Life has its own plans
By Staff
Scot Beard
As my high school reunion approaches, I have began to compare my current life to the life I was expecting at the time of my graduation.
Needless to say, there are some serious differences.
First, I am not a successful sports agent negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts for NFL or NBA players. I did get to negotiate one contract – for my house.
Second, I am not close to being able to retire when I am 40.
Actually, I am not sure I will be able to retire by the time I am 140. I guess it is a good thing that I really like my job.
Third, I am not living in the mountains of Colorado enjoying mild summers and cold, snowy winters. Instead I am living through the hot, humid, spirit-crushing summers and unpredictable winters – which, if I am lucky, will leave a few inches of snow every other year – here in Alabama.
At least I grew up in it and did not have to invest in a set of snow tires and chains.
Finally, I am not driving a fancy European import. Actually I have never owned an import, but that will change by the end of September. It will not be a flashy European model, but a sensible, economic Japanese model. Bye-bye beamer, hello Toyota.
I suspect if most people's life plans had derailed worse than an Amtrak train they would become psychotic.
I, on the other hand, am glad those plans did not work out.
Over the years, I realized I would be miserable working in law because it bores me to tears.
Eventually it occurred to me to change my major to journalism where I could combine my talent for writing and my passion for sports to earn a living.
The change in major also led to a change in universities where I met my wife, Erin. She has been the best thing to happen to me, and I can't imagine not having her in my life.
We struggled through the early years of our marriage trying to make ends meet, but she encouraged me to pursue my dream of being a sports writer.
Although this is not the best paying job I have had, it is the most enjoyable.
We were finally able to purchase a house, and thankfully it was not in Colorado.
I have an arthritic knee and I can barely tolerate the relatively mild winters in Alabama, so I do not want to think about lumbering through several feet of snow.
I can also do without a European car and the hefty insurance premiums that would have accompanied it.
I expect some of my former classmates to be disappointed when I drive to the reunion in my used Toyota instead of a Mercedes, but I will not be.
Though the last 10 years are nothing like what I had hoped for, I can't imagine being any happier than I am now.
