#missing life

I wanted ice cream.

My mom said to get ice cream,I need money.

To get money,I need a job.

To get a job,I need a degree.

To get a degree,I need to study,so I studied.

But everyone was studying to get what they wanted,so I had to study harder.

I got a degree,but couldn't find a job.

To get a proper job,I needed experience.

So I worked small jobs.I learned to bow moreand to be more convenient.

I landed a good job and everyone congratulated me.

They said it's time to settle down and get married.

To get married,I needed to have a house and a car.

So I worked harder,buried myself in debts and commitments.

I got a house and a ca rand a wife.

And they said my life wasn't complete,so it was time to think about children.

But to get children,I needed a bigger house,bigger car,bigger income.

So I hustled again and got promoted and became a manager.

One child,then another.I thought that's all I wanted.

The next stage passed in a blur.

Saving up for college tuitions,driving the kids to school,worrying about them as they leave the nest one by one.

Until one day,my granddaughter asked me if I wanted to taste her ice cream.

I looked at the ice cream in her tiny hand and smiled.