In the Begining...

I've had an interesting life, at least I think so. Not interesting in the epic adventure or overcoming a tragedy sort of way. Interesting in the everyday sort of way. Its not over either, not by a long shot, but I've seen and learned enough to feel I have something to share, which I realize is a sort of conceit, but then anyone who blogs harbors that same conceit, believing anyone else cares what they have to say.

But I don't come to this only of my own conceit. Someone,  whose opinion I value very much, recently told me two things: First, that I am a teacher, that one of my purposes in life is to teach (whether anyone listens is another matter.) Second, she told me I should write a book about all the things I've learned in this past year.

Well, I'm not sure how to go about writing a book, so I'll just blog instead and maybe a book will come out of it. In the mean time... Well, there's this.

I guess I should start by giving you, the reader, some idea who I am. I am a 38 year old American man. When I was 20 I became a father by an older woman who, depending on which of several versions of her story you believe, trapped me by getting pregnant of purpose.

When I was 23, she gave up custody of my son to me (with about 2 hours notice), deciding it was too hard to raise a child on her own. I don't think she thought it would be any easier for me to do it alone, just that it would be easier for her to not have to do it at all. So for the last 15 years I have been raising my son.

Eight years ago I started my own business in the housing industry. Five years ago I bought my own house. Four years ago my girlfriend moved in. Two years ago the housing and credit markets began to collapse and my business began to fail. One year ago, my girlfriend left me. Two months ago my house was foreclosed on. And five weeks from now my son will graduate high school.

To most people this may sound like a sad time in my life, but on the contrary it is quite joyous. I am happier and more alive than I have felt in a more than a decade. Despite being unemployed, broke, soon to be homeless, approaching forty, and also soon to be an empty nester, this is probably the greatest time in my life. Because I am in love with a wonderful woman, I am finally free to pursue my own dreams and I have nothing to loose or hold me back. And none of this would have come about if I had not lived through every moment of hardship up until now.

Through out my life I've learned a lot of 'life lessons.' Maybe it because my life has been a bit more than ordinary, or maybe I'm more thoughtful than others, or maybe I'm just conceited enough to think both. What ever the reason, I feel I've learned a lot that I'd like to share with anyone who will listen, particularly if they will benefit from my experiences and thoughts.