i basically divide my life into periods of time divided by major
events. i will try to give a brief summary of each section
here.. it will probably demonstrate how one's life can
change dramatically. :)
elementary school
this was my family's artistic epoch. my father was into pottery
and had a small studio and kiln. my mother was into hand-woven
clothing. we raised sheep. my brother and i sold extra ears
of corn for $1/dozen. i took extra-curricular classes in my
progressive elementary school's "talented and gifted"
program. i used to get online with compuserve, back when it
cost $12.50/hour for non-prime-time hours.
highschool (grades 7-12)
my town never had a middle school until i was almost done with
highschool. in highschool, i did things like stage management
and building sets and lighting for our school plays
and events. i wrote a network chat program (similar to icq)
in 11th grade. i was into reading netnews and linux
(kernel: 0.99p12) and exploring the internet (before netscape
existed).
college
college, as they say, opened my eyes.
i learned so much
about the world (much more than my friends at the time knew
i did-- tho they might have learned just as much). i learned
about comradery, about sex, and about self-identity.
california
then i graduated to california. i left school, friends, family,
and everything to go to california to find myself. i found
there was so much more to find out about myself i have barely
scratched the surface. externally i'm usually the same quiet
type but inside.. i am a whole new person.
welcome to the new me.
california: it's not just for hippies and surfers anymore.
actually, in california i learned so many things. i'll try to
mention some of them here.
- there is so much to learn. about everything. a good
example is cars. when i moved to california i not only
needed to buy a car, i knew nothing about them. i managed
to buy a car that sufficed but now, knowing what i've learned
about cars, my future decisions about cars are forever
changed. i think its futile to be all-knowing before your
first crack at any experience. some people just learn by
'doing'. three years ago i never imagined i'd know so much
about cars (and i still have a long way to go).
- relationships are complicated. everybody has their own
life. lives go in and out of stages. it seems like compatible
stages are almost required for a healthy relationship, but
since stages are temporary, how long could it last? i still
havent learned the magic behind relationships.
- nothing is more valuable than having friends who
care for you.
- keep the past with you as a collage of good times
with good friends. you made decisions and history followed..
don't waste time thinking about what-ifs or how things would
be different. make them different now.
california is also where and when i learned what it feels like to know
someone who
died. these days
i just
write sometimes, work on
projects, or bury myself in
work.
retrospective
following are some of the champions of my new life..
these people were there
for my most pivotal trials.
(esoteric mainly-- most of them will recognize themselves)
- the guy who i went canoeing with during highschool
- the offramp hoodz
- the boston guy in cary quad
- luke skywalker
- the schmuck :)
- the guy from my architectural drawing class who
introduced me to YES
- kid icarus
- the guy who introduced me to "chocolate cake"
- the roadtrip driver and entourage
- the irish priest
- the alchemist
- the elementary school friend who started
"barf-bbs" with me
- "joyboy"
- and others..
last updated: 19990421