I have been on this planet for more years than I would like to admit.
My father and mother had me when he was stationed in Germany in the late 70s. I played in the 1980s and grew up in the 1990s. I am a Generation X member for life. After High School I went to College. Once for an Associates in something and the second time for a Bachelor’s in Fine Art. In the 2000s I got married and later had my first child, a bundle of joy in a boy. In the early 2010s my second child, the girl I always wanted, arrived. Now all I needed was a dog and a picket fence. We found a fence, but no dog and called it home. It was not meant to be.
Marriage wasn’t what I thought it would be. In those early years I had a roof over my head, food in my cabinet, and the occasional adventure traveling, but there was little connection. Praying together was always awkward, God wasn’t where he should be. I worked 30 hours, giving me time at home I didn’t necessarily want or need. He worked 8 to 4 and added on more while in the press box of local sports.
We rarely watched the same shows. He liked sports, the news and sports news. If we were lucky we might find a movie that had sports as the focus. Those were the only movies he would stay awake for. Thank the Lord for Fever Pitch. I liked comedy, animation, cartoons, DIY (not that I ever do so myself), fantasy, Sci-Fi, mystery. Frankly if it didn’t have smut or “reality tv” I was probably willing to watch it.
Our hobbies were different – well, I had loads and he had none. He still doesn’t and I have so many I forget what all they are, because who has time to do anything with multiple jobs and teens.
There have been more rough years than there should be. Where I was a single parent while he was living somewhere else not contributing. I stuck with him anyway, my vows to him and God on our wedding day locked me in. Not sure I should have stayed. Most days I would gladly erase the turmoil, but here we are, 20 years into a marriage. Still fighting over money and attempting to raise to “healthy” kids and failing miserably. Perhaps I’m not losing, but it feels like it.
In my 40+ years, I have lived in two countries > four states > eight towns. Add them all the places together, Kansas has been where I have landed the most and the longest. We are shaped and defined by where we are, so please, go ahead and call me Kansas.
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