I was inspired to write this post after reading Electrolund’s latest post that hearkens back to my Days of Melancholy post and another similar post that he read on another blog. In that post the lady talked about the various things that she wanted to be/do when she grew up. I remember for years that I wanted to be a cartoonist ala’ Charles Schulz. I posted earlier that I used to draw for hours when I was a child and Snoopy was a frequent subject of my drawings. When Star Wars came out my imagination switched to space and I remember getting together with neighborhood kids and we would sit in the garage for hours on summer days drawing spaceships and space adventure stories (I wish so badly that some of those drawings still existed). I can vividly remember having this feeling of certainty that by the time I was an adult that we would be riding around in spaceships like they did on Battlestar Galactica. Somewhere around age ten I wanted to be a race car driver and my brother and two of our friends would sit around for hours talking about what life would be like when we could drive. We were all going to live together and work on and race cars. One of these friends actually pursued this dream and races cars today. Later on in life I really wanted to be a marine biologist. The ocean did and still does inspire such awe in me and I wanted to have a job in which I could spend an immense amount of time in the deep blue…I think I was around 12 when this was my life’s ambition. When I hit my teenage years I distinctly remember losing focus in regards to career goals and focusing entirely on dating. My goals at that point were to get married and a job was just something that I knew as a means to an end.
Ultimately I’m thankful that I’ve not yet grown up and there is still time to do things that my heart is craving to do. So, if you see me racing down the highway, please understand….
The reason for writing this post is to find out about you, the readers. What things did you want to do/be when you were growing up. Comment away!
when i was young, i wanted to be quite a few things: a singer, an archaeologist, an artist, a make-up artist for a science fiction show, a spy for the CIA, a mom, a novelist..
well, at least i’m an artist.. just not in the capacity i was hoping.
Okay, so this is me doing to you what my friends frequently do to me….what capacity were you hoping to be an artist in and what are you doing with your art…you’re good. Glad you got your stuff put up on your site.
An archaeologist seems so glamorous (Indiana Jones…and you’re from Indiana!!! I think you missed your calling!)…its funny how so many of the things that we want to be as kids are actually alot of hard work with the reward just being the satisfaction of doing a job well. I think archaeology would be one of those thankless but highly fulfilling jobs.
I remember wanting to be a librarian. But then I returned a book late to the library and my dad always teased me that they wouldn’t let me be a librarian. I wanted to work with animals. When I was in high school I thought about becoming a radiology technician. What I would like to do now is travel and take photographs for calendars or have my own little bookstore (kind of like A Shop Around the Corner).
well, i went to school for art actually.. and went into graphics design for a while, but got burned out quickly. i’m just worried that if i make portrait drawing into more of a “job” that i’ll stop enjoying it too.
plus, my biggest passion is now youth ministry.. i just need to find a way to infuse all my talents. lol
on a completely different side note.. check out this crazy site: http://www.raptureletters.com/
since it’s not really appropriate for my site & thought some of you might get a kick out of it.
i’m withholding my comments on it for now.. 🙂
Jimmy, you want to post about ‘Rapture Letters’ on your site? The idea is an interesting one. I don’t know if any email that you sent someone would be that comforting…seems like it would be more of a “ha, ha, you got left behind” thing no matter how sincere it was….hmm..If you want to post about this at Jimmy’s House we can move these comments over and start a thread over there.
don’t feel like you have to.. i just thought it was interesting.. lol
Its very interesting…it needs a post of its own because I’d love to comment on it further.
I understand your thoughts/worries about an interest becoming a “job”. I frequently wonder about writers, comic book artists, etc. who have deadlines and have to make themselves work on their craft everday…does it become “work”, do you lose your “passion”?
I remember dad saying that to you, Abby! 🙂
I have the bookstore dream as well. Everytime I go into a store and can’t find the book I want I think that I need to open up an enormous store that has at least one copy of EVERYTHING!
I put a long comment on Patty’s blog. As soon as she posts the comments, I’ll paste it over here too.
WBW (way back when) I was like 26, I wanted to be a filmmaker. But I’ve been too noncommittal to take the plunge and focus more time on it. However, I *have* been working on a freaking killer script lately.
WBW I was 27, I wanted to become a folk singer and bought a guitar for $100. I think I got ripped off, so it’s still in my closet.
