Outrageous Thoughts of Babble
by Peter Knight
11.03.98 Tomorrow I turn thirty-two. Thirty-two. I have to repeat it to myself about fifty times to realize the impact. As dooming as it feels passing my lips, acceptance of my thirties is finally sinking in. I feel I have reached a point where, not only do I accept that my twenties have passed and not returning, but that I am actually liking this. There is a certain air to all of this – a certain maturity.Every year, for my birthday, I like to give myself a present. Sometimes, it may not so material. Other times, it is. But usually, it centers on doing something good for myself.
I have decided on furthering my investigations on what-I-want-to-be-when-I-grow-up. If this does not make sense, please refer to "Where am I?" and "Back to NYC?" for previous history. And, for consistency sake, it is nice to stay on a certain theme.
Tonight, I started on some research about moving back to New York City. Nothing is cast in stone yet, but needless to say, I do have my heart set on moving back there; after all it is home to me. The target time would be some time in the spring or summer.
Tonight, I feel like I finally made my first move; from imaginary-dream-land to realistic-reach-forward-land. I made a phone call – not a phone call to inquire about a specific job, but an exploratory type of phone call. I am not sure what theory the following fits under, probably the six degrees of separation, but anyway, here goes: I met through a friend, this guy, who knew a girl whom I came to know, who had a crush on this other guy, but he did not have a crush on her, but it so happens, that he has a sister who works down in New York City as a computer consultant.
I know – small world.
Well, after a few phone calls, with assistance of the Rochester White Pages, messages played back and forth, I finally held in my hand the phone number of computer consultant down in New York City. And tonight, I placed my first phone call to someone who is directly in touch with the market down there; someone who had firsthand information.
As a matter of fact, she was a plethora of information and experience. After about fifteen minutes on the phone, all my fears were relieved and dreams confirmed – a yellow brick road does exist, and coincidentally, it takes form of the New York State Thruway from Rochester to New York City. And, at the end of the yellow brick road is a pot of gold.
And, it is friggin’ big. I mean, it is humongo.
Point of the story is that I am finally making a difference in my life. It feels good, because I am taking steps; doing the footwork -- and it feels like it is going to pay off. The weird part is that I think others reach this point during their twenties. I am just a little bit late to the party. I guess the important part is that I attend.
Plans are moving forth. Slowly, but surely – they are moving forward. I will have to keep you posted.