Once I Got Home To The States
I went to Pensacola Jr. College for
the first two years and transferred to UWF for my junior and senior years. PJC was pretty
easy, but UWF taught me an important thing about work. The demands at the University were
high and if I didn't rise to meet the challenge, I would wash out. Well quit was not in my
educational lexicon so I ground my nose just that much harder into that grindstone. In
August of 1991, I graduated with a BSBA in Management with a solid 'B' GPA . I followed my
Mom and brother and became the third Daniels to graduate from UWF. During my time at the
University, I landed a really cool job at the Educational Research and Development Center
working on their computers. Why not...after all I am technically inclined. It helped pay
the bills, and I learned all about computers. The staff, namely Paul Frederick, my boss
let me make all of the mistakes that I needed to make to become proficient. I taught most
of the technical material to myself. I later went to work for the ERDC on a contract basis
and then later for a State Commission. All of this came to a close when the Commission's
first director got canned. The new director wanted to move the office to Tallahassee. The
combination of my lack of desire to move to Tallahassee and the lack of a ready position
for me caused me to think hard about what I wanted to do next. I have a business degree,
and I know more about using the computer as a business tool than most folks...I should
surely qualify for something well-placed in the world of business...Well that wasn't the
case. Here is an old resume' of my
experience thus far.
For
some dang reason, I could only think of one thing. The Appalachian Trail! Wow! what a way
to spend six months while I get rethreads for my neck. Well that was what I did... sort
of. I started the trail in late March of 1996 about six weeks after getting laid off.
The trip lasted for about six weeks (340 miles) before my
body broke down and the rest of the spring and summer was spent traveling around the
Desert Southwest and Upper Michigan wilderness. Along with my nephew Andy, I did more
maturing that summer.
I
came home to a life of uncertainties, but for once I wasn't worried. The backpacking life
taught me how to survive no matter what. I discovered that I don't need a really cool job
to bolster my self-esteem anymore. I don't even really need a high-paying job so that I
can afford to buy one of those overpriced yuppie squad cars, although my Honda Civic is
getting long in the tooth now with 198,000 miles on it 8^). I am looking for something
that will help put the juice back into what had become a rather pulpy lifestyle of my
early and mid 30s. At 38, I have reached about mid-point in my life and have yet to find a
comfortable niche. I have some unfinished pleasure/business to tend to next year on the
Appalachian Trail. I want to see more of the sights and get into more of the trail
experience that I was forced to leave last May of 1996. In short, I want to travel some
more and see more sights 8^)
After that
portion of life is chronicled, I can move on with the next part of my life. .....
Well,
since my last entry some time in 1997, I finally have something worth mentioning. I
started back to school! I decided to march to the beat of Therapeutic Massage. My goal is
to become a practitioner and some day move to the mountains. I really believe that it is
my calling or at least it is what gives me the visceral thrills! I feel that am surely
moving forward with my life...And it only took me a couple of years to figure it all
out!!! 8^). The Honda now has 206,000 miles on it! Bless its four banging heart. I have
dubbed it the car that won't die!!! I am also looking forward, in August, to the
celebration of the 4th decade of my existence on this earth. Dang! the big four zero... I
am still planning to finish the AT adventure, but I really need to give the massage
practice much deserved time and energy. Cool dreams keep me goin' though!!!
....Wish
me luck with school!
I finished
Florida's Therapeutic Massage School August 19,1998. I finally found my calling. It has
been a mind opening experience to say the least. I have found it extremely rewarding
working with clients who have real physical and emotional pain. Although I don't work
directly with emotional issues that come out, I can help the physical maladies that relate
to soft tissues of the body. The emotional issues sometimes work themselves out. I set up
my new practice at the school here in Pensacola. Clients have trickled in, but that is to
be expected out of a new practice. Word will eventually spread, and perhaps I will have
more work than I can handle...I pray 8^). Whether I catch on with people early or later, I
am in it for the long haul. I say that with pride because this is the work that God has
directed me to do. Forty came to me peaceably and with no regret. In fact it was
anticlimactic on the tail of graduation.
August 1998
Oh by the
way...the Honda is still alive with 208,000 miles and rolling.
August 1999
The Honda finally
bit the dust at 215,000. I sold it for $250. Much of my life has been centered on getting
my massage practice started. It is still in the entry phase, but I am seeing clients with
clinical problems. Injury and rehab. are my interests. I bet that I have a lot of hiking
partners the next time I attempt the AT!!!
December 1999
1999 was a really
hard year that started out promising, but quickly died while I was looking for a good
place to set up shop. It ended on an inspiring note with some help from gift sales and the
decision to make the clinic at the gym successful.
October 2000
I opened my own
clinic in December 1999, after having worked for someone at the same place since October.
She bailed when she thought that having a second place was not making enough extra income.
As luck would have it, the day after she left, I collected $800 bucks in Christmas gift
certificate sales...under the new management, namely...ME!
