The stars are aligning

Just back from the Career Center in Lowell. I didn't realize what a great resource they are for career advice. I figured they were just focused on giving you the tools to get re-employed and not to do any serious career counseling. I was SO wrong.

I met with a wonderful advisor, Gerri, who's been there for 30 years. We are about the same age and we've both been at our careers for the same amount of time (yes, I'm that old). 

We talked about my resume that sells my technical background and she suggested I could make some changes there. But I also told her how I'd like to eventually get out of the iffy-ness of the tech biz and focus on more creative writing.

She gave me some great ideas. The Career Center also has a monthly workshop on starting your own business but April's is already full. I have no clue what it takes to be a freelance writer (taxes, marketing, etc.) and would like to go to next month's session.

It's exciting and scary at the same time, this going out on my own move. But I feel like the universe is sort of leading me in this direction and I had better not miss my opportunity. There are those who say we are coming upon the Age of Aquarius in 2012 - the beginning of a new astrological era. A time of change for humanity.

So, maybe, since my astrological sign happens to be Aquarius, this is my time for change as well. I can only go with my gut and trust the universe. Those two things have gotten me this far already, so I feel that I have no choice but to continue.

Alex and Brit

Here's a picture of Alex and Brit for those who read the Globe column. Brit is on the left (still wet from a bath) and Alex is on the right. They are snuggling on our bed as they did every night before we turned off the light. They were quite the pair.

Debut

After many years of trying to do some sort of writing that doesn't include technical boredom, I was published in the Boston Globe magazine today. It's like a whole new world is opening up to me.

Here's the link if you'd like to read it: http://bit.ly/bt1PTF

Thanks to all my loyal readers and posters for keeping me motivated to write.

Space?

No, not that kind of space - the new-frontiers type of space. I'm talking about space as it relates to allowable, personal, comfortable space between strangers. As I was walking into the post office today, a man was ahead of me by quite a few steps. He opened the door, looked around to see if anyone was behind him, saw me, smiled and let the door close behind him. I wasn't on his heels by any means so was not offended. But I thought that I would have held the door for him had he been as far away as I was.

One of my high school classes did an exercise in personal space. Two random students stood at the front of the class and the teacher had one of us move closer to the other student, one small step at a time. The student who was being approached had to say "Stop" when they started to feel uncomfortable.

It was an interesting exercise. One that I never forgot. Every person had their own personal space requirements. Some kids never said "Stop" and were fine having other students breathing down on them - even if they weren't friends. Some said "Stop" after the first step.

Not sure if my fellow post office customer was doing the personal space test or not. Maybe he felt funny holding the door for someone who was so far away from him. Or maybe he thought it would be an awkward waiting period. Maybe he didn't want me to feel that I had to run so that he wasn't left holding the door for a long time. Who knows.

Got me wondering, though, about etiquette between strangers. And not a gender-specific etiquette. I don't think men are more required (is that grammatically correct?) than women to hold doors for others.

What do you do in a situation like this? How long would you have heald the door and why? The comments feature is enabled. Jump in anytime!

The ten-year cycle

If you don't already know, I am attempting to break out of the high-tech world of insanity and get into more creative writing. Today, I spoke with the editor for the Westford Eagle, my local newspaper. I accepted a freelance writing gig that I can do along with my current job. I'll be mostly writing feature stories about people and events in my town.

A column I wrote for the Boston Globe was accepted recently and will be published on 4/11. I am most excited about this writing experience and hope to parlay it into even more published work for the Globe.

It dawned on me today as I was making my lunch, that I reinvent myself professionally every 10 years. When I graduated from college in 1980, I worked in customer service. I always felt I was capable of more and in 1990, I became a business systems analyst.

I loved being a BSA until I had to live through the Y2K nightmare, at which point, I decided I wanted to be a technical writer. In 2000, I transitioned to that job.

Now, 10 years later in 2010, I am tired of the high tech world and want to do the sort of writing I've always wanted to do. I didn't study English in college in order to become skilled in software tools used to do the writing. Tools that are often more important than the writing itself.

Although I still need to pay the bills and do some technical work, I don't want this to be the final stop on my career path. I feel that everything comes full circle and, if we listen to our guts, we will end up back at the place our young and passionate hearts pointed us years ago.

For me, that's writing about important things: people, places, events, social and political tugs of war, and ideas.

Maybe some day I'll write that novel. Maybe I'll continue to write short pieces that I hope stir some thoughts and feelings in the reader. Either way, I think I have finally found the work that will lead me into and maybe through retirement.

I'll check back with you in 2020.

