Why it’s not always best to get what you want

Hair dreams inspired by actress Pam Grier, pictured here in the film “Jackie Brown.” PHOTO FROM MIRAMAX FILMS

Hair dreams inspired by actress Pam Grier, pictured here in the film “Jackie Brown.” PHOTO FROM MIRAMAX FILMS

It’s taken me a few decades (few is relative), but I think I’ve finally figured out the “solution.”

Things don’t go exactly the way I want them to all the time.

There would be a “problem,” a serious one actually, if it did.

If things went the way I wanted them to go all the time, I would have moved to Atlanta at 22 and grew my hair long like Pam Grier from the “Foxy Brown” movie poster.

I’d be an important newswoman with shiny shoes.

I would take “no jive.”

Instead, I fell in love with a Dayton boy and his city and am a mother of cats.

I am a busy enough newswoman even though my shoes are far from shiny.

I take only a little jive.

Things happened the way they should, but not necessary the way I thought they should.

I had never been to Atlanta when I imaged that life and Pam Grier hair.

As I’ve since learned first hand, Atlanta is a fine city, but probably too humid to maintain the pressed-straight hair of my dreams.

Not always getting what I want has often meant that I’ve gotten something better.

I wanted to ride on a float during last weekend’s Dayton Pride Parade like I did last year.

Instead I was honored as a member of the Pride Court and got to help lead the parade in a sports car with my name on it.

So much better.

It is hard to get out of the way of what should be.

Like a lot of people, I think I know better.

But time and time again, the world has taught me that I definitely don’t know everything and I certainly don’t always know better.

If I actually knew better, I would not have friends who are like family now.

If I actually knew better, I would not have had the disappointment and challenges that have helped shaped my character.

If I actually knew better, I would be hobnobbing with nationally known big shots instead of writing stories in Dayton about the most fascinating people in the world.

I’d have Pam Grier’s smooth and bouncy hair, but I wouldn’t be me.

I’d have a problem with that.

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