DID I MISS MY CALLING

I turned 66 not long ago and I continue to look back over my life. One of the things that I think of often is, did I choose the right career path? I ended up in manufacturing because that is the path that my father and
brother took. Was it the right choice? Now at this age I don't think it was where I wanted to go. I really wanted to be a forest ranger because my heart is and always will be with nature.

I think it was about half way through my life that after reading a book I would often wonder if I had the talent to do such a thing. It kept pressing more and more on my mind. I would write some short stories of my life just for the fun of it. I would read them over and over. I couldn't help but wonder if anyone else would be interested in reading them. In my late 50s I started to submit articles to magazines. When I reached fourteen rejections it hit me that maybe I just didn't have the talent to be a writer. I gave it one more try to a magazine titled, Our USA Magazine. Cher Valentino, the founder and editor of the magazine loved my story and published it in the magazine. I was now on cloud nine, seeing one of my stories in print made me feel like I could make it as a writer. Cher published several more of my stories. She has been an inspiration to me in continuing my writing.

Because of her I wrote my first novel, Golden Haze. In a way it was a tribute to my late dog Izzy that died in 2004. I loved that dog so much and was devastated when she died. When I wrote, Golden Haze, I made Izzy the main character and had a photo of her put on the front cover. In the book she was an angel that helps a family through the struggles of injury, disease, and paranormal activity in their home. In real life Izzy was my little angel.

That fiction novel set a fire under me like I have never felt in my life. I have now written two more novels and one is being published as I write this. Story telling is an art, a passion. I can't stand up in front of a crowd like many people can, but I can write the words. I love writing and I love telling a good story. Life is an adventure, each year is another chapter. I am up there in years now, but my mind and heart are of someone half my age.

Now as I look back over my life I realize it was a good one and I made a decent living. However, I have to wonder what would have happened had I started writing earlier in my life. At this point in my life, I think I did miss my calling. We can't go back in time and we have to be thankful for what we have. However, I really do wish I had started writing earlier in my life. I love it and people should do in their lives what they love.


Larry W. Fish   Copyright   2014