Convesations I love.

Yesterday, my dad had the day off and my mom had to teach during lunch. We decided to head to the local Mexican restaurant. After an awesome meal there dad had to get back home because he had to prepare to teach his class the following day. I started just bouncing ideas off of him about what I should do and all of my options. I told him that it would almost be easier if I didn't have any options or any money. The more we talked the more I got to really know my dad. I feel as if most parents are humble in the sense that they will always ask and be interested in what is going on in our lives, but there is so much wisdom we can learn by just asking them about themselves. My dad told me about about a six week trip he took to Europe when he was 16. He told me that he traveled those entire six weeks out of a backpack. They would camp out and cook their own meals and occasionally their chaperons would take them to a reserved dinner at a restaurant. We also talked about his stories in the E.R. and how he felt richest during his residency.

He told me that right after medical school he was making about $20,000, living in Savannah, Ga, and married to my mom. They had a small apartment and basically had about $1,000 to spend every month. There were very few expenses and it was just a time of happiness. A few years later they moved to Spartanburg, SC and began family practice. He told me he made more than double his money, but with a new house to pay for, kids, and just more living expenses he did not feel as "rich" as before. That whole story kind of put things into perspective for me. Each shift in wealth brings on more expenses or at least more lax spending habits. Which means that the ratios of wealth will remain the same. You may make $100,000 a year but if you spend 3/4 of that you are really in the same boat as someone who makes $50,000 and spends 3/4 of that.

Our parents can teach us so much about life if we are just willing to ask and listen. As for my mom, she always has these "suggestions" that I tend to run from because they come from her. Terrible I know, but it's a pride thing. I'm working on it. She was the one that suggested I go to college, I tried to run the other way and go to tech school. I am so glad she pushed me forward because without it I would not have come into so many great opportunities with friends, job opportunities and times of struggle and growth. She is still trying to get me married and having kids, by introducing me to EVERY single girl on Bethel's campus and following up with a simple comment like, "I think she is just gorgeous!" She has good intentions at least.

Life update: Still no job, but still not worried. My car will be fixed sometime next week (hopefully). My plans as of now are to go to Lexington next week, then Chicago to see a friend, then Lansing, MI for the Southwestern awards Banquet.

Teacher?

I've had some time on my hands and I've been thinking...

When you think about what you want to be like when you grow up it seems so distant. "One day" or "later" seemed to drive the thoughts right out of my head. Well that day is now and I've really tried to do a lot of brainstorming as to what I would like to do in like 5 years, or heck even 5 days. Over the summer I met a lot of cool families and most of them asked if I was going to school to be a teacher because I was selling educational books. Usually my reply involved some form of "no" and a quick explanation as to what exactly a communications major was.

I did meet this one mom however that keeps plaguing my mind. This is kind of sad so prepare yourself accordingly. Abby, if you're reading this, you might want to grab some tissues. It's terrible but I don't even remember her name or her two little girls' names. I can remember exactly what her house looked like and where it was, but for the life of me I can't remember her name. Anyway, I knocked on this door and an older woman came to the door. I went through my usual approach of figuring out if she was a grandmother or just baby-sitting. Turns out she was simply watching the kids, but she told me to come back after five to catch the mom. Now this happens quite frequently and it's a great thing because that means that the mom works. Working means she cares about herself and her children enough to make some money, which in then tells us that she would be a cool mom to talk to. So I go back later that evening and start talking with her.

I go through my whole demo of the books and she's smilling and laughing and her kids were a freaking blast to show the books to. They loved the books so much and were asking a million questions about the contents of the books. At the end the mom told me she just simply couldn't afford it because her husband had just passed away. Wow. Boom it hits you doesn't it? Normally in this situation if someone really likes the books you try to "re-close" them. I didn't. There are very few times when I stop being persistent as a salesperson but this type of situation calls for it. I expressed my sympathy and began to pack up my things but then the mom started asking me about what I was going to do. I told her probably sales or who knows, and she suggested that I become a teacher. I smiled and asked her why and she told me that I was really good with kids and all that stuff, but then she said something that was totally out of the ordinary response. She told me that I could really impact a lot of people and get through to some kids that might really need some help.

Her words stayed in my right ear for the rest of the summer and even to this day. Well some other things have happened pretty much all today where I've given education a second chance. At church tonight, one of the teachers told me to apply to substitute teach for the kindergarten or first graders. I laughed and immediately brushed it off, but she said the same similar thing about being good with kids because I used to watch the nursery instead of going to church (I know terrible right? It was my excuse when I was younger of how to get out of listening to the sermon).

Here's the last part that really makes me think. My last post mentioned working for the Navy. I took this Navy Ops test and it basically told me that I was in the persuader category. (Totally not me right? haha) Under this several different positions, but Religion and Education came up as the top two. I have this underlying fear that I will some day be called into the ministry so that kind of freaked me out. When I saw education I immediately started scrolling down to see what else it recommended for me. So at this point, who knows? Everyone has an idea of what I should do or what I would be good at, and maybe they're right. Maybe I should be a teacher? All of this to say I had teaching ruled out, but it's creeping back into my options. Pray for me. I'm gonna need it.

Feel like you accidentally went to Twitter?

Haha, so yes, the colors are the same, but you are not, in fact, on Twitter. Man it's been a while. After the summer my life has felt like a slow motion Whoosh.
A few updates:
- My car is getting fixed and will be done in about two weeks. (Then I'll go see my LEX friends.)
- I have to take the ASTB (Aviation Selection Test Battery) to start the process of entering the Navy.
- I have not committed to joining the Navy, Air Force, or anything I'm just keeping my options open.
- I am not at all worried about what the next few months look like. I'm excited actually.

That's all I can think to put on that list for now. Being at home is not so bad this time because I know that I'm free to go where ever I want whenever I want. I do not anticipate staying here that much longer. Hopefully, I'll be working the World Equestrian games with Tyler as an intern, but we'll see. If not, Paul Niswander said he could get me some other job. Depending on if I get the job with Alltech, I would like to go to Europe. Germany, Italy and possibly Spain are on my list so far. I am also waiting on a friend to pull through getting me a buddy pass ticket so I don't have to pay as much. All of these plans are up in the air and I would not be upset if all of them fell through because I know that these next few months are all about exploring and I have enough money to last me through them so...who cares? :).

I just realized that every time I write a blog I try to have some form of pattern or organization, but it always just ends up in short paragraphs of random information. To go with that, Read, A Long Way Gone it's really good, but also graphic (very,vivid violence) so beware.

Oh one more thing. I found a new dream destination. Maldives. It's sooo sick. Check out these pictures of it.