Thinking out loud
Posted 09-27-2007 at 08:07 PM by Karl Stalcup
27 September 2007
It dawned on me today, less than a month from now, I'll have been at my job 11 years. Longest I've stayed at any job my entire life. Thing is, I'm starting to get itchy feet. The responsible side says stick it out. The kid in me says not only ain't ya getting younger, you're really not happy, dude, you've pissed away your dreams...
It's all choices.
At 18, I joined the Navy, instead of knocking on doors in So-Cal, yeah, I knew which doors to knock on... but, After all, it was the Adult thing to do. "You don't want to be a grease monkey all your life, beside, nobody can make a living playing with hot rods"
Got out of the service, went to work for an automotive paint company... met a lot of good people... then met my wife... we lived in Norwalk, Roscrans at the 5... Erick came with the deal, then we had Mouse, then the youngest, KW came along... then the Gang-bangers... the Responsible side kicked in... "L.A. ain't the kinda place to raise kids anymore" , my folks were here in Virginia, dad said, come on out, great place to raise a family... he was right...
Sold Car Paint during the week, was a 'helper' on a couple of alky flops... but the kids were growing and needed daddy at home... so I walked away from my dream again...
Oh, I kept in touch... Knew what was going on... even laid hands on a car every now and then...
Kids are grown now, got a couple of really great grandsons... but they're moving out of state end of next month...
Yet I'm kicking myself on what coulda beens... If onlys...
Yeah, I'm getting burnt out... but I can't walk away... Responsibilities, you know?
To Quote Harry Chapin:
"Sometimes I get this crazy dream, I could just take off in my car, but you can travel on ten thousand miles, and still stay where you are"
"Sure old girl, I understand... you don't have to worry, I'm such a happy man..."
d'kid
you know, this wasn't what I was going to write about at all... I was going to do a thing on tacky threads... not stickys... purely TACKY
It dawned on me today, less than a month from now, I'll have been at my job 11 years. Longest I've stayed at any job my entire life. Thing is, I'm starting to get itchy feet. The responsible side says stick it out. The kid in me says not only ain't ya getting younger, you're really not happy, dude, you've pissed away your dreams...
It's all choices.
At 18, I joined the Navy, instead of knocking on doors in So-Cal, yeah, I knew which doors to knock on... but, After all, it was the Adult thing to do. "You don't want to be a grease monkey all your life, beside, nobody can make a living playing with hot rods"
Got out of the service, went to work for an automotive paint company... met a lot of good people... then met my wife... we lived in Norwalk, Roscrans at the 5... Erick came with the deal, then we had Mouse, then the youngest, KW came along... then the Gang-bangers... the Responsible side kicked in... "L.A. ain't the kinda place to raise kids anymore" , my folks were here in Virginia, dad said, come on out, great place to raise a family... he was right...
Sold Car Paint during the week, was a 'helper' on a couple of alky flops... but the kids were growing and needed daddy at home... so I walked away from my dream again...
Oh, I kept in touch... Knew what was going on... even laid hands on a car every now and then...
Kids are grown now, got a couple of really great grandsons... but they're moving out of state end of next month...
Yet I'm kicking myself on what coulda beens... If onlys...
Yeah, I'm getting burnt out... but I can't walk away... Responsibilities, you know?
To Quote Harry Chapin:
"Sometimes I get this crazy dream, I could just take off in my car, but you can travel on ten thousand miles, and still stay where you are"
"Sure old girl, I understand... you don't have to worry, I'm such a happy man..."
d'kid
you know, this wasn't what I was going to write about at all... I was going to do a thing on tacky threads... not stickys... purely TACKY
Total Comments 1
Comments
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Once again, I'm feelin' ya shipmate.
I've been chasing the dream my whole life, but responsibility has kept me re-enlisting in our great Navy. I love what I do, I truly do, but man oh man don't I wish I were out there racin' floppers or diggers with the big boys & girls. I wake up every day thanking the Good Lord for all he's provided me with... including the opportunity to meet Chuck Beal. I haven't given up yet, my friend, I haven't given up yet. |
Posted 10-04-2007 at 05:19 PM by Gordon Carlon
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Recent Blog Entries by Karl Stalcup
- things I've learned in 72 hours (06-14-2008)
- Rest in Peace (03-23-2008)
- I got what I wanted (12-25-2007)
- Happy Holidays "Kids" (12-21-2007)
- I'm Too Old Skool (12-17-2007)
