Taking the Scenic Route

Blast from the past

Brian Z called tonight, out of the blue.  Zach hasn’t heard from him since around 1990.  He was unsure of whether Zach would think it was creepy being contacted after all these years, but Zach was happy to hear how he was doing.  They were almost brothers and amazingly close at that time considering he is 5 years younger. 

He sounded a little lost in life.  He has been unemployed for a few months and was clearly tipsy when he called.  He asked Zach about things like “how do you keep a good relationship for so long”.  He also said he was jealous he was of our lives (married, teaching, kids).  That really took Zach back…this is a guy who has spent most of his life having everything going for him from our perspective.  He also said something about hating his previous job and feeling like he majored in the wrong thing and didn’t know what to do…felt like he was going nowhere and he was doomed to a miserable life.  Zach told him where he was 5 years ago (working at Pizza Hut as a cook for minimum wage, no degree, us drinking more than we should, stuck in a small town in western, KS with no real direction) and how much things can change in 5 years.  Told him he was still young and NOTHING is set in stone.  If he sobers up and looks at what is changable in his life, he can change those things and can make a complete and utter turn around in 5 years (picked out 5 years since that is the age difference between them)  By the end of the conversation, he was thanking Zach and saying that it was really inspiring for him to hear how much our lives changed for the better in that short of time…it gave him hope that he can change too.  He also wants to get together when he gets back into town to visit. 

Zach said it was really weird to be giving advice and he was glad he called and hoped that he helped.  We really care about this guy.  He has so much potential to make a real difference in this world and has resources available to him that we can only imagine.  It is strange to think that somebody with that background can go through such a similar struggle. 

You know what…we are rich in the one area money has no effect…a good, solid, loving marriage.  It is good to be reminded of your blessings now and then so you don’t take it for granted.

———-

actually, I think Zach was off by one year.  I think it was 4 years, not 5 years ago.  5 years ago was even more chaotic, but 4 years ago is when our lives started looking up.