Motorcycle blues, but good news!

I just closed my garage door, with greenbacks in hand, after waving goodbye to, Hoot, my first motorcycle. Why is it leaving? Because I'm going to get a bigger one. Not right away, but in the not to distant future. This time I will earn it, versus forcing my future self to pay for it. The immediate reason for selling my beloved Hoot? To get rid of excess stuff, pay off bad debt (car loan), and move to Washington State. Yes, you've heard rumors before, but this time it's actually going to happen. My boss knows, Erin's boss knows, our Landlord knows, now it's your turn. So dust off your cone-shaped hats and blow those party favors because Erin and I are entering into a new chapter of our lives.

It's nothing new, people leave California all the time. So what's the big deal? Well, most of our predecessors have left here in tiny apartments or condos to move into bigger and better homes (much to my envy), but not us. We are moving on from our near-flat grade incline careers to a bigger and better opportunity. What does opportunity look like? Unfortunately, it doesn't look like a pay raise. I liken it to a sling shot; you have to pull back before you can shoot forward. Just pray that the rubber band doesn't snap.

It all started with a book my parents bought me for Christmas (really it was Thanksgiving, but you'll understand if you read an earlier post). Upon reading that book I had a Jerry Maguire moment. Those moments really do happen. Instead of a kid cursing me out though, our TV just bit the dust. I wanted a new TV, but I needed to wait until after Christmas when the prices go down. During the in between time I started to read. I found I enjoy reading. My mind eats things up. There's so much knowledge out there that I've just been neglecting while watching people guess letters on a wall. My moment wasn't about reading, it was about life and career. I feel like I've wasted so much of my life watching TV that I completely missed out on my true desires. Not that I completely know what they are yet.

One interesting note I learned about TV and reading. I watch TV on my own, I even shush Erin if she talks over it. But while reading I have a conversation with God, asking his input on the text I'm ingesting. I still shush Erin if she interrupts though. But don't worry I get my fair share of shushes from her too.

With this new outlook on life, I shared my desires with my brother. He realized that this is the person that he wants in his organization. Without much effort he offered me an opportunity to work with him, my dad, and a sister, along with a host of others, to streamline the operations of his restaurant and ultimately duplicate it. (when I say "his restaurant", I don't mean solely his, but it works for this conversation)

Lastly, I'm thankful to God for giving me a wife that is willing to follow me into this new change in my life. But I'm sure that she's just excited not to have to teach anymore. I know that we're both glad to get out of California, finally.