on one place for a long time. From my earlier posts, you know my family life before college was a mess. Now, I am free. I am glad you found your freedom from that Gypsy life too.
I, too, admired those who tell me they have lifelong friends from elementary school and still hang out with them. We military brats don’t know what that is. The internet has allowed me to connect with some of my friends from my teenage years, but they live all over the world now. Yet, our lifestyle taught us resiliency and how to move on when it was time, and I am quite grateful for that lesson. Great post, Karl!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette. Many current friends have lifelong friendships. You and I never had that opportunity, which is a bit sad. Still, look how awesome we turned out, right? Our lives are lessons in humanity. Everyone is different. When I consider all the people of the Earth, that is a LOT of unique souls. No wonder our world is so complicated, yet amazing.
Hi, Karl,
Finding yourself and discovering the truth that you model your life after, takes away the burden of trying to please everyone. I am glad that you find your life.
Shalom Aleichem
Absolutely correct, Pat. When a person connects to what is true and real, all the noise dies down. Every new step seems obvious and right. Too bad it took me 60+ years to truly understand and live that.
Hi Karl–I sometimes watch telenovelas when I want to practice Spanish. Today I met a young man from Puerto Rico who told me he didn’t like living in the cold and snow here, but he came her for a job. I asked him if the word for snow was nieves, and he said it was. I spoke a little Spanish to the Dominican Red Sox player last weekend. His nickname is Carita–“chubby cheeks” in Dominican Spanish. He is “numero once” (number 11). Before I met him, I practiced how to say, “Thank you for staying with the Red Sox” (they gave him tons of money to stay) in Spanish. He gave me a big smile with his Carita cheeks! I wish I had more chances to practice speaking Spanish. And by the way, it’s snowing here again today…
Wanda, sorry about the snow. I lived in it for years and am glad to be away from it now. My education in Spanish has taken a long time. I took a Spanish class in high school, which turned out to be a waste of time. More recently, my company sent three of us to Berlitz for some training. I don’t know how much it helped my Spanish, but that is where I met Aida, so it was a win-win scenario for me. Being around her and her extended family has helped a lot, as did working in Tijuana for several years. All the best.
You seem to be content with everything in your life except for how your career ended. That is amazing. I wish I could say that, but I have too many regrets.
Susanne, I think I am getting over the clown I worked for in my last job. Honestly, I have worked for worse. The most recent event is at the top of my memory, so it gets higher billing. My life has had its share of bad news. For me, there came a point where I realized it was the past and I cannot change a moment of it. Acceptance of my past helped me relegate previous incidents to the trash heap. Whether good or bad, each of those events shaped me into the person I am today. Making the best of my life is now my goal, plus thanking God for all the Grace He has shone me.