I Wanted It All

I never wanted to be one certain thing growing up. There were many, many careers I wanted.

I remember wanting to be president. I was a bit bossy (and still sort of am) and I thought it would be the perfect job for me.

I remember wanting to be a meteorologist for a long time. I was weather obsessed after surviving a devastating tornado at age 9. For at least 2 years after that, I would obsessively watch the Weather Channel as well as local news, and the sky. Anything more than cirrus clouds and I was sure the next twister was coming. I would turn down sleepovers with friends if the sky weren't perfectly blue. Too many clouds or a light rain would put my stomach in knots. Luckily, this eventually went away. Now I am sort of like "hey storms, bring it!". lol. They fascinate me.

There was a long time that I wanted to be an actress. I think I would make a fine actress actually. I would perform in the community college's musicals and it was sooooo fun. The glamorous life always appealed to me.

I wanted to be a teacher for most of childhood. Who doesn't want summers off, great holidays, and to be "the boss" to their own classroom? I wanted to sit at the big desk. I wanted to have the rolly chair. I wanted to write on the chalkboard whenever I wanted. And I loved school, not college, but regular school. To lead others and teach others something as powerful as how to read sounded great. Still does. I'm a reading assistant (no, not a real, certified teacher), but I do present the spelling lesson, help with reading skills, and lead the workbook work in the 2nd grade. I love it and I am good at it. It's fun and I get to write on the chalkboard. ;-)

I also wanted to be an endocrinologist. When I was 10, one of my younger brothers was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 5, so my family's life got swept away with the care and maintenance of his diet and insulin. I read the manuals, and learned all I could about it. Besides giving the shots, I was an expert! So I thought it'd be great to be a doctor and treat diabetes and help others. (But later on, a million years of college didn't sound so fun anymore.)

There were many times, on and off, that I wanted to be a lawyer. Now this could really be my true calling. Except I think lawyers are, for the most part, greedy and parasitic. But not all of them. You've got your Erin Brokoviches, who help the little people, the ones who need a voice,.... and then you have your Mark Geragos' and Johnny Cochran. Ick. They disgust me. But I would be an excellent lawyer. Persuasion is one of my strengths. Arguing is like a sport to me. Things that are not fair piss me off. Like, really piss me off. So, I'd definitely be an Erin Brokovich. But, then there's the whole million years of school thing. School is just boring, y'all. I don't think I could handle that many years. I know it sounds lazy, but geez, that's a long time.

I also wanted to be a beautician. Making people pretty is always fun.

And I wanted to be a fashion designer for a long while. From 5th through 8th grades, I would sketch prom dresses and wedding gowns in notebooks. Some of them weren't half bad. But, to be a famous designer you pretty much have to live in a city NYC or Paris. Well, there's not enough corn fields for me there, so that was out of the question.

I really wanted to be a mom and Donna Reed-style housewife, too. I wanted the frilly apron, the full skirts with crinolines, the kitten heels and perfect hairdo. Not to mention the perfect kids, husband, and home. Well, I sort of got that. I don't clean house in a dress and frilly apron, but I have a cozy little house, a loving family, and I bake cookies a lot.

I still sometimes wish I were a ball busting attorney, or a world renowned designer, but I'm happy with what I do. It's rewarding and I enjoy myself... and if you love what you do, it's not work.