Back in the day, flight attendant reserve duty was a lot about sitting around and waiting for a call, and on one Atlanta July afternoon, my neighbor and fellow reserve John Hardesty and I were doing just that. We had been to lunch and were killing time afterwards down the street at his house. Tommy, John's roommate, was an architect who was light years ahead of his time in working from home, and we were nosing around in his office. He was worldly and six years older than we were, thus making him super intimidating to me.
Tommy looked up from his drafting desk as we made small talk, and John mentioned that the next day would be my birthday.
“Well, happy birthday! How old will you be?”, Tommy asked.
“27”, I replied.
Tommy paused for a moment in contemplation.
“Ah, 27 is a very hard year”, said he with what I perceived as great wisdom.
~~~~~
Alas, as with every one of my years, 27 came and went lightning fast, a moment in the sublime time of life where ordinary days presented a host of adventures in being a grown-up out on one’s own. Back then, I rolled through a gracious, smaller-town Atlanta in my paid-for two-tone Monte Carlo. I hopscotched across the country five or more days each week, and I moved with friend groups who included me in fun doings.
If I had to pick some hard bits from that year, here they are: flying (a lot) on command, including every weekend and holiday. Here and there, I found myself floundering socially. And I impulsively bought a condo without a whole lot in the way of due diligence. However, even though I lived on the lookout for all the bad, 27 didn't seem to be terribly tragic.
Across time, I've often remembered being forewarned about a very hard year in life's cakewalk days, and have worked out that, somehow, even those not-best parts ended up being beneficial.
I 'm ever enlightened about the fact some people must work holidays and weekends, and I respect every person, everywhere, pulling that duty. For years, I missed some good times, but I did love my job, and Delta had mentioned straight up front that was how the cookie crumbled. Lucky for me, there were plenty of friends and colleagues in the same boat--or plane, as it were--and, in the end, I'm better for having worked hard and often.
As for that impetuous condo buy that wasn’t the best idea I ever had, it ended up leading to good things. Only through that deal, new people dropped into my life, and there are several who are dear friends to this day. And I shall forever remain the greatest fount of unsolicited advice about the importance of asking about construction quality and noise separation in a place where you're going to live.
~~~~~
Zillions of small talk exchanges have come and gone, but the miniature Tommy moment stays for perpetuity. The funny thing is, I only interacted with Tommy maybe two brief times when I was hanging out with John, yet I remember the afternoon in his Wilbur Post home office like it was yesterday. When July rolls around every year, I faithfully pull out the memory to consider it yet one more time.
My 27 lives way back in the rear view mirror, and the world and Atlanta have spun in some crazy ways since then. Here in my 2023 orbit, William turned 27 in January, and then Annabelle heads that way next year. I have a great seat on the sidelines watching their lives in the young adult trifecta of careers, friends, and fun. I hear about the ups and downs along the way, and I sure would like an invite to lecture them about how what might seem unfortunate now will someday end up being good, maybe even very good. By and large, though, what an excellent, excellent deal it is to be young with life unfolding all around and stretching out far ahead.
I'm sure I griped about my lot in life, and didn't appreciate the fine deal I actually had when I was young, busy, and living with a flashy Monte Carlo parked in front of the condo where I heard my neighbors' every move but met nice people. I'd love to go back for a do-over, but I'll gladly take this life that continues to reveal its splendor and its splendid ordinariness. Here I am, thankful to remain a part of it in another July that God has granted me, and I'll welcome whatever kind of year that should come along.
