the 40 year old virgin

"...lookin' back over my years, i guess i've shedded some tears. told myself,time and time again, this time i'm gonna win...but another fight, things ain't right, i'm losin' again. it takes a fool to lose twice and start all over again" - Teddy Pendergrass (1980)

recently i celebrated 40 years of life, an event filled with family, friends, drinks, more drinks, music, laughs, and more drinks. my night ended early (or so i've been told), but it was a good time. the subsequent hangover left me on my ass for 2 days rest period gave me an opportunity to be introspective and review some of my life's story thus far... i won't bore you with many details but it can basically be summarized by decade;

THE FIRST 10 YEARS

spent almost entirely in southwest Atlanta, the SWATS if you're from around these parts. i don't remember having ANY interaction with white people and my idea of adventure was catching the 66 Lynhurst (marta bus) to Greenbriar with my aunt or uncle. it was just me and my sister, ridahs 'til the end

TEEN SPIRIT

moved to Cobb County, added 5 siblings, finished high school (Pebblebrook), started college (CAU), discovered a love of music. my idea of adventure involved employment at Six Flags Over Georgia and money, women, or both

THE ROARIN' TWENTIES

married, 3 children, first (and second) home, cars, grinding... accounting, teaching,music ministry, father, husband... PepsiCo, Atlanta Public Schools, ClayCo Detention... too busy to stop and smell the roses, too young and dumb to realize it

30 SOMETHING

divorce, financial rock bottom... somewhere in being broke and lonely i found a better sense of who i was and who i was supposed to be... found my swag if u will. managing that has taken some getting used to, but now that i have...

WHAT YOU GOT ON MY 40

the kids are fine, my pockets are feelin' better, ministry (and maturity) are taking off. i firmly believe that i have met my wife, which means that she has met me too i'm thinking. now, if we can just get past this whole awkward "not together" phase, maybe we can get back to love. my blood brothers have become my best friends, and Jesus is my help...

to be continued...