I put these words up as my facebook status today and it was met with some sarcasm and laughter. I stand behind those words and their meaning. I do not see what is so wrong with expecting people to be respectful to another. Some common courtesy should not be that hard to come by in any day and age. Have people truly forgotten that their “word” means something? Does “honor” and “pride” have to sacrificed in our attempts to get ahead financially?
Instead of laughing at me for my views, why look at why it is a silly concept for people to not live up their potential
If my ideals are out dated, old school, or just too old to “get it” then so be it but I do not think so. I think and feel that we are at a cross roads with these issues and generations to come will look back at us and point out how we, society as a whole didn’t “get it”.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi. I will be taking these words to heart this coming year by being being a man of honor, pride, honesty and respect. I will be the example that which others will look at themselves and question how the conduct themselves. For no other reason then it may motivate them to be part of the “change” as well.
The year 2009 started out pretty crumby. The resturaunt we went to, closed at 11:30 so we had to run into a bar and pay a $10.00 cover to get it just so we can have a drink in our hands to toast with at midnight. Needless to say, we were both pissed.
The year went on to get worse. I was laid off for 6 months. We had to back out of Ford Fiesta Movement due to our lack of income. I was so proud of us for winning too but I knew that we didn’t need the distraction in our lives at that time. During that time, my dad almost died while getting 3 different heart operations. I drove to Florida with my sister so that we can be there for him and my mom because as my Dad put it “you never know, so come here anyway.” I got to see him choking, hyper ventilating, not breathing, turn blue, cry and tell me that he loved me and that he was sorry for being a shitty Dad all these years. For the first time in my life my father told me that he was proud of the man that I am. Today, he is better and will never admit to saying that to me but he knows he did.
At the end of May, my Mom called to say that Grammy wasn’t doing well and was in a Hospice. For the 3rd time in 2 months, I packed a bag and jumped in the truck to drive down to Florida again and not knowing what was going to happen AGAIN. On June 3rd Grammy passed away. I got to tell her how much I love her and how important she will always be to me. She cried and told me that she loved me. Just typing this made me tear up. In one of the graphic novels for his Sandman series Neil Gaiman wrote: You grieve. Then you continue with your life.
And at times the fact of her absence will hit you like a blow to the chest, and you will weep. So true.
As this was going on, keep in mind that we were still broke and with no money coming in, Regina and I hit a rough patch. As I was driving to Florida for Grammy, I really thought that the two of us were not going to last. I could feel us growing apart with each fight about how we would pay the rent. It was scary to me since I know that I love her very much and do not ever want to be without her and yet, I saw this happening. Needless to say, that today, we are great and stronger and closer then before.
The fall turned a corner though, we were both back to work and talking about what we went through. We stopped doing the podcast out and started working on more videos for Stugots Puppet.
I did get my Real Estate license as I promised myself that I would. I did NOT leave construction since I need to have money coming in now but I am working on it. I am looking ahead to 2010 with a zeal for life and the mental power to match my physical strength. I will move mountains to reach my goals and it all start when the ball drops.