There was a kid in my second grade class.  His name was Tommy Gunderson.

I liked Tommy okay, I suppose.  He seemed pretty smart and nice.  But he was one of those kids who always had the messy desk, and never could get his homework done on time.

At any rate, Tommy Gunderson , used to say… WAY back in the second grade… that one day he was going to be President of the United States.  A lot of boys back in those days used to say it. (Yes.  Boys.  I don’t remember any girls making this projection…. well…. except this one girl… named Hillary.)

But the thing of it is… Tommy said it like he MEANT it.  He was  SO dang sure of himself about this.

I think by about  the fourth grade, this kid knew all the branches of the government.  And he could tell you all the requirements for becoming a President.   He continued with his self-assurance about his future job.

It didn’t stop there.  He ran for Student Council in the 7th and 8th grades.  After that, I am not sure what happened to him.  Tommy and I went to different High Schools.

Tonight, as I was thinking about him… I did an online search.  As far in as I can tell…. he’s never been president of anything.  Not even The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, aka the local BPOE.

So there you have it.  Sometimes, some of us…. don’t grow up to be who we thought we would be.  We might have an idea about it… when we are in the 4th grade, or high school, and probably college.   It is true for me.  On all counts.

I simply didn’t grow up to be who I thought I would be. At least … professionally.  But. On an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual level… I don’t suppose I did a lot of visualization as a kid.  And at this point in my life…. as Popeye so aptly put it … “I yam what I yam.”

As most of you read this, it will the 29th of April.  And that, is the day of my birthday.  In this case… my 50th.

So as I meander through these thoughts of not growing up …. as I thought I might have… you’ll have to excuse me.

I think I’m having a mid-life crisis.  (Does anyone  even call them that anymore … mid-life crises?)

At any rate.  Another day.  Another dollar.  And another day at the races.  Popeye,  me…..  and Gunderson.

“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”  – Stephan Grellet

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”  – Nelson Henderson