The closer I get to my goal of finishing college, the busier I become. I always thought life would get easier or less complicated as I got older. But I keep taking on new projects that consume the majority of my time. I started college as a part-time student taking one or two classes every now and then. When I became comfortable with successfully passing classes and working a full-time job I took more hours. This system had been working out pretty good until this semester. I am currently taking my last twelve hours worth of classes. I transferred into a new position for the same employer I have been with for four years. This job keeps me occupied anywhere from 40 to 50 plus hours a week. I pledged for one of the oldest, coldest, fraternities still in existence (Alpha Phi Alpha). On top of all these things I have also been organizing parties and helping to manage a music career for one of my friends.

I almost forgot I am married too. Out of the seven years I have been married this is the most I have never been able to spend time with my wife. Anyone who knows us knows that we are inseparable. If you see one of us the other was sure to be around somewhere in the vicinity.

At one point I didn’t go to sleep for about 40 hours; there was no time! I forced myself to make time before I had a nervous breakdown or a stroke. All I can remember is my left arm had a tingling sensation running from my shoulder down to my pinky finger. I know those are symptoms for something; something that could not be good.

It may seem like I am complaining but I keep doing what I do. I keep telling myself it all has an end. An end to the semester, an end to the hectic work day, an end to being on line (pledging), and an end to this rat race we call life.

White Christmas


Heated by oil, our two-level row house was always warmer upstairs than downstairs. Dad showed me how to drain the water from out of the radiators, so they would get as hot as possible for winter. When I was a young boy I remember waking up on Christmas Day, it was always a special treat for me. I shouldn’t really call it “waking up,” it was more like waiting for water to boil; you know it is going to happen eventually but not right at that moment. Tossing and turning all night trying to fall asleep, but to no avail, my mind pondered about all of the surprises that were waiting patiently under the seven foot, green plastic tree. There are big ones, small ones, light ones, dark ones, and heavy ones, all nestled safely under the warm glow of rainbow lights that decorate the color coded branches.
During Christmas time the entire atmosphere of the city changes, people are a little nicer, hellos and goodbyes begin and end with “Merry Christmas.” Even the neighborhood grumpy old men cannot bear the over-bearing sense of joy in the air. I know the real reason they are being nice, they just want someone to shovel the three inch deep snowy sidewalk.