Taking time to stop and smell the roses

[Scottw]

Hey Asylum Buddies,

I had a few days this week to reflect on things that have gone both wrong and right in my life as well as spend time doing things that I always wanted to do but because I let life and superficial things get in the way, regrettably I never got around to. Things at work were going well and then took a turn for the worse when someone new who is best buddies with the CEO came into town. While I have a job, certain duties were taken from me by this individual resulting in my pay being reduced by close to $40,000 per year.

As a 33 year old single income earner with two kids, a wife at Harvard and a mortgage, this was not an easy pill to swallow. At first, I was positive but I let things stew to the point where I was becoming negative about everything going on around me, even the good things (After all, I have been blessed with good looks and a firm buttocks ). Anyway, by Monday this past week, I had enough. I had a meeting on Tuesday and decided that I would take off afterward and take me a mini vacation and do things to clear my head and "smell the roses" a bit. First, I stopped at Ashes in Red Bank and met some friends over scotch, RS 11's and some great conversation. I then went down the Jersey Shore to my folks house to see them, my 88 year old grandmother and my 2 year old son who was down there all week. Wednesday morning, my 60 year old father and I went down to the bay and sat and watched the boats float by. He had a CAO gold Corona and I a Zino Platinum Shorty. It was peaceful. We talked about life, my past, his past, etc. He talked to me about my grandparents who died when I was 11 months old and about when he met my mother. It was really cool. Shortly after, we were headed to Long Beach Island. We stopped for a beer and then hit the water and went parasailing. We went together 350 feet in the air, looking down at the seagulls. I never felt so at peace with everything despite the chaos occurring in the world below. It was a great time and something that neither one of us will forget anytime soon (pics will follow once I get them).

The next morning. I went to the bay with my mother and talked about when she was a kid and what it was like raising me and my twin brother. We went to the farmer's market and shopped and planned a dinner menu for me to cook the next night. It was the most time I spent with my mother alone in the last 3 years.

Today, we had lunch on the island, me, dad, mom, grandma and Scott Jr. 4 generations of my family sharing a meal together while watching the boats, the birds and the waves. I was humbled by the fact that there are so many who have to go without family, without food and without quality of life.

Tonight, I cooked a meal for everyone in the house and we ate and laughed and all the sh*t that occurred over the last few weeks seemed like a distant memory. Dad and I even got a chance to spark up a couple of Padron's afterward and have a glass of wine while checking out the full moon and the stars.

I know I don't post that much here except for comments on others posts or to make a remark about a recent stick but I wanted to share this with you all. It hit me that no matter what, things will happen and life will go on, the measure of a man is how he handles it. I felt like a kid again this week and am greatful to have family and friends (the inmates here included) around me who I love and respect.

Open your eyes and look around, the world is wonderful and as you go through life, please, PLEASE don't forget to stop once and a while to smell the roses..........................they smell really good.

Thanks for your time,

Scott