Firsts

The first time I broke 100 straight in trapshooting.

The last five targets I was shaking like a dog shitting pine cones. I was on post #1, got five hard left angles.

And I absolutely smoked every one of those sumbitches.

 

First home run. At 12. I remember the pitcher, the location of the pitch, everything.

 

First marathon. My goal was to do it in 3:30.

I finished in 3:29.57.

I've run a couple more since, but nothing beat the satisfaction of finishing the first.

And the first time I really surfed kicked ass, as well. I wish I still lived near a beach.

 

* Both kids' first words.

* End of my first half-marathon.

* First (and last) bungee jump.

 

The first time I sang solo with an orchestra.  For those who know classical music, I sang "Urlicht", the 4th movement from Mahler's Second Symphony.  It was the moment when I knew that if that was all I ever got, the years of study and sacrifice had been worth it.  Me alone on stage with an orchestra of 110 instruments and no microphone.  Still the most sublime moment of my life.

 

I quit my other job last week after getting knifed in the back one too many times, which might qualify as being the first time I've ever stood up for myself and told someone to go fuck themselves.

Now with just the part time job at my paper, it'll be the first time I've ever worked under 40 hours a week since high school.