Kid, You're Really GonnaGo Far in Life!

I had a very sweet elderly man tell me at work today, "You're really going to go far in life!" I smiled and sincerely thanked him, but all the way home from work that day I kept thinking, "Ya know, he was not the first person to tell me that." In fact, (totally no bragging intended here), I think I've been told that several times throughout my life. My family has always been supportive of me. As I drove home with this mantra running through my head, I kept thinkin...."Ummm......ya wanna tell me when exactly I could expect that to happen? Cause I'm turning thirty five here pretty soon and I was hoping that my "going far" would have already taken place by then."

I hear this mantra from the sweet and wonderful residents who have grown so close to my heart during my short time working in an Assisted Living Center. In fact, I believe the administrator of the center said something to the same effect the night that he hired me.

Just a week ago, a manager at my other job said he expects great things from me.

I think my first "You're gonna go far kid" came in high school in a creative writing class. Nope....wait....back up. It was Junior High when I had the lead in the play "Go Ask Alice". I was convinced I would be the next Jennifer Aniston.

Many aunts, uncles, grandparents and teachers, parents of friends would say it too. Sometimes directly to me and sometimes being a little more covert. "Ya know that girl.....she's really going places."

While I have gone to fulfilling and lovely places, namely marriage and parenthood, I've always wanted to climb the quintessential ladder of success. I got pretty close once when I was an Apprentice Appraiser only a year away from getting my own license. I really felt like that would have been going....well....if not far.....at least somewhere.

Alas, the failing housing market kicked that dream right in the ding ding, so it was back to square one. So here I am, almost 35, with a great husband, and two beautiful daughters, a metric butt ton of ambition, and a one way ticket to far. I'm not sure what far is, or what I'll do when I get there, but I know it will be fantastically stupendous. The people there will talk to the people here. My people will say "I knew her before she went far." And my little sweet man who is like a grandpa to me will say, "See kid. I knew you were gonna go far."

I really hope he's still alive to see it. Heck, I hope I'm alive to see it. I feel the potential bubbling inside of me all the time. I think after three decades it's high time I unleashed it. It's time to bring the heat now baby!