Predicament

There have been so many times when I have gotten myself deep into it into some down and dirty rough spot. Somehow I always managed to climb back out of whatever big ol’back hole got me.

My Dad was the Master of creating something from nothing, for getting out of tough spots, for triumphing over seemingly impossible odds.

One story, my parents loved to tell, was Dad had just had enough money for carfare to work, and would get paid that next day. It was summertime and the kids all played outside and when the Good Humor truck showed up, the kids would scatter screaming, “Ice cream!” at the top of their lungs. Parents, some living on modest means, always found the change to buy an ice cream cone for their little ones.

This one night, I ran into the house, and could not find my parents.

They had been discussing, how to say no, there was no money for ice cream, when I discovered them hiding in their bedroom closet.

“What are you doing in there?” I giggled.

“Give it to her” My father said to my mother.

“But Phil…”

“Just give it to her.”

They handed me the quarter and I unknowing what was going on, skipped out to get my toasted almond on a stick. My Dad then got the great idea to go through the cushions of the couch, his suit pockets, and winter coats, managing to just find two nickels and a dime.

He was always able to pull the rabbit out of the hat, at just the last minute. It was quite a dramatic childhood—who needed TV?

Here is another story he just told me recently: As a kid, he studied to be an alter boy for a whole year, learning to say the responses to the mass in Latin. After passing the test to be an alter boy, he went home and asked his mother for the $7.50 to buy the cassock needed to assist on the altar. She told him, “We just don’t have the money.” He went outside totally dejected, sulking around the neighborhood.

“What’s wrong, Philip?” Asked one of the older guys from the neighborhood.

He told him his story and how upset he was.

The boy replied, “I have an old cassock that I don’t use any more, you can have it.”

My father must have jumped for joy.

I need to start creating my future from vision. I have just started a vision board and am curious to see how it works. What is your vision for this glorious Summer?