In Chicago we joke about our two seasons, winter and construction. I’m always talking about the path of life. Many of you have been on my path and I’ve been on yours.
Those paths could have merged due to road construction and one of us taking a detour.
My biggest detour was my marriage. If the Eisenhower, the Dan Ryan and the 294 were all under construction at the same time… you’d have my failed marriage.
Eventually the last traffic cone was picked up and all of the surfaces were paved. That is where I’m traveling now and during all those detours I picked up three passengers. The Shepkids!
I had another detour during my career when open outcry trading was starting to fade. The path had several road closures, but I finally found a road that I’ve taken from the trading pits to a trading office.
All of my plans and preparations, all of the plans and preparations my parents had for me… Well…. I lost those directions, I didn’t have a map, but finally GPS came around and helped me get on the right path.
Getting lost has some real benefits. In fact all of life’s detours and closed exit ramps have a reason for the madness. It ends up being those critical moments that help us grow and learn and live.
Shit if I took my parents plan… I’d be a priest. Could you see me dropping F bombs during my homily?
“Jesus went into the temple and told all these assclowns that they’ve fucked up the place and his Oldman is pissed off! He told those Jagoffs that his dad will destroy this fucking mess and rebuild it!”
My parishioners would walk out of ten o’clock mass dumbfounded.
If I took the path I wanted as a young man I would be an unemployed and bitter journalist. I think the demise of the newspaper is similar to the end of the trading floor. Both are relics….
I was never the next Mike Royko, but I am the guy who writes on a chalkboard that hangs in his kitchen. Have you noticed I’ve been doodling more often in the grabber section?
Time to get my big ass off of this typewriter and take the path of Saturday morning.
Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon. I’m a Horse guy myself who loves a good egg roll now and then.
I put a smile on the sun today. We have some rugby early this morning and Ike over at BuckleDown has collaborated with Aunt Diana’s.
They are offering a chocolate and beer special for Saint Valentine’s Day. I don’t have love right now, so I might partake for Mardi Gras reasons instead. You can’t go wrong with an Old Style and a Whatchamacallit!
Be kind, put some pork in the crock pot and a wet spot on the sheet.
