Distant Shores

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      "So where do you want to be in five years?" a friend asked as rain splashed the co-op courtyard one April afternoon. Sarah stretched mightily and flopped back onto the couch.
      "Employed!" I said with a laugh. Given the economy, it wasn't a joke. I said, "What about you? In five years?"
      "Dunno," she said. "Graduated, of course. I don't think there are many art-history jobs out there."
      "Y'never know!"
      Sarah said, "Maybe I'll switch my major to basket weaving. Maybe I'll get married and make babies."
      It was early June before I found my first contract job in San Jose--the first of many such. Years later, back in Berkeley for a visit, I ran into an ex-neighbor who was still living at the co-op; he brought me up to date on people we knew in common. Sarah had changed majors and had just finished her Master's in physical therapy.
      I was smiling when I headed on. Helping people had always been a turn on for Sarah... .
Distant Shores

Charting a course and staying it,
we reach distant shores.
Our future is the children
of prevailing thoughts
as we wind our way through this
forest of possibilities.

Responsible for our own successes,
we conquer doubts and despair.
Along starlit trails
we trek soulward,
soon to understand
where we fit in this grand scheme.

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Copyright 2001, Gary Kline 587

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.	"So where do you want to be in five years?" a friend asked as rain splashed the co-op courtyard one April afternoon. Sarah stretched mightily and flopped back onto the couch. "Employed!" I said with a laugh. Given the economy, it wasn't a joke. I said, "What about you? In five years?" "Dunno," she said. "Graduated, of course. I don't think there are many art-history jobs out there." "Y'never know!" Sarah said, "Maybe I'll switch my major to basket weaving. Maybe I'll get married and make babies." It was early June before I found my first contract job in San Jose--the first of many such. Years later, back in Berkeley for a visit, I ran into an ex-neighbor who was still living at the co-op; he brought me up to date on people we knew in common. Sarah had changed majors and had just finished her Master's in physical therapy. I was smiling when I headed on. Helping people had always been a turn on for Sarah... . Distant Shores Charting a course and staying it, we reach distant shores. Our future is the children of prevailing thoughts as we wind our way through this forest of possibilities. Responsible for our own successes, we conquer doubts and despair. Along starlit trails we trek soulward, soon to understand where we fit in this grand scheme.	.