The year was one
of steady growth and confidence building. I started to see clients that when treated got
better. That is a huge boost to a health care provider's ego and of course the client's
well-being 8^). I started to read Marsha Sinatar's book "Do What You Love, And The
Money Will Follow." I never finished the book (actually it is work in progress as I
am a very slow reader), but I got the jist of it. It does work provided the reader is
seriously in love with the work and has a second job to support the dream.
This is the first time in a long time that I can really say that what I do thrills me! I
imagine that the end of this year will get busy, but I want to take a little time off then
to see some distant family that I have been missing for some time.
2001 and 2002
Work has really developed
into a full-time affair. I made a reasonable living in 2001 especially after a
fellow massage therapist helped me get a part-time position with a local
chiropractor. It is only one day per week but it pays all of my rents. I still
work hard at the health club and have gotten into the groove so to speak with
most of the members. October 4th 2002 marks 3 years at Gulf Breeze Fitness
Center. I have had a good turn on a personal level as well.
I needed to
lose some weight, and I haven't had much luck in the past. I was really a bit
demoralized and worried that I was going to be stuck at 285 pounds for life.
On New Year's Eve 2001, I came across a website
promising to show me how to take the weight off. Hmmm heard that one before.
What pill was I gonna' need for that miracle. I realized almost immediately
that the site was professing balanced and sane eating habits. Well now...that
is worth looking into. So I did. I wound up losing about 47 pounds and still
ate well. There is just no way around it. You have to change eating habits to
lose weight. My goal is to reduce to 210 pounds which is another 27 pounds. I
know now that I can attain that goal. I just have to persist and stay faithful
to the objective which is: better health
August 2002
My 44th year.
Damn I made it! I am starting to gray in the
temples, but I am really feeling like a very meaningful aspect of my life is
about to unfold. What the hell it is I don't know.
My
birthday was a little Clockwork Orange. While I was on my way to have lunch
with my sister at a restaurant named after a
pepper, I passed an odd caravan. Leading the pack of several emergency mode
police cruisers was a manic looking man in a white squared off sedan. I stared
while he passed and waited on the side of the
road while the cavalcade of police
followed in hot pursuit at speeds of around 40 mph. About that time my sister
rings my cell phone, and I jumped and fiddled trying to get it out of my
pocket while not hitting the cop screeching
around an upcoming intersection. While waiting outside for Eve to arrive, I
heard another siren then silence. We had a wonderful lunch and reunion (hadn't
seen her in months.) When I got home, my landlords had given me the news that
a man chased by the cops had decided to commit
suicide in front of our driveway. I think that he was a 2 time felon who
didn't want to make it 3. I saw his family walking the crime scene on Monday.
I had no words that could comfort nor could I explain his condition when I saw
him minutes before his death. I will always remember #44 this way.
August 2003
Another
birthday, and I decided to go to school for structural integration. I have
really wanted to become a structural therapist for about three years, but time
and money were scarce. That has all changed, and I have an opportunity to train
with Tom Myers in 2004
and 2005. The KMI training takes a while to complete, but the effort should well be
worth it. Other than that...I am still plugging along.
August 2004
Well the
training with Tom Myers
is finished for the Summer, and I am ready for a quiet birthday. I am happy to
turn 46 as it marks my sixth year as a massage therapist. I have gotten quite an
education up there in Walpole, Maine. Becoming a full-fledged structural
bodyworker is becoming everything that I knew it would be. I now have to spend
some time integrating with the new skills through practice. Enough of
that....Yeah!!! life is still rather awesome..
I bought a house! My first! Got a contract on my birthday
and closed in October after that rat bastard Hurricane Ivan tore through my
hometown. The place is a mess, but my house only got one hole poked in its
roof. Not too bad compared to the homes without roofs and other features that
help us recognize a home. Gettin' ready for KMI part 2. I am giddy.
August 2005
Part two of
KMI has come and gone. I have finished and feel damn lucky to have finished. I
was a mess. Fatigued and without a brain, I managed to learn enough to make
the grade. I suppose it will all sink in someday. At least Tom Myers thought
that I did well enough.
Well folks, if you caught the weather report, it freakin'
stormed again. For crying out loud. Enough storms. Hurricane Dennis gave my
hometown a black eye, but the devastation was not nearly as bad as Ivan. Who
did we piss off anyway.
Building my KMI practice is harder than I thought it would
be. I'll get there someday. Keep pluggin'
August 2006
Well
alright. Thanks God! For my birthday he gave us a Hurricane-free summer. I
guess my bitchin' did not fall on deaf ears after all. I am 48. Dang...Just
dang. Not much else this year. I just worked hard and fell into my bed each
night. Alone. So God...you answered my "no hurricane" prayer/bitch.
Can you do something about this going to bed alone thing that I have been
plagued with all these years? Touch wood.
