The Absent Uncle: Boom or bust ...

… Bust looks best in the rear-view mirror.

Last week we traveled to California to visit our son, my wife’s sister, and some really close friends. We had a great time; the weather was beautiful, the airlines were on time and not overcrowded, and the time spent with these special people was just simply great. 

Our son had a question for me based on last week’s column that talked about the advantage I perceived in growing up in the second-half of the 1900’s and being able to make mistakes and not serve a long-term punishment, either socially or career-wise.

His question” “What mistakes are you talking about?cYou made mistakes?” 

At that point I did regret sharing my writing – he is a bloodhound when he gets the scent of a story or episode to explore. 

Yes, son, I have made my share of mistakes. Sorry for letting you think I knew it all. (Although in your latter teenage years you were sure I knew nothing!) I referred to the “big” mistakes as “busts”, as they did almost bring me close to the edge. 

I was once told by a mentor that your 20’s are time for learning, your 30’s are meant for maturing, the 40’s are for growing, and your 50’s are for earning. Everything after that – plus before – is really by the grace of God. 

So yes – there was enough time to make a bad decision, to realize it, to figure a way out, rectify, and move forward. Put that “bust” in the rearview mirror and move along wiser and better for the experience. 

Nothing illegal or ethically wrong. Just a bad decision here or there. In our day we had time to recover. The record was not so public as it is today. That was my point in that column, and unfortunately, it blew the illusion that your dad could do no wrong. But it made for a good conversation. 

But from those experiences you now know better, and those rear-view looks seem smaller and not as difficult as you move down the road. A chance to learn, a chance to get better. 

I wish the same for your generation.