You don't know when you're 29 what your focus will be when you're 69.
Am I President of the United States? No, unlike the plan I outlined in junior high, I did not achieve the Presidency by the year 2000. Looking at the current occupant, that is not necessarily a bad thing. I could never sell myself out to make that kind of appeal. I could not comprehend when I was young where I would wind up living, and what consequences that might have for my electoral viability. Not to mention my flaws as an introvert. I can give purty speeches and write well, but I could never glad-hand the way that they can.
Not only can't I be President, but I'm not viable for anything, and that's somewhat depressing. But I'll keep trying.
Did I get my own sitcom? No. I'm a good actor, but I've never aggressively pursued it for more than just a hobby. Would I have succeeded? Probably not. It's a hard field to make a living. The truth is that I don't have the temperament to sell myself like I would need to. There are opportunities I should have taken a chance with - many movies and TV shows are now made in Georgia, but I have not.
Do I have a bestseller? No. I've taken a few baby steps in writing but have never really broken through. I feel like there are two primary reasons. One is that I write well, some things better than others, but I don't write well enough to catch the attention of those who could help me. The second is that I'm the world's worst self-promoter. I have done a piss poor job at promoting my writings, either as a self-piublished writer, or someone looking for an agent or a publisher.
Do I have my health? Yes. There are question marks, and I need to care for myself better, but I am more than holding my own for someone on the verge of 70. I need to watch my blood pressure and sugar consumption, and I am far too tubby. My biggest concern is the periodic arthritis that makes getting consistent exercise a problem. It also affects how long I can sit at the desktop writing, as sitting in the desk chair too long can accelerate my arthritis attacks.
Do I have a loving and supportive family? In this one, I have hit a home run. I have a beautiful, supportive partner, going on over 28 years. My three sons make me very proud, and I am finally a grandfather. I only have one grandchild, but what I miss in quantity is more than made up for in quality.
My father dedicated his life to the promotion and success of public education. He was a brilliant teacher and later a high school principal. I was not able to continue in his footsteps. I spent most of my career in the private sector. Technically, I was helpful to people with their finances and businesses, but for the most part, there was very little soul satisfaction in what I did.
I have become a huge proponent of public libraries. I have come to appreciate them more and more, and I will continue to do whatever I can to assist them.
My focus, at 69, is on my family. I do whatever I can to help around the house. I'm supportive of all the activities of my various family members. Our vacations revolve around seeing family, including a big one coming up in California, where we will help my granddaughter enjoy her time with Mickey and Minnie and visit with my middle son and older son.
I write, even though my big dreams have evaporated. Whoever enjoys it, thanks for reading. I may never have a big breakthrough, but it is still fun to do, and I will continue to share.
I act, even though I will never have an IMDb page. I don't need it as much as I used to, but it is still great to get up onstage occasionally and feel the electricity between me and the audience. Hopefully, I can continue to do it without my arthritis from flaring up at the wrong time.
I got one of them fancy watches, and I am trying to keep track of my steps. Exercise is challenging sometimes, but I will do what I can. Monitoring my eating is very hard, because I love food so damn much, but we're getting more fruits and vegetables in the diet, and we don't eat out much.
I still read comic books, more online now. I read as much as I can, with many books being donated to the library after I've read them. I love storytelling in all forms, and that includes scripted television.
So, even though my teen and twentysomething dreams have fallen by the wayside, I think I'm doing pretty damn good, and my focus is on the right things.
At least for me!
Until next time,
T. M. Strait
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