Remembering the Good

Something today forced one of the random epiphanies on me – ones that I wish came more often, but I try to take notice when they do. It was something that made me sit up and realize that, for where I am in my life, I have it better than I could ever imagine, and need to keep that in perspective as often as I can.

Looking back, I can trace it all back to 7th grade – which is VERY scary as my eldest son started 7th grade yesterday. It was the first year when we rotated classes, and had dedicated teachers for individual subjects rather than the jack-of-all-trades in elementary schools. For me, science was the favorite subject hands down. Not only did I have an exceptional teacher, but the subject matter just seemed to click and come easier, and was inherently interesting. That one class started what would be the focus for the remainder of my education. From there, to high school focusing on AP Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, to the technology behind each and the love for computers as they became available. All of that I see as the foundation to where I find myself now.

Even more than just the education, I had a few things happen which, while seemingly insignificant at the time, had HUGE repercussions down the road. First, I took the opportunity to do some pseudo-TA work during my junior year in college. No money, just again happened to really enjoy my Biology 101 class, and the professor approached me if I would mind helping the entering class with a few sporadic tutoring sessions during the year. Well, wouldn’t you know it but one of the kids I tutored happened to have a father who happened to run a biotech manufacturing firm in Cambridge who just happened to be looking for a summer intern at the end of that year. I’m down in Puerto Rico doing a 3-month project as part of my degree (another awesome time to say the least), and I get the “Do you want a summer job?” call. Considering the other option of Roy Rogers flipping burgers, I jumped at it. Not only was it a great job, but guaranteed me a job when I graduated. Wins all the way around.

As if it couldn’t have gotten any better, while I was working there, I scored a Friday – Monday work week, which not only came with a 15% bonus on it, but also made it so going back part-time for my M.B.A. on the off nights was fairly simple. Much more so at least than if I had to work a full day, then go off to school. For the entire 3.5 years the degree took, only one class did I ever work and do class on the same day.

And then, last but in no way at all least, was meeting my wife.  I was a social moron through most of my collegiate career, and only happened - again by luck - to have met up with her as a result of one of my roommates hooking up with one of her roommates.  Had he not been wearing that "Totally Screwed" Absolut t-shirt and we both had to take a leak at that percise time that evening, who knows what would happen.  She's been and will be my rock, and I can't put into words what she has done for me personally...at least not without failing to do justice to it.  Perhaps another blog...

So what does all this mean? Well, two things – first off that I appreciate these little times when I can realize what went right, and how lucky I was it did. But even more important, I sit here right now hoping, PRAYING, that each of my kids can latch on to these moments when they flutter by, and can have a bit of the genuine happiness I have right now.