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“High school is the only time in your life when everything that is not important, seems important.” My sister and I were chatting on our drive from Athens to Atlanta, and she explained the high school mess in one sentence.;

I don’t care and she certainly doesn’t. We are both had a good time in high school and are doing well now. But I work with teenagers all the time and I see them go through the same things. You wonder, in the year 2025, our children will be sleeping around, drinking, doing drugs…all the while thinking it’s something new and cool.

It’s just a shame that we don’t learn from the mistakes of past societies and generations.

We are all dying. At this second, new babies are born and old people die. Those old people were once young, driving fast cars and listening to loud music. These babies…where will they go? Just think, a future president of the United States might be watching Sponge Bob Square Pants as I type.

It’s done! I am in my new house. It’s so empty I feel like I could play basketball in here. I am leaning against the wall…this has been a long time coming.

1. I read books on how to buy a house. I would rather look at books on designing and decorating homes.
2. I looked at dozens of homes in a dozen of neighborhoods. I tucked the classifieds in my back pocket and rode my skateboard from home to home.
3. I decided what was important to me and refined my priorities (Good.) I know I am young and I have to shake off my youthful fascinations. I could buy a 1500 square foot tree house with a fireman’s pole, but who would buy it from me when I am done? There are only so many eccentric people.
4. I read more books.
5. I talked to several realtors and chose a good one. I hope. Who’s really on my side? Who is willing to work hard to find the right home? Who won’t lie to me just to get me into a house so they can get their commission?
6. I prayed. God help me. Do You help people buy houses too?
7. I looked for house I am really doing this. There are adults working with me. Can I do this?
8. I researched how to take out a mortgage. More fun than a box of dirt.
9. Looked for a house. Ugh…is there a perfect house? Yes, but it’s not the perfect price. This house smells funny. What could possibly make that smell?
10. Where do I want to put my money? The stock market could pick up.
11. I liked a house and decided to buy it. Someone bought it first. That’s not cool.
12. I liked a second house and decided to buy it. Someone bought it first. That’s not cool at all.
13. I shopped around mortgage brokers. These people will lie to you, manipulate information, and not tell you a lot of stuff. It’s as much fun as licking a dishrag.
14. I found a house I liked and “bought it” that day. That was scarier than a roller coaster.
15. We played ping-pong with the price of the house. It’s fair. I was hoping for “darn cheap” but it’s a good house.
    16.I had the place inspected, then fixed.
16. I found a title agency. That was not particularly exciting, but there were ten women for every one guy who worked there.
17. Got a homeowners warranty. Brochures are boring.
18. Found a good insurance policy. Again, making sure I was getting the best coverage at the right rate.
19. Signed my life and fortune away with a wobbly hand.
20. Went wild on the last day making everything connect.

This afternoon I’ll finish packing up my apartment so we can move out tonight. Just maybe I’ll be sleeping in the same bed, but in a new house. Something I worked very hard for.

I can’t sleep. I read a line out of a book Candyce bought me for my birthday, and I can’t stop thinking about it. One questions asks so much, sorts out our past, shakes our present, and opens up our future.

If there could be rednecks in New York, then I think I found them. I was in Wal Mart outside of New York City a couple summers ago, and I walked in behind three guys who were learning how to strut. They swayed and jolted so much, their two groupies had to stand a foot away just so they wouldn’t be knocked over.

They stopped to make fun of the display of ‘N Sync posters, calendars, and back-to-school stuff. The girls gave them a half smile and they went on strutting on into their life. I laughed to myself, because the girls looked back to get a second look at the poster, a glimpse of life outside of Wal Mart.

I made my way to the back of the store to look at car magazines, and I remembered a story Chris Kirkpatrick from ‘N Sync told me. A company asked him if they could put his image on a phone card. If they made money, he’d get a big cut, if they didn’t he didn’t lose a dime. He nodded his head. They sold the phone cards.

Chris made $1,000,000, and counting. And he’ll never meet the three rednecks that don’t think he’s cool, he’s too busy living his life. Like going to his high school’s ten-year anniversary.

Chris told me he was excited to see everyone again, and would have bodyguards and all if things got out of hand. A few months later in at the People’s Choice Awards in L.A., I asked him how the reunion went. He quickly smiled, and explained how he signed autographs for people who used to make fun of him.

