The wind was whipping the rain around on the frigid autumn night of November first two thousand eight. So much wind and rain in fact, streets were flooded, and sailboats could have easily replaced cars. At the time I was a high school senior, starting catcher hitting cleanup about to go to the major leagues, the valedictorian that might win a Nobel peace prize, in other words the big man on campus. On this forever-changing night, two of my best friends, who like me, were part of the fabulous five seniors on the baseball team were driving like the madmen we were around town. Before the story unfolds one last idea needs understanding, this fabulous five could charm any teacher, not just substitutes into leaving class early, turning homework in late, and make girls scream when we spoke to them. Becoming such a person however has its consequences, you don’t believe consequences exist; you can always charm your way out of any situation. This exact thought more the dominated our decision making on this wickedly wet November night.
Like I said earlier three of us in the fab five were driving around on this night, and upon arriving at a stop-sign walking distance from my house, the driver decides to burn-out for the third stop sign in a row. Unlike the other roads, this one could have passed for a canal. With his car spinning at forty miles an hour, and with no wheels on the ground, we headed straight for the light-pole adjacent to right-hand side of the street. Through the grace of a helping hand, one of the tires caught and jerked us towards the median. Upon hitting the median, the car vaulted into the air, completely a half-flip before the two tires touched with just feet on asphalt remaining. These two tires could keep the car from rolling once or twice. None of us geniuses could recall what happen after being knocked out when the car hit the median, however the Police report trying to incriminate the driver for reckless driving upon other things pieced together the full story.
It was in the days and weeks later after this near tragic night I made significant revelations about the person I want to become. This person I want to become is the why for what I do.
Why Do I Do What I Do?
Our lives are subject to outside forces that a single individual can’t control. However this doesn’t prevent me from every-day waking up, and wanting to become the best individual I can become. After essentially evading death, I learned we are here not to live, but to die. Knowing that at any moment this breath could be the last, I sure as hell don’t want to waste a single one. I do what I do so I can leave this earth with the peace of mind I couldn’t have done more, or with regret that I could have done other things different.
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