Dusting Off The Cheesebox

I can't believe I haven't posted in here since right after Mother's Day. Well... I mean... yes, I can believe it -- it just doesn't seem like it's been that long. I intended to post more later on in May -- around the time of the 6th anniversary of my mother's death and Memorial Day, but those events came and went with no posts, as you can see. Then came Father's Day, the Fourth of July, and my 38th birthday. And here I am, August 19th, finally posting again.

You know what? Today is also the anniversary of a significant event in my life -- it's the 19th anniversary of the day I was released from Letterman Army Medical Center after a more than 3 month stay there. The day I left San Francisco for a "brief visit" back to Michigan while I awaited the finalization of my medical discharge. The day my short army career came to an end, and I faced a whole new beginning. The world was my oyster.

On this day in 1987, I sat in the window seat of a plane and watched the city of San Francisco get smaller and smaller below me. I bid the city farewell, but "only for awhile" -- I promised I would soon be back. I had it all set up. The nice lady at the donut shop down the street offered me a job. One of the night nurses at the hospital offered to let me stay with her until I'd gotten back on my feet. I would begin my life anew in the most beautiful city in the world -- San Francisco. But something went wrong...

Here I sit, 19 yrs later -- still in Michigan. And I've accomplished nothing of real value in that time. It's almost as though my life has been on hold. Like I've been here this entire time just visiting family. Like I'm still waiting to return to San Francisco to begin my life again. Do you think the donut shop is still there? Is the nice lady that owned it still around? Would she remember me? Would her job offer still stand? What about the nurse who was willing to let me stay with her? I doubt any of the above. But does that mean it's to late to return to San Francisco? And would my life be better if I did?

Perhaps I should make good on my promise to the city and return to find out...