Its been two weeks now

Well I'm back to share some more with anyone who cares to read what I have to type. I will start by saying thank you to my friends and family for everything you have all done for me over the last few years. Tonight is going to be very random, to the point of being difficult to follow at times, but its just what I happen to be thinking lately, and it comes out in that manner.

Most of you know that I have recently decided to take some time away from the corporate working world to spend time with Jack and to rethink my priorities. I always thought about early retirement, but this is ridiculous. Its been two full weeks since my last day with Ameriprise. I can honestly say I miss a lot of my co-workers (Mr. Mahoney excluded) and possibly the job itself sometimes, but there is no regret in taking this time off even in the slightest.

So I have been thinking about all that I have been given, some of which I will list here tonight. I was adopted when I was around 6 weeks old by possibly the best parents anyone could ever imagine. For those that knew my mother, she was a very strong willed person and had a way all her own. I'm certain I have some traits for which she is responsible (please don't touch the walls), but I don't think I am capable of being even a fraction as strong as she was. In the very least, she had some very memorable characteristics, beliefs, opinions and held to them throughout my lifetime. My father was a truly a gift and a balance to my mom. He was the quieter type with a manner of reason about him. From my earliest memory, until the day I stood at his bedside when he passed, I don't think I can ever remember my father ever raising a hand or even his voice to me in anger. Yet he knew how to get his message across just fine. I can only hope to ever be as good a father to Jack as he was to me; he set the bar pretty high in my mind. My parents were both very hard workers and diligent savers and investors. If there is anything that I can clearly point to and attribute to them, it would be my interest in financial and real estate investments and how to look to the future and prepare.

So when I married Michelle, she too was very much so a planner and liked to be sure to be prepared for whatever life had to throw at us. She was a very detailed person, maybe sometimes a little too detailed in my mind, but it certainly worked for her. I think it was that particular characteristic which allowed her to excel in her career and advance as she did in such a short while. She always spoke of her goal to be a corporate executive, or board member, both of which I have no doubt were not far off in the future had things not turned out as they did. I think her only regret was that she entered the Financial Service industry at what she thought was late at almost 30 years old. She always told me that had she gotten into it earlier, she could have achieved the title she wanted by 40, a fact I believe to be true. In any case, she excelled in her career and as a mother. Its very much so because of her cautious planning that I can now take the time I want to spend with Jack and to reorganize our lives.

With that all being said. I realized these past few weeks, that although I have had much tragedy in my life these past few years, I also have been presented with many opportunities to give back. I hope to do just that, and more on that is to come later.

I look forward to posting here a few times a week, so check back often and feel free to comment as often as you like. Have a nice night.