To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
-Joe Darion
I originally come from Seattle, born and raised there. It’s not a bad place, but it rains too damn much. It wasn’t too bad other than that, but I just didn’t really want to make my home there permanently. So when I got to be 18, I decided that I would skip college at the time and try my way in a bigger place. Stupid me, I went all the way and tried New York City. I guess I was just a tad naive. I don’t know what I would’ve done there if I hadn’t gotten lucky and gotten a job with a rather reputable modeling firm. I got some nice modeling gigs, a couple even in Europe. But you know what? I wouldn’t do that permanently for anything. Get up early, sit around until you’re needed, get photographed, get gawked at......no thanks. I finally got tired of it and used the money I had saved up to move back to Seattle. My parents were happy to see me, of course. And my father told me that I was never going to take off clear across country like that again. I guess you could say he’s a bit of a worrier. So I bummed around a bit, took some business classes, and learned some bookkeeping. Why I chose that, I will never know. But after awhile I decided I wanted a real job.
I started looking around for a good university and found one in Eastern Washington instead of over on the wet side. So I applied, got accepted, and packed my bags and left. My younger sister was thrilled, she got my room on a permanent basis. Mercenary. So I started going to Eastern Washington University and decided I wanted to major in psychology. I decided I’d really like to be a child psychologist. After all, I was a crazy kid and I figured that there are a lot out there. Seriously, I saw a lot of things in New York and I know that there is always a need for a good child psychologist, unfortunate as that is.
Well, I met Gayle about the end of my freshman year and we became friends. What can I say? We psych majors are drawn to crazy people. We started spending our break between classes together, taking turns buying lunch. Her husband John even joined us sometimes when he actually had the time. He’d be a great case study. I keep trying to talk him into some experiments, but for some reason he doesn’t trust me. Me, of all people. Okay, now that I’m engaged to Randy I could understand it, but back then I was very reliable.
Speaking of Randy, Gayle kept telling me she had a good friend that I had to meet. I was a little cautious, wondering if he was as crazy as her, and then I met his brother Peter, who is also a student there. Then I got really worried. But I finally gave in and met him that summer and well, I owe Gayle one hell of a big favor. We hit it off immediately, I’m not even quite sure why. Chemistry, I guess. He can be really intimidating when he wants to be, although never to me. I’ve got his number. And I’m keeping it all to myself. We got engaged a few months after and got married earlier this year. We were saving for a house first, but we unexpectedly found out we were having a child. Gabriel Evan Kerr was born September 4,1999 and in my unbiased opinion is the most beautiful child ever born.
And did I mention these people somehow got me involved in roleplaying? That’s something I never would have tried without their encouragement, but it is really fun. Hell, these people are about the funnest group I’ve ever met. Best move I ever made when I decided to come over here. And the real bonus is that my folks love Randy. That was the big surprise. My mother I could understand, but my father? He’s always been very protective and I thought there would be conflict. But no, they hit it off right away. I think my dad senses that Randy will make sure that I am always in good hands and safe. And isn’t that what all daddies want for their little girls?
I've known rivers: My soul has grown deep like the rivers. We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
-Langston Hughes
-Martin Luther King, Jr.