The Journey of the Unknown
August 10, 2004
Flashback to two years ago, when my wife and I decided to move from California to New York. It was a gutsy decision on my part, to leave my family and friends behind — but, not forever — and start a new life in an unknown place. To this day I’m still amazed I went through it all.
The move was an interesting journey of not only starting anew, but finding myself. On the cross country trip of 2,000 miles, I traveled with my then soon-to-be father-in-law, girlfriend and computer. We were a motley crew, discussing everything from movies to life, traveling sometimes at breakneak speeds to reach our destination sooner than later. We stayed in Merriot hotels, woke up when the sun would rise and complete our day’s journey when it fell.
Along the way I learned new things, looked out the window and mostly stared into the distance thinking about my family. Wondering why I left behind something so concrete for something unknown.
We all reach crossroads in our life, sometimes people even refer to it as a fork in the road. Whenever that analogy is used, however, I always envision a fork, 40-feet high, stuck in the middle of a dusty road. When we, as human beings, stop before this fork in the road, we understand that typically there is no going back. There isn’t a rewind, fast-forward or pause button in life. Once we make a decision it effects further crossroads in our lives, changes that we aren’t always willing to accept but know deep down it will be for the betterment of not only yourself, but those who surround you.
5 comments
It truly is amazing how life plays out, isn’t it? I like to think about the choices I’ve made and how they have put me where I am today, and where I could have been had I not made those very choices. For example: Had I not gotten a job at Wal-Mart when I was 19, I would have not met this girl, I would have not moved to Mississippi with her to go to school, then I would have not ended up in Arkansas for grad school, then said girl and I wouldn’t have split up, then I wouldn’t have found a new group of friends, then I wouldn’t have ever met my fiancée, then I wouldn’t have her and her awesome son in my life, and then we wouldn’t be getting married in a few weeks. Whew, that was alot (like 13 years condensed), but see what I mean? So thanks old crazy ex-girlfriend, for making our relationship turn sour so I could find the great woman I have now. When you look back, even the bad things and times in your life can eventually spawn something great.
by Chad on August 10, 2004 at 10:10 am. #
Chad: You’re absolutely correct — It is amazing how life plays out. Even if at that particular moment we might not even be paying attention to the changes that occur. I liken it to a ripple effect, throwing a stone into a pool of water or tossing soap into a dish filled with water and specks of pepper.
Thanks for sharing.
by kartooner on August 10, 2004 at 11:09 am. #
Another thing entirely, which I have been contemplating lately, are the choices that we make; or rather: that are made for us, without us knowing it much later.
As Chad mentioned, the smallest thing can have the greatest effect later in life, and I can see now that looking back over my life, me being where I am, isn’t so much a result of my choices, but perhaps more a result of the path that I somehow made my way down, without paying attention to it.
by Michael on August 10, 2004 at 11:17 am. #
Michael: Well put and as you can see, this article is the result of my thinking about whatever path I took. Due to the choices I made I know am blessed with raising my 7-month old daughter and sharing this experience with my wife.
Also, as you mentioned, the smallest things impact your life later on. You just don’t know it at that particular point in time.
by kartooner on August 10, 2004 at 11:25 am. #
I’m proud of you Erik, there isn’t a day I don’t miss you several times a day, but Norwegian parents let their children grow…and us ‘go’. I must admit I cried hard when you left, but down deep I knew your new adventure was good for you, which any loving parent only hopes that his child’s challenges / adventures will be happy ones.
I’d say ‘your fork’ in the road has turned out very well…you now have a loving wife and beautiful little girl (Zoe) and a good job. You keep taking those challenges and forks in the road, God love you and so do we.
Love,
Dad
by Dad on August 11, 2004 at 12:25 am. #