Tower of Power

Ron and I went to see the ultimate funk and soul band last night - Tower of Power. It was only our second time seeing them (beside the one time I saw them at my college Spring Festival in the late '70s). If you want some energy, you gotta go see ToP. After 40+ years together, they still can't be topped (no pun intended).

We sat in the mezzanine of the Wilbur Theatre in Boston last night and ended up having really great seats. It's a small enough venue that you're never too far from the stage. The first thing I do when I go to any concert is assess the crowd. I'm a people-watcher from way back and can never resist the tempation at concerts.

The seats around us were filled with all types. In front of us sat a couple who never clapped or moved - actions I thought impossible at a ToP show. Next to them was a man that alternated between making bar runs and staring into his Blackberry. Next to me (we had end seats, thankfully) was what appeared to be a sugar daddy and his "date". It was hard not to be distracted by them and I kept wishing they'd just leave and get a room. Halfway through the show they disappeared and I hoped they did just that. Behind us were crazy people (just the way I like 'em) who danced and hooted and yelled out song titles.

I don't want to do a full review of the show so much as point out my impressions and some highlights for me.

• ToP needs to be in a venue at least that size to have the desired effect on the crowd. We saw them at Sculler's last year and the room was just too small for them. There was no way for them or us to move. The best way to enjoy their music is to get up and dance.
• The set list was as good as I've seen from a band. They played most of their big hits and fan favorites but still added some new stuff from their latest cover album. Although it's a decent album, I'd rather listen to their own compositions than their interpretation of others songs. There was too much of that going on at the Sculler's gig last year.
• David Garibaldi is one of the greatest drummers of all time. Yet he's so understated. I was glad to be sitting on his side of the stage so I could watch him more closely. I met him the last time I saw ToP and shook his hand. He has the hand of a drummer - calloused and strong.
• When my ToP favorite "You've Got To Funkafize" started, I screamed "Oh My God!" so loud I fear I drowned out the singer. That song has several rhythms going on at the same time that all come together in one amazing funkfest.
• I was thrilled that they played one of my all-time favorite ballads "So Very Hard To Go". It's a song about a love triangle. The balladeer struggles with doing the right thing by leaving - an unselfish, heartbreaking gift to the woman he loves. Definitely their best slow song - beating out "You're Still a Young Man" in my eyes.
• The horn section and lead singer took a break midway through to allow for a great instrumental moment on drums, bass, guitar, and the B3. I loved how this allowed the part of the band that is often overshadowed by the strong horn section and singer to really shine.
• Speaking of their singer, how Larry Briggs can still speak after belting out those tunes the way he does, is beyond me. His vocal range is phenomenal.
• I think the best part of their set list was a James Brown tribute that started with their song "Still Diggin' on James Brown". This morphed into some great Brown covers including the gem "Mother Popcorn" which I don't hear much in Brown tributes. It includes some lines that Prince quoted in his song "Gett Off": I like 'em fat/I like 'em proud/You've got to have a mother for me. Another great funk song.

I hope that when Tower of Power comes back to Boston, they play the Wilbur again. It was a spectacular night and they played a longer set than usual (about 1 hr, 45 mins).
I made the mistake of wearing a sweater to the gig. I danced so much at the end I left sweating. The cool night air felt great as we hiked to a nearby bar. I don't remember the name but it had shamrocks in the sign so we figured they'd have Jamesons. Other folks stopped in after the show and we compared notes. Everyone agreed it was one of ToP's best outings. Can't wait to see them again!

Old friends

It's been almost two weeks since I posted something here. That doesn't mean I haven't been writing, though. Just found myself caught up with life - especially vacation.

Seeing old friends in FL was just so wonderful. It amazes me that years can go by where you just email or facebook and occasionally call. Yet, when you see each other again, the old rhythm kicks right in. The same easy chatter and relaxed body language flow without a thought.

I'm blessed in many ways, but having friends who support me and make me laugh are high up on my list. I've also been lucky to have friends who are always there. Maybe they're not in the forefront of my life every day. But they stick with me and never let me down when I need them.

I feel bad for people who don't have that in their lives. It must be hard to a) not have friends you can count on, or b) have friends but not be able to stick with them when emotions get scary. I've had friends who have walked instead of staying and talking it out. Yes, it's more work and it forces you to walk into uncomfortable territory, but so what? Being uncomfortable for a short time is a small price to pay for keeping a trusted friend.

The types of friends I visited last week are the ones that keep me sane and fill me with joy. And, though I'm sad when they move away, it helps me remember that the world is a small place when I have friends scattered all over it.