Alanabit & Stephen: Over the years I've come to believe that life is a process of preparation. The other day I was out mowing my lawn (I bought a push lawnmower, not a gas mower, and people stop and stare at me when they're walking down the street because no one uses them anymore... 'cept me.) A woman and her Grandson stopped for a minute and the woman said, "You're almost done with your lawn." I told her that there is no such thing as being "done with your lawn." The most you ever can do is momentarily get it under control. Life is like that, too. And it's best not to try TOO hard to get it under control, either. Mostly it's just an illusion. When I was in my twenties, I used to say to people, "If someone told me five years ago that I'd be doing what I am today, I'd have told them they were nuts." That statement has pretty much held true for me for most of my life, even though my place of employment was stable for longer periods of time. It was about the only thing that was. Many times in my life, I've had a powerful feeling that I was being prepared for something I couldn't yet imagine, because I wasn't ready for it yet. That premonition has oten turned out to be true. It may make life seem a little uncertain, but it sure makes it interesting. Besides, life IS uncertain... might as well enjoy the ride. It sounds like you and Stephen are. And most of the rest of the people who have responded to this thread.

Jerry