Updates, same old same old…and all
So I wanted to share some news with you guys. First thing, I finally got my license, yes, my drivers license. After all these years of having my permit…getting laughed at by those snotty nosed teenagers with theirs and trying to explain to them I’m from up North, where taxi cabs and trains were the norm, although we had two cars. My hubby did most of the driving. I eventually went to driving school to learn to drive while living in NY because my hubby and I were at loggerheads when it comes to my driving and him teaching me!
I’ve lived in Orlando for three years now and have been driven around by him, friends and sometimes I would drive just to get my practice. I thought when I lived here I would be allowed to drive on my permit within certain hours, but alas it wasn’t so. I took a chance once and drove by myself out of desperation when he went away for the weekend. I didn’t do that again though; although I didn’t get stopped by the cops I was pretty apprehensive about it. And told my kids quite sternly never to do that.
I got the nerve up, because I go to pieces and get overly nervous when I’m doing the road test (I’ve taken it twice in NY); I went in last week and took the exam. I passed! Yes, with a “safe driver” on my card! I’m still ecstatic about it. And now those snot nosed kids won’t be able to laugh at me anymore. Hey, no jokes about that either!
What a great way to end the year uh?!
The second thing is something I’ve been wanting to do since I moved here, which was part of my intentions all along. I’m going to manage a business. Yes, me, manage a business! I’m still going to keep my day job; I need that for cushioning believe me! I’m a bit apprehensive and so happy at the same time. It’s a partnership but one that everyone involved hope will go well. I’ve heard some dreadful stories and will hope that doesn’t happened with us. But with careful planning we should be ok.
What business you’re wondering? A retail store, small scale like a bed and bath shop. Now is the time I wish we could go all out and do everything we want, but we’re taking baby steps and hopefully will have some success. Hence my apprehension. Will they like us, want what we have to offer? I don’t know. But I’m going at it with hope and lots of prayer. I’ve always wanted to run my own retail business. Not that type but my partners wanted to do this first and I say why not. My dream business I’m still working on and if this works out, who knows.
It’s going to take a lot of work and time on my part and my family’s part too. A lot of changes will be in stored for us because my free time will be taken up by this. I’m hoping to not have too much of a change family wise but I know that’s not being realistic because there will be changes. I’m going to prepare my kids for it and keep my fingers crossed that everything will go well.
Being a part of this business doesn’t mean we’re rich or anything like that believe me. I worry about that perception by others too. But I’m not going to dwell on it. I do see though from a business owner’s point of view how excited they (anyone who owns a business) get, and how much your way of thinking changes. That drive is there, the vision you have for the future. It’s all there waiting to be grasp. And it all depends on how successful you are.
I’ve learned one thing though. All these years I’ve wanted to do something like this, own a business, it really just takes drive and vision and the determination of the person involved to do it. You don’t have to wait on a ton of money to start one these days, although having some does help. But at least trying something is good, better than not trying at all.
My kids are so looking forward to Christmas. Nope, I’m not traveling at the end of the year again, especially with this new venture. We haven’t put up our tree yet. We’re going to do that by the end of this week. (This is when we usually do it anyway). My daughter (the four year old) keeps saying she wants to get Christmas. She’s being bombarded by visions of toys and all those ads on television that only look at Christmas through the eyes of selling their toys and gadgets to kids and their parents. I want her to understand what Christmas is really about but she’s just too young to grasp its true meaning.
I usually sit my kids down and tell them the story of Christmas and its true meaning and why we celebrate it. Just so they don’t think it’s only about getting toys.
I’m going to go all out and get them most of what they want on their lists though. I want them to be happy. As for me, having my family together and us loving each other is all I need. Even though I’m going to miss that great reunion back home in my birth country – sniff! I wouldn’t have been able to take this business opportunity if I had gone though. So I guess I lucked out in that sense.
Not a bad way to end the year at all!