Sure you’re probably wondering who is this, and why am I calling you ‘Bud”, and you may not recognize me because I look a lot different from the last time we saw each other. How long has it been now? What almost 32 years, so that would make me 37. Here to prove to you I am you at 37, do you remember the time when you got your sister’s head stuck between the rails on the bridge in the park for a candy bar, and mom and dad had to call the fire department to get her out? See I told you. Well, im sure you are wondering why we don’t look the same anymore, huh? Well its cause, on September 12, 2014 you took you very first shot of Testosterone, the first step toward who you will see in the mirror 32 years from now. So I bet youre wondering what the hell are you gonna do with your life, Mr. I’m from your future, right? Well ill tell you…
Well, in a years time your mom will move you and your sisters in with a man whom you called Uncle Roger, and later Dad. He will create many memories that you will recall many years down the road. He will show you and teach you many things, he will be your protector and your savior. And when you are 15 years old you will see what I mean by that. But looming in the darkness will be 2 things that will change your life in ways you can never imagine. The first, A boy who is 2 years older than you, will treat you like you are special, then he will take from you the one thing you have control of willingly. Be weary of Rob, he will do more damage than good, but if I know you (as I should), you are going to be a little bit of a rebel, and will do it anyway. Can’t say that I didn’t warn you. This boy will give and take away the one thing you want most in life, a child. But not because you wanted it, but because he did. It’ll be hardest decision you will have to make in your life, but trust me it will be for the better, at least for a little while. The second, is losing the only man you looked up to as a father, all over a broken heart. His decision to say goodbye will hurt im not going to lie, but eventually you will get easier.
After losing him, you will do a complete 360, and do things that you would never do. While your friends are out building careers and families, you will be out travelling the world and seeing many things, you will be fighting overseas in a war that will start in 2001. You will meet many women from all over the world and all of whom enjoy your company, some romantically and others not so much. While having many special friends will get lonely and you will grow tired of sleeping in an empty bed. Yes you will comes across many a women whom you feel like they are the one, but they really aren’t. Dig in deep and push hard you will find the one. A mysterious looking woman who will captivate you from the start just by a profile picture. Go ahead talk to her, what do you have to lose? Her name is Mel, and when she gives you that very first choice go with your gut and not immediate gratification, trust me it will be better that way. It will save you a lot of heartbreak and $$$. But I know you won’t because I am you and I know better. No matter what happens in this life go with your heart and soul, although our hearts can deceive us our souls can never lie. The soul is the deepest most sacred part of our being, where we are our most pure, at least that’s what we believe anyway, but you will soon learn that.
And now we are here, in the present and we are now 37. So many things will happen to us over the course of 37 years, but here we are, still living and breathing. Sure we look different, but we are still the same person. We are still that same little boy running around the backyard with mom’s red towel pretending to be Superman, or that little boy who thought he could punch a nail back through a wooden plank with his foot because he’s superman. We were the same boy then and we are the same man now. Our looks don’t make the man, the man makes the man. But we also understand for the need to be one in mind and body, so you chase that dream and one day you will be able to walk along the beach and feel the wind at your back and the water at your bare chest, sharing that moment with the woman you love and will love until you die.
If I can offer you some advice, from the man you will see in the mirror to the boy you are now... Love like you will never love again. Laugh like you will never laugh again. Hang on tight to the ones you love and tell them you love and appreciate them, treat them as an equal no matter the stigma, because tomorrow is not promised, today is only borrowed and we will never get the chance to do or say those things again.
Hope to see you in the future soon.
