Man, I hated going to parent teacher conferences
As if I were unaware of my love of the easy way out
my preference for the gently sloping downward path
My parents weren't hearing anything new either
But it seemed cruel, teachers going on like that
Filling their heads with notions, stirring false hopes
Can't blame some for doubts about my future
Look at me now, I'm middle aged and gainfully employed
My mental scrapbook filled with pretty girls, good times
Summers full of fishing and granny's blackberry cobbler
I've got a few guitars, jazz on CD, a shelf full of books and a wife.
Can you believe it? A wife! A beautiful woman to sleep with
Walks like a gazelle, speaks like a flute, excited about sex
listens to my favorite ravings with a patient smile
The early autumn rains are here. I pull on a sweater
No one can say it anymore: He won't amount to anything
Because if this isn't success I don't know what is
Rubicon's edit. I omitted this, the original first line, per suggestion-
Your son can do the work, he just won't apply himself
What do you think? It looks like enough info is conveyed about that without its inclusion. But thats the statement that fell out of my memory and into this piece. I heard that every year. :)
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Comments: 32
I am today more successful than effectively all of my friends and most of my family. Some of them still don't like it that I did not choose to be a doctor or a lawyer or something that they could brag to their social-climbing ass-hat friends about. I make a decent living an, more importantly (unlike most traditionally 'successful' people I know) I am happy...very happy. That means much more.
"I've got a few guitars, jazz on CD, a shelf full of books"
To my way of thinking, a person needs little else in life.
Nicely written, Bret...as always.
Thanks flit!
Cecile, I can dig the challenges you faced. I was a "difficult child" for teachers. I couldn't diagram a sentence. But I could write one. Parts of speech held no interest for me. I was reading before I went to kindergarten and I knew what a sentence should read like. I got A's on tests and creative writing assignments but I would not do homework. I got a lot of C's as a result. I was years ahead of my class in reading comprehension, vocab. etc but the homework thing. I refused! That was MY time!
Math though, that was something else. Numbers are a black hole for me. Its so bad I had to marry an accountant. No really:)
Cami, you are a teacher? bless you for undertaking the damn near impossible. I'd be sent to prison for assault.
Hope you have shared this with your wife as it is precious and loving.
Congratulations on being featured too!
Yo Ivy. Education IS a big deal to me. I run into so many people who seem unable to think even though they have a degree or two.
But how to deal with a kid that doesn't fit the lesson plan? I ended up in a continuation high school and took the proficiency exam. Straight into temp jobs and rock bands.
I think the key to "my success" has been reading. I lived in the country. We got two stations on TV. Mom would take me to the library and I'd use the one at school. Harold's Purple Crayon made a big impression on me, the way you could think your way into adventure. Even during the metal years, sure the attendant activities could be distracting, but I always had a book with me. Still do.
"delinquent"
ha ha.
Most of my teachers liked me despite my tendency to be disruptive with color commentary. ( I was an improv fan) They were just frustrated by my unwillingness to go home and do more schoolwork. Hey lady! I've got trees to climb!
Of course now you can use a tranq gun full of Ritalin to deal with miscreants.
Thanks for being YOU!
It worked out fine once I developed a passion..cum laude and graduated with Nursing Honors. :) Reality is, what makes for success is exactly what you describe.. love and peace and satisfaction with yourself and your life. Well written treasure!
I'm happy. I am satisfied with my income, I've got a beautiful wife and a beautiful Gibson Les Paul and can play a guitar solo behind my head. ha ha. I seem to be having a lot more fun than a good deal of the "successful" people I know...that has got to be irritating. ;)
I had the good fortune of having many older brothers and a sister, one of whom in particular lowered my parents expectations so thoroughly that I could breeze by without either effort or expectations during my school years.