WBW I was 28, I wanted to be a writer. So I wrote really insipid, robotic, and terribly dry prose. But I really love writing, so I refuse to quit even though my own words make me cringe.
WBW I was 30, I wanted to become some sort of woodsman or hiker or something. Some job that would keep me in the great outdoors.
Sounds like you have alot of dreams that you can still pursue. If you find a job where you can get paid to hike you need to let me know…I could really get into that!!! I know a guy here in KC who just finally up and quit his 6 figure job that he hated and started making films. He just dove in. Things are progressing well at this point. Took alot of courage and I applaud him for it.
Rapture letters. Imagine that.
I’ll post something, since I am bored out of my mind!
Carl, what’s his name? Man, that is so encouraging! Similar story down here in the south… a guy my age (30) was a software engineer and he quit his job to write/produce/direct/edit a scifi film. And it won best picture at Sundance last year! It’s called Primer. Wonderful film.
Hey, SciFiChick, you seen it?
His name is Jon Weimer. He’s making movies in the horror/suspense vein…not slasher stuff, more psychological.
i haven’t gotten into indie films.. maybe cuz i never hear about them.
did you see Primer just a local artists theatre? indy only has one that i know of.. and it’s pretty scuzzy.
The nice thing about Sundance winners is that they have a better chance of making it to DVD. Netflix, and even local chain video stores, are getting increasingly better at having more small, independent films in their catalog of available films for rent.
I really like your name, Angela. My mom’s name is Angelynn and we named our fourth daughter, Anjelia.
I am doing what I always wanted to do!
I think it’d be cool to own a little coffee shop someday. A cool little hang out that smells like fresh ground coffee.
Julie, sounds wonderful. I’d buy a cup every day if I could.
Angela, Dallas is pretty lucky — we have 4 independent movie theaters and 3 of them are less than 5 years old!
thanks, julie.. tho i can’t take credit for it.. anjelia is very unique, how did you guys come up with it?
the first time i skimmed that post i thought you said a little coffee shop… “that smells like fish…” wow. don’t think i could frequent that place.. but FRESH ground coffee, sure. lol
and yeah, i don’t think napoleon dynamite even played at the indie theatre here.. but thankfully, it went to dvd quickly 🙂
Wasn’t Napoleon Dynamite great?! I loved the way Unle Rico pronounced his name. Makes me smile. 🙂
i want to be napoleon dynamite when i grow up.
actually, i got kip from this quiz: You are Kip Dynamite and you love technology.
Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you? brought to you by Quizilla
I wanted a variation of my mom’s name. . .that’s what I came up with.
We had a group of people here who were all artistic in one way or another who talked about starting a coffee shop type place that was also an area where people could come in and work on their art. Maybe sell art supplies, have a gallery for people to show and sell their work. Would be a really fun idea. I’d love to work in a coffee shop because of the smell…just can’t stand the taste of the stuff. I was in Gloria Jean’s Coffee at the mall over Christmas and that placed smelled heavenly…
stress relief + comaraderie = coffee
C-Man, you may not have had a *good* cup of coffee yet. What don’t you like about “the stuff”? Bitterness? Bland?
A good cup o’ joe is neither. And a lot of Starbucks cups aren’t so good either.
My roomie, “Coffee Snob” Neil, makes a mean batch of cold brew. And that stuff comes out sweet, I kid you not!
I just don’t like the flavor…I’ve always wanted to be a hot tea drinker as well but even with the right amount of sweetness I just can’t honestly say I love it. Republic of Tea’s Blackberry Sage tea is just fantastic…but I can barely tolerate it as hot tea.
The best thing this side of heaven is having coffee with a friend. I love everything about coffee. The smell, taste, the feel of the warm cup in my hand. A good cup of coffee and a delicious dessert is an incredibly soul feeding experience. I like most all coffee, except weak coffee. I am so glad James likes coffee. I don’t think I could be married to him if he didn’t!!!! I love coffee!!!
I wish I loved coffee…just don’t. Its not for lack of wishful thinking…
Sorry, Carl. There are plenty of things I wish I liked, but don’t. Coffee just happens to be one of my passions.
And here I thought you’d have some magic elixir to make me adore coffee and hot tea…I’m disappointed.