Dave 'n I took a roadtrip today. Of course, it was completely unplanned. I had to get out of the house. I'm finally shedding my cold and Dave has too and I just needed to Go Do Something, See Something. I was reading a novel by an author I've never read before and the main character, a young woman just finishing college is having a difficult time responding to the chronic question of, "What are your plans for your career?"
Ugh. Even at my age I can sympathize with "How hard was that? How hard is it to choose one path out of thousands? To pick a star from the sky?" or "I want things, so many things. I just can't seem to pinpoint them down to a career that will sustain me." (This is the Wonder by Tracey Ward)
So much opportunity, so many choices... Like it was intentional the first time? In my case, no it was not. It was accident. A complete set of uncoordinated circumstances which had nothing to do with "lifelong dreams", or "consideration." Cellular, wireless communications, was just beginning to be commercial when I got out of engineering school. I knew no one who had a cell phone. Most cell phones at the time were mounted in the car because that was the only time you "needed" a phone. The first portable I had was what we called "the brick." I can't even find a picture of the one I had. The Motorola is the only one the Google MapReduce throws up any more.
But no, I had no ambitions, no plans to work in cellular / wireless communications, much less become a Field Technician for McCaw Communications after engineering school. Heck, I didn't even think about an electronics engineering degree after I got my B.A. from Sewanee. Heck, I used to make fun of DeVry while at Sewanee. Then I got my first load of books and HP Calculator. That first trimester kicked my ass.
The interview I had at McCaw with BB1 (Bossy Boss #1)was The Best Interview Ever. I laughed so hard. I felt so comfortable. And NiD1 (non-Idiot-Director1), never batted an eye at me in my silk skirt and bolero jacket with suede pumps applying for a job where hauling generators, going up ridgeback mountains in the snow in the middle of the night, and working with 200 A rectifiers was part of the job description. I wish I could say I remember interviewing with UUEULM1(Unknown Entity Upper Level Management #1), because back in those days the company was small enough that it was a given you'd interview with the Regional whatever he was at the time. The McCaw culture was "Hire and Develop Great People" and the talent I worked with showed they walked the walk. The company was legendary for innovation and quality.
So, whatever happens next for me is not really planned and I'm okay with that. Before I left AT&T, I knew what kind of a price drop I could accept and still maintain the lifestyle I've grown accustomed to. It might be writing romance novels, it might be trying to figure out the math behind "Lightning" Fast. And I'm okay with not knowing. Really okay with it because I've had so many good things come to me because I, A) Applied as a dark horse for a scholarship for a year's study in Denmark; 2) Applied to the private university of my choice without a high school diploma in guarantee, nor the funding to support it; 3) Moved across country from Georgia to San Francisco, but then accepted my grandmother's offer to fly me to Alaska; 4) Signed on the dotted line to move from Alaska to Phoenix and go to engineering school to get a degree in electronics when I couldn't pass a computer programming course at Sewanee, 5) move from Phoenix to Seattle because it was beautiful; 6) Took a job with McCaw Cellular because I laughed all the way through the interview. And had the most amazing career and worked with people who appreciated the hell out of the work I did. Who could ask for anything more?
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