:::

I can’t sleep. I read a line out of a book Candyce bought me for my birthday, and I can’t stop thinking about it. One questions asks so much, sorts out our past, shakes our present, and opens up our future:

I was in Wal Mart the last time I was home in Georgia. I ran into a kid from my freshman year geometry class. Though he was a little awkward then, he’s grown up to be a pretty good guy who’s fun to talk to. I’d never have guessed he would go onto college and would now be an airplane engine mechanic. I leaned onto my cart of Christmas presents while we caught up on how everyone is doing from our high school.; I was disappointed. I hoped more of those kids would get out of that boring little town and make something of themselves. But no, they are just spinning their tires in the same red clay.

I don’t care, I got out and my life rocks. My life has nothing to do with that little town. It’s a place I am proud to be from, and proud to not live in. I’ve traveled around the country and the world and lived out adventures I only dreamed of. I’ve met so many beautiful people…beautiful women. And this life is only beginning.

I know the good life, and I want others to live it too. I will do everything I can to keep others from being held back. Too many bright minds, good hearts, and talented people get caged, and their gifts rot away. So many young people lose themselves in the endless game of being cool, gambling their futures for four fleeting years of approval.

I’ve never watched a news anchor ask George W. Bush, “Mr. President, did others think you were cool in high school?” I am sure Sadaam Hussien and his boys think George is annoying, but that doesn’t keep W from being the best president he can be.

One questions asks so much, sorts out our past, shakes our present, and opens up our future:

“Who are ‘they’ that they have so much influence on your life?”

Psychology will always be a popular subject for students because it helps us understand why people do what they do. Girlfriends, roommates, and parents are all predictable because they are all humans. Then one day in class it clicks—this psychology class is talking about me, not them.

After three courses in psychology, I didn’t want to be a specimen of predictability. It’s my rebellion as an individual perhaps, but more likely my ego. That rebellion in itself is a case of predictability. What sucks about being a rebel is that it is reactive—someone or some group has to establish the norm before you can rebel against it.

Daily living on The Real World required too much thought. For months afterwards, I didn’t want to think or mull, just work and be. I needed to be around people who didn’t prod me over everything I do or don’t say. I beat myself up enough and don’t need a team to help me out.

If someone is going to make it their priority to be critical of me, then I promptly move beyond them. Too many people get tangled and stuck in the criticism of insecure people.

I woke up this morning in that “rested but don’t know why” kind of way. I could’ve slept a couple more hours, but I decided to get this day started earlier. Whenever I come down here to the coffee shop, I always end up writing better journals.

I was stuck in an airport in Newark, NJ, when a businessman in line in front of me managed a free ticket and an afternoon in the VIP Lounge. I took mental notes, and was ready to do and get what he did. But the ticket agent was a Real World fan, so I didn’t have to work as hard.

I soon joined him in the lounge and asked what he did for a living. He explained that he was a negotiation expert. I come to find out negotiation experts aren’t always fun to talk to, but he did have something to say. He told me the primary tool for negotiation is information. Information helps you know what to negotiate for, and how to get there.

My books on how to buy a house have been worthwhile—I hope. Everyone and their brother has a book about 101 things you don’t know but you need to know. They may or may not be accurate about their reader, but one thins is for sure: you can sell a book if they pretend they know more than others. The handful of books that I’ve read about buying a home have boosted my knowledge and given me more confidence. Now I have to apply what I have learned.

You know, I don’t like a lot of adults. It’s not adults, really—it’s people. As a Christian, I am called to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. That is why scandal will always surround Christianity, because wolves sneak into their circles. Anyway…back to the people I don’t like. There were kids I didn’t like in high school, and kids like that become adults. When I bought my car, three adults didn’t mind lying to get me to pay $3000 more than I should have. It was like three high school kids trying to sell me a speaker box off the street. But, I’m not trying to be the best friend of the car dealership, so I decided to become “difficult”. You can’t chase an uneasy feeling by making a quick decision. After two hours of prodding, they finally surrendered. It’s fun to make an adult look at you and admit they lied.

Columbo was the ultimate detective. I’d watch that show with Mom and Dad because he had messy hair and always cracked a case without anyone knowing what he was doing. He just played dumb and asked the right questions. Is Columbo on DVD now?

So my new thing is scooters. I road a scooter with my friend Jeffrey in high school, and I thought they were so cool. I saw an old scooter called a “Vespa” outside of a coffee shop near my sister’s dorm. That fascination passed, but only for a little while. Who needs a scooter in the mountains of Georgia? I don’t think anyone in the Phoenix area has as pretty of a drive as I do. It starts in a hip part of town, passes through parks, and ends in a well-groomed mountainside neighborhood. I cruise along at 45 mph because it’s the law and why hurry a pretty drive? But wouldn’t it be nicer on a Vespa?

So I am going to finish this journal and walk across the street to window shop for a Vespa.