If There's One Person Who's Been There...

After writing a piece reflecting on my hero, My Dad, It made me think of the one person who to my family is the glue, the everlasting bond to my family no matter what happens she is always there and always cheering everyone up. My mom is the reason I am the person i am today. 

Call me a mommas boy but i am proud of it. I was more or less raised by my mother and i mean the fact of having two parents there would have been a better experience but being raised by my mom made me realize that no matter what happens in the darkest of dark can still be overgrown by someone's smile or someone's caring and nurturing personality

Thanks Mom

-Nick

There Goes My Hero

I took a rest today after work and just took a nice seat right next to my sliding doors. I gazed outside into the clouds and remembered what i was always told growing up. "Heaven is Right Above The Clouds!" Grandma used to say that to me all the time and i always thought it was the truth just like any other kid who was six years old and didn't know what takes place after life. It was always a mystery. 

As you grow older however you start to really find out how unforgiving life can be. I mean we all know that you do not end up on the clouds bowling for eternity but we do believe you go into a better place. 

But as I sat there today I tried to stare beyond the clouds and try to see a familiar face of my hero, my own father. I looked hard as if i was a little kid trying to find Waldo in one of those "Wheres Waldo?" books. Now i didn't find him in the sky. nor on the ground. But i found him in my memories and my heart. 

As I sat in my blank stare i started to remember all the times well spent. Going to Jersey every weekend to see family. Or going to race little toy cars. Everything about spending time with him always yielded great moments. Nothing could ever be forgotten.

Every day after school i looked froward to the moment at around 6:45 he would walk in through the door. I would always be alerted by the dogs whimpers of happiness towards him. Every day he would walk in with his coat and briefcase and no matter how hard the day went he always came in with a huge grin. To me as a young child i saw beyond the trench coat and briefcase. I saw a knight in shining armor holding a shield. He truly was my hero.

Ive never been so close to anyone as much as i was with my father. Everyday brought something new and exciting. He lived to see me smile and i never did stop smiling.

7 years ago my hero rode off into the sunset. The legacy he left was a happy one and i remember him as he was. A humble happy go lucky guy who went at unbelievable lengths to make others happy and to love and care for everyone.

I landed back onto ground. I was awoken by the one thing i have left of him. Our dog Shelby. She was the newest member of our family 7 years ago and he handpicked her out a week before he left. The whole family thinks he lives and breathes with her. I watched her trot away and i turned to the clouds to watch them move across the horizon. I thought

"There goes my hero..."

-Nick

98 West

Down the road not too far ago i went to Florida. Tampa, St Pete to be exact. I just needed to get away from this place. I had too many memories here that needed to be forgotten just to make myself happy. I hopped on a plane and took a personal vacation away from myself, my life, my problems.

Over that week I honestly believe i rediscovered myself as a person. I was alone on a balcony over looking I-98 and I just watched the cars fly by. The moon reflected off the traffic like a mirror. As those cars faded I thought of pretty much everything. I thought of my life, my father, my job and my future. These deep thoughts just overtook me and inspired me. I asked myself "Do I want to keep being this way?" I always put everything off to the side or just didn't care sometimes. I sat back and watched the cars fly. They flew down the expressway along with my broken memories and some of the times I would just love to forget. 

I cant in anyway wish thoughts and experiences away because they made me the person I am today. I wish i could see myself in the future writing columns for a magazine or a newspaper close to home. 

For now i can just keep thinking of that highway and only one thing comes to my mind. The wonderful lyrics penned by Tom Cochran,

"Life Is A Highway, I Wanna Ride It All Night Long"

-Nick

Where Am I Going?

The morning started like any other, It consisted of me rolling around at 6:30 looking for the light and falling off my bed. The day progressed as I went to work. I inspect houses for a small real estate company based in the city. Driving through the slums of The island in Port Richmond made me realize something. What am I Doing? Where am I Going? And im not talking about this god forsaken job where i ruin my car everyday but My life. What Am I Doing? Im a double major at a community college. Business and Music. I wanted to be in the music Biz for the longest time but I had no idea what i would be doing. But as i thought of my new english class and the assignment due for it, it completely changed my outlook.

For my newly assigned english class i had to start a blog. This one. As i thought throughout the day I know there is something that i love. Its to write. I love putting my thoughts on papaer but i would rather Write about things. My dream job all my life would be to write about music or just write about life in general. IM looking to change my major. Journalism?

But as i sat there driving i was daydreaming and missed a turn onto a block. The only thing I could see is that my life is like this route. Ive made tons of wrong turns, However i will get back to where i started and to reach my goal.

-Nick