Journey of a Lifetime (Mass. Ave)

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Originally uploaded by andebos.

Including every detail into a blog is always a difficult task...especially when you're talking about my recent trip to Boston. (And Secondly hard if you have a bandaid on your left index finger from a paper cut) I guess let's start off with a small story from the day of testing - I feel the lesson from this tale is a good one in relation to my own personal story and the place I find myself currently.

Leaving Mike's apartment I find myself walking to the Orange line (think that's right) hoping that I'm going the right way and not getting lost at seven in the morning. I reach the station and am pleased to see the attendent wave me past paying for the ride - must have been the pitiful, ugh I'm taking an eight hour test today, look or something. Nonetheless, I passed onto the correct train without waiting a very long time. On the train I began thinking about the city of Boston, passengers' lives on the train, how I had to use the bathroom as soon as I got there...meanwhile a gentlemen a few seats down is studying a book and listening to an ipod. Odd, I thought, that book looks vaguely familiar. Sure enough he was studying the MTEL test booklet...and probably headed the same place I was headed. Thinking of scooting down and breaking into conversation - I reluctantly stayed seated and occasionally glanced over at him. Not realizing until later the high probability that I looked like a moron, or stalker, checking this guy out. I figured he thought this as he kept giving me weird looks - who doesn't want a random stranger looking at him for long periods of time? Don't know what his problem was. After exiting the train I attempted to follow him...eventually I said, "So, you testing today too?" I got the "yep" reply. "Can I follow you? since I'm not sure where I'm going?" He reluctantly agreed. I followed him for a little bit until I noticed that he wasn't heading in the same direction as my directions. I asked the location of his test...sure enough, different from mine. So, I backtracked and headed back for the path that would lead me home, or to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School...close enough. This was the lesson I learned - you may be going after the same goal and purpose as someone else...but each of us, regardless of condition or setting, must make our own path. Following the path of someone else, even if we're going to the same place, only runs the risk of leading us down the path that is not our own - Each of us, must make our own path, chart our own direction, and fulfill our own destiny in life. That was one of my first lessons in Boston - I'll post more later...thinking about a three part series. Something like the following:
1) Basic in and outs of the events while there
2) Spiritual, memorical, and highpoints of the trip
3) Thoughts and feelings in relation to Boston and the journey of my ife

Keep tuned - "The lights go out and I can't be saved, Tides that I tried to swim against, Have brought me down upon my knees...
Oh I beg, I beg and I plead, Singing, You are....You are....You are"