As a child, did you mope and badger your mom with these words: “I haven’t got anything to do!”
Early on, as the eldest and self-reliant child, I observed that my siblings, and household chores, encumbered much of my mom’s time. I learned to read early and so that’s what I did. Massively amused by the other worlds that books built. I was quiet and contained, an eager learner of everything.
As long as I had a book or time to free range in our yard, I was absorbed. Except for the summers of tiny-town Indiana, when there wasn’t school to structure and occupy daylight hours. Summer school wasn’t offered by the public school system, but vacation Bible school lasted six weeks and sufficed.
The poem above is the 65th in a collection of newspaper ads written by Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies, that appeared in the Wall Street Journal from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. I framed the entire poem, words stacked as a ladder of success.
Because it is.
It’s hung on my husband’s office since we moved into our forever home in the late 80’s We also sent copies to his nephews, dispensing the advice of a favorite uncle. which he was.
He’s also my favorite honey – the best man alive – the love of my life. Ours is oft regarded a union of soulmates, unnerving others and inciting envy…
Because it is.
And we both aim so high, that we are never bored. We are ever-optimistic – as linked to our endeavor, our quest.
I could always amuse myself with reading or video games as a kid. Boredom was rarely an issue. As an adult, it seems it’s not even an option!
Yes – there’s no easy day in adulthood. But we got music to get us through!