The other day I was talking
to an 18 year old about life, careers in particular. I had mentioned
to him that most of the people I know are not in the vocations they
trained for while in school.
To his surprise he asks: “You know
some guys that have two...three degrees and
they're not doing it anymore?”
“Sure.” I answered quite casually
and as if it's nothing of any major importance.
The look on the kid's face was one of
disbelief. Also, you could see a hint of disgust come across it as
well. The thought he was thinking was written on his face: “Why
FAIL in life so poorly?” I then knew he didn't “know” anything
yet.
“I guess, at your age, you hope that
it's school-college-first job-better second job-then a major career?
Add to that a few girlfriends, then settling down to that ONE girl
who you'll marry and have kids with? A house in Rehoboth in that plan
too?” I ask.
“Well, maybe not in that order...”
he says.
“Well, I'm not going to dissuade you
from that, it's not my right. In fact, go for it. But don't be
surprised if your plan goes awry.”
“I won't let it.” he tells me.
The hubris was a bit of a shock to me
but I realized too, he's an 18 year old male. He can handle anything.
I should've had a shaman's look, perhaps an oxen robe as well draped
on me as well when I answered him back with:
“You won't let it?
You will let it...you WILL.”
So I explain it to him.
What he hasn't experience yet, and
hopefully he won't, are changes in the economy, political changes in
the national gov't that wipes out whole career paths, illness,
illness of others, even perhaps a change in himself where he wants to
do something different. What about what others in his life that may
force a change? What if he becomes a faithful follower to alcoholism?
“Look, it's really not all that bad
to change direction” I tell him. “There might be times in your
life when the world, outside pressures, will demand you change
course...that doesn't mean you LOSE everything, in no way in hell
does it mean that. You can always find satisfaction in different and
numerous ways. The trick is to know there are always options.”
Again, his face gave it away. I could
see he was trying to process all this borax I was giving him. I might
have as well spoke in Cantonese. Some of it he managed to “get”
but the idea that you don't always have COMMAND of your life was
unthinkable to him.
“I hope it all turns out for you. For
some people it does.” I finally say.
**
I hear the Lucchino Group has bought
out the Pawsox and intends to ship them somewhere, Providence
evidently on the land opened up when they moved I-95. I live not too
far from McCoy, to the northeast of the stadium and what I'll miss is
that light glow and the sounds from it on summer nights. If the air
is still enough I could sit on my front steps and hear the crack of
the bat and listen along to the announcers. Those drifting sounds
have been a part of my entire life here. Add to that the silly low
prices they charged vs going to Fenway to be bent over and raped.
Lucchino complains the area isn't
conducive to turning it into something akin to the Gillette stadium
in Foxboro, with all the attendant stores and restaurants that attach
to the anchor, the stadium itself. Plus there's little parking
around McCoy, well there isn't if you don't know the area. That much
is true. The area cannot be designed as a Mall of America unless you
raze dozens of multi-family residences and move some streets around.
Gentrifying that neighborhood will run into a huge fight as the area
is far entrenched with vested Hispanic businesses. I won't mention
the historical associations that'll start using Federal laws to
protect the very many 150+ year old buildings there.
If it all goes to plan, the Pawsox
lease will run out by 2017. I have no idea on what they could put
there next? Could they woo another minor league team here? Turn it
into a mini Comcast Center? The Pawtucket Arts Coucil has already,
within hours of the Lucchino announcement, have expressed an interest
in it. But they too haven't figured out for what exactly. Hopefully
it won't sit there and rot and become another haven for teen keg
parties.
I'm no big sports fan but I'll miss the
summertime sounds like:
“Going back...going back...at the
track, at the wall... SEEYA! IT'S GONE!"
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