Me

Something happened today that started a thought.
Then, right when I'm in my zone during my workout
(the zone is that period of non-existence when you are complete, no pain, just being),
this thought intruded into my consciousness.
How rude!.
Well, it got me thinking.  You know, I am an odd person.
Someone told me this today, and I laughed,
but thinking about it, they were right.

Let's see, when did it start?  Searching back to the depths of my memories,
I come across my earliest recollections.  I was about 3, and my sister was
starting school.  She was crying and raising all kinds of fuss.  I just
thought, why?  Does she think that our parents would put her someplace that
wasn't right.  Well, I didn't really understand my sister, and in fact it
wasn't until 25 years later when the understanding started.
But then, I'm an odd person.

The next memory that surfaced was as a first grader sitting in church during
the rumblings of the Alaska earthquake.  Now, I went to Catholic school in
Tacoma WA.  but we could feel the rumbles all the way there.  Now here I
was, this little first grader, watching all the people panicking around me.
This confused me.  My confusion grew when just about everyone had left the
church, and a nun grabbed me to yank me out.  She had such panic in her
eyes.  Why?  Weren't we in God's house?  How could anything hurt us here?
I didn't understand, but then I'm an odd person.

Maybe it's heredity.
Wasn't it my dad that took that big round steel sign and painted it up as a baseball.
Signed it off as Odd Ball Rancho, and hung it on our street light.
I thought it was funny, but then, I'm an odd person.

When my younger brother was murdered,
people thought I was strange when I wasn't sad and heart broken at the funeral.
In fact, I was laughing and trying to relieve the tension.
I asked them "Why?".  I don't believe in death.
Yes, I will miss Steven during this life on earth, but that's only temporary.
Right now, it's my parents that need my strength, its for them
that I have true sorrow.  They would just look at me strangely, but then,
I'm an odd person.

Most my friends think I'm odd.
During my divorce, I had to stay with a couple of extremely dear friends.
My ex had taken the house, was trying to bankrupt me,
and keep me from my daughter. (Now the last item was the one
that bothered me most).  My friend Michael looked at me and said "I don't
know how you do it.  This would total push me to the breaking point."  I
looked at him, smiled and asked "Why?  It will all work out in the end."
But then, I'm an odd person.

Saturday night, I helped celebrate my son's 30th birthday.  It was a blast.
My ex-wife showed up with her boyfriend.  I remember thinking how glad I was
that she's found someone to share things with.  It was strange watching them
dance, but felt good.  I even enjoyed our brief conversation, and the hug I
got as she thanked me for being so supportive of her son
(you see Jason wasactually my step son).  I didn't understand.
Why wouldn't I be supportive of my son?
But then, I'm an odd person.

I look at my life, and chose to face most adversity with laughter.
Would rather walk away from conflict if I can.
But then, I'm an odd person.

All the above is true, and represents my life.  Why would I write this?
Well, I guess the only reason I could come up with is that
I'm an odd person.
 

Michael