LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

After my personal leave helping mother recover from her stroke, I returned to work in the Kennesaw office with BellSouth. I was there at the Kennesaw office around a year from mid 1995 to early to mid 1996.

We, Rick, Alan, Brandon, and myself were living in a rental house at Lost Mountain in Powder Springs, Ga. It was nice to be back close to my hometown and Rome where we had lived prior to my promotion and our move to Savannah, Ga. Our life seemed to be getting back to a better place.

The last two years had really been pretty emotional. So it was nice to feel more at peace. I recall we did lots of family things. We even hosted a family Thanksgiving for all of our families, both Rick’s siblings and mine. We had a house full that year. Rick helped me cook. He was such an awesome cook among his other great qualities as a husband. I am trying to remember, I believe we made like five large pans of cornbread dressing, two large turkeys, a ham, and all the regular side dishes. The gathering and meal was a complete success.

I recall this was the year I went to Hawaii with my brother Jimmy, sister Kathy, and some of my brother’s friends. Rick and I had a always taken trips with friends or family at least once a year, as well as, our own family trips. The trip to Hawaii was a once in a lifetime trip. It was absolutely beautiful. We actually stayed on the island of Kauai for our trip. It was the least tourist island. There were various different beaches we visited. We went snorkeling. We went to a Luau and had a pig cooked in the ground. I enjoyed the helicopter tour of the island the best. The terrain and landscape was so beautiful.

I believe we had Easter dinner for our families the following year. I remember us hiding eggs in the back yard. Rick had started working with a friend building houses once we returned to north Georgia. Alan worked with them some but I believe this was the year he began working for Southeastern Mills in Rome. Brandon was doing good and making friends in the neighborhood. Life was really good and full.

Thinking back now, how I wish I could just go back in time and stay in this period for a bit. Rick was alive, mother was doing ok, my job wasn’t too stressful, and life seemed so magical and full. Well, I can’t do that but I can smile today and remember what an amazing life I have lived. Yes, there was heart aches to come and more to share about my life. But now bringing things back to the present, I feel like I have actually lived two lifetimes so far and that I am currently on the cusp of a third. So much is in limbo at this present now moment but I can feel an awesome future just around the corner. A new beginning. It is as if I am just now getting ready to graduate the High School of life and heading out on my life as young adult to my true life mission.