Reality after College

I’m getting more gray hairs by the day and I ain’t that old. Still, I’d say about a quarter of my head is gray and the enemy is still advancing. Still I’d rather be gray than bald. I got a friend whose grandpa is bald as a bowling ball and his hair is quickly fading despite his best efforts. Anyway I think I know why I’m going gray so quickly. Genes, sure, both my parents are grayer than Abrahams beard when he hit 400. But I think it’s mostly stress. Stress of everyday life, and lack luster career options. Having a girlfriend that is in need of dire attention 24/7 when I’m an independent soul doesn’t help. I’m stressed because I wasn’t prepared for what hit me when I got out of college. Did the career services department assist me in finding a job? Hell no! I would have had better luck seeking career advice from a cashier at a JC Pennies. Personally, and maybe I’m just sour, but I think College is extortion and is just an excuse to delay the inevitable. Sure, I made plenty of good friends and had a lot of good times, but as far as having career prospects when I got out; forget about it. From what I’ve gathered this is tending to be a bigger trend these days. A lot of folks I know are having to settle for low paying jobs despite having degrees. Yeah, I got a degree so what? It might as well be at the bottom of a bird cage. Now all decent jobs are requiring a Master’s Degree. Regardless, I’m convinced I should have just starting working fresh out of High School. Thus, I would have the job security I yearn for now and the experience. A couple of my friends did that and they already have houses and families. What have I got? Diddly squat. I feel this is so, because it’s all about who you know. Plain and simple. I was ill prepared for the reality of it and now I’m suffering the harsh truths. If only I had gone out of my way to mingle more. But that’s a lousy excuse. I don’t need to look at it under a microscope to know that. I could go to Graduate School, but I’m tired of school. My brother is trying to hook me up with a job in construction, but I don’t want to do that. Don’t get me wrong construction is a thriving and noble business; I just want no part of it. Not since the time I did it for a summer in High School and on my first day on the job brought a tack hammer to work. The scars still remain from that day. Thing is I want to do what I want to do. Call me selfish and I know the realities of that are far fetched but I’d just like to try before I concede to a 9 to 5 job. My brother in all his wisdom tells me that I should start from the bottom somewhere now and in five years I’ll be somebody. He said the work would probably be bullshit, but hey what isn’t? But I don’t want to be somebody in five years. I want that notoriety now. I know it doesn’t work that way and I mean no offense to folks that have had to work their up (Everyone). I’m just stubborn in that sense I guess. I’m just wishing on a star and hoping maybe one day a genie will pop out of the microwave and grant me three wishes. I’d only need one. Anyway, part of me just wants to flee town and live in a shack in the woods by myself and be happy. Periodically, showing my face in town to pick up my welfare check. I would have no problem being a recluse. Yet, when I give it more thought it sounds creepy and besides that’s not the noble thing to do. Although, I wouldn’t mine being left alone for a while. I feel like I’m too busy trying to appease others and over looking my own happiness. Bottom line I just want to be left alone. Last night, as I was leaving an ‘expensive’ restaurant with my girlfriend the hostess told us to have a ‘good night’. It was so fake and insincere. I don’t know why, but she was the embodiment of why I’m a dreamer. So that I won’t have to be around people like that all day and can simply do my own thing. My parents detest this logic and it’s understandable. I concur Ma. I concur Pop. But that’s just me. Still, patience is wearing thin. STILL, I’m working towards my goals and hopefully one day sooner than later I will see them met. I know that I probably will have to settle into a job a hate just to pay the bills. But hey, that’s two thirds of the entire work force. I just don’t want to get comfortable if that’s the case. People always yearn for something better, but then they get comfortable and stop trying. Plus there’s my Gal. I know I bitch about her a lot. Anyway, my girlfriend is a needy thing that needs fine things. For example, the other week we went to get something to eat. She kept saying she didn’t care where we went. She didn’t care. But as I’m pulling up to the McDonald’s drive through she throws a fit. She alone is enough to drive a table cloth insane. But I love her. I just don’t understand women. I guess if I did, I wouldn’t have one. Anyway, she’s not as bad as I portray her. So I’ll quit mouthing off. Bottom line, I’m gonna see this thing through and one of these days hopefully say I told you so. That or be a manager at Arby’s.