Daily writing prompt

What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

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Okay, I am not going to take this question so literally that I answer food, water, and shelter. I am going to take it literally enough that I don’t gloss over the word “objects” and answer Jen, Bellana, and Harry. I am going to take it seriously and try to come up with three material items that I really can’t get along without. Okay? Now that I have established the ground rules, we’re good to go?

Right then, three objects I can’t really live without.

1. My glasses. I’ve been wandering around the house this morning, getting things ready for the wall/tile guy who’s coming over today for the next phase of the kitchen remodeling, and when I got up and started getting stuff done I forgot to put on my glasses. I couldn’t read my watch, I couldn’t read the receipt from Lowe’s, I couldn’t see anything clearly. I need my glasses. I can’t get along without them.
2. I need a computer to do my job. I also need it to keep track of my food and water post-gastric bypass surgery. I also need it to keep in touch with everyone I need to keep in touch with. It’s also more or less my TV and movie and book and music connection. I could get by with my iPhone, but I am more efficient and productive with an actual computer. It’s sort of a necessity for life at this point.
3. My car. Since Covid started I haven’t been driving nearly as much as I used to, but it is still absolutely a necessity. If the kids have a problem, I need to be able to get to them. If anyone in the extended family has a problem, I need to be able to get to them. If the contractor realizes he doesn’t have enough tile to finish the kitchen back splash, then I need to be able to go out and get him more quickly. My car allows me to do all of that, as well as a million other things. It would be nice to not need a car, but I wouldn’t be very good in a world like that. I need my car.

So there you go. I took the question seriously, but not too literally. Here’s hoping you all have a good Sunday. The Boston Bruins aren’t playing today, which is disappointing, but after getting shelled by the Islanders last night it’s probably a good thing. Other than that, may your Sunday be grande.

Daily writing prompt

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

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Would it be easier to ask what experiences did not help me grow? Every experience leads to growth. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? We’re human. That’s what we do. Theoretically of course. Maybe not if you’re a maga cult member. Who knows.

Here are some things. I am not going into details about how each thing changed me. Mostly because it’s kind of obvious when you think about it. We’re probably all just about the same in these respects. I will also try to keep the sarcasm at a minimum, but I can promise you that I will fail in that regard. Spoiler alert.

• Failing at my first attempt at college, and similarly succeeding in my second
• Starting a career and not failing miserably at it
• Starting a relationship with Jen
• Literally everything that has happened with respect to being both a husband and a step father. There are a lot of failures in there, but a few glowing successes too
• Becoming a home owner… who knew?
• Having weight loss surgery. I don’t know who I am anymore, or what I am, or how to be who or what I am. My entire identity has been shuffled. Jen got annoyed with me the other day when I referred to myself as “fat boy”. Thankfully I still have red hair, but for how long?
• Losing my mother
• After 86 years of colossal failures, the 2004 Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series. That lead to so much personal growth. The Bruins winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 did too, but they had actually previously won it in my lifetime so it felt a little different. Granted that previous win came when I was about one year old, but it still counts.
• Seeing Star Wars for the first time. Seeing the original trilogy end. Then decades later getting a second trilogy that I never thought would happen. Then another decade after that getting the third trilogy and seeing that through. Then getting a bunch of television series and more movies. All of this Star Wars has lead to oh so very much personal growth
• After almost 14 years of talking about it, getting the kitchen remodeled. I feel like a new man when I stand in the new kitchen, and it isn’t even done yet

How’s that list. We just have to accept the fact that the Red Sox are going to finish in last place again, and our championship run is long over and won’t be coming back for quite a while. Let’s just hope the current drought doesn’t last 86 years like that last one did. The new season is just a few short weeks away though. Eternal optimism, even in the face of certain baseball doom.

What was I talking about?

Daily writing prompt

Do you enjoy your job?

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This July I am going to reach the 20th anniversary of my first day with the company I work for. This past Sunday (four days ago) was the anniversary of my promotion that put me into my currect role within the company. That was 11 years ago.

Given all of that, I would say that I enjoy my job. I would not have stuck with it for all of these years if I didn’t enjoy it. I mean, it’s not as much fun as playing guitar for a living should be (theoretically at least) or taking pictures for a living should be (theoretically at least) but it’s a good job and I like it. I feel good doing it. I feel like I am able to indirectly help people who help people for a living. That’s rewarding in it’s way.

If I could make a living playing guitar though, I would drop my job in a heartbeat.