I vow to write more often in my blog, at least once a week. For some odd reason I have forgone writing in the blog and devoted much of my free time to writing articles for suite101. While my insular Tahiti does not provide me with any income, it does provide me with a mental break from writing for profit.


Although if the profit be a mere twelve dollars then perhaps the writing for comfort is just as worthwhile as writing for a mere pittance. Therefore, in the interest of mental health I have decided to spend more time writing about whatever pops into my head.

A few nights ago saw the departure of a seesaw year in my life. I started 2009 in Florida, in a job I loved, with a second rate company, in a state that is too hot to live in. I ended 2010 in Washington, as a subcontractor, close to the mountains, and working with a bunch of people who I consider the best group I have ever worked with in thirty-three years of my adult working life. How was that for a nice run-on sentence?

The pitfalls of working two thousand miles away from my home are numerous. I have seen my wife twice in the last four months. I have not seen anyone else in my family in those four months. I miss my daughter more than words can say. This Christmas was the first time in her life, and mine, that I did not spend with her since she was born. I miss my extended family at church, I miss my neighborhood, and I miss my friends.

Money is the root of all evil, but there are no jobs at home, and I must work all these miles away from my beloved ones to pay for the mistakes I have made career wise. I believed the silver-tongued boss from my last job and in doing so; I lost thousands of dollars, and gave up a lucrative job. I sought riches and found despair. In the end, I used the skills I acquired in the Navy to find a job. I believe that I am a better person, at least experience wise, than I was before. I lost my job, but found myself in the process. I am not the great deceiver of a salesman that can persuade a client to part with their money for empty promises.

I hark back to the principles that I find hold the most value in my life. Gale Sayers put it best in his book aptly titled I Am Third. God is number one, my family in number two, and I am number three. If I must sacrifice for the comfort and welfare of my family then I will do so. I argue with my wife about God. I desire to pursue and closer relationship with the almighty. God has opened a door and I see the door open and I know what is on the other side, yet it is not time to enter. Why, maybe because it would mean the end of my current existence and I mean in the spiritual sense and not physical.

This year looks to be interesting as the old Chinese curse portends. I shall endeavor to find employment at home, I shall continue to work here at Hanford as long as the Obama money holds out, and I shall hone the talent that God gave me. Finally, I pray that the coming year brings me closer to my family and farther away from the pull of the almighty dollar.