Man, the time does fly. If I were to look back, I would say that at the time, I would’ve expected to be a major operatic superstar by now, jetting all over the place, recording, performing. I think its a testament to the magnitude of the dream that I haven’t been able to make that happen. Honestly that is a huge and difficult goal to attain, I consider it on par with being a professional athelete. Many are called and precious few are chosen.
If I must settle for a consolation prize, I will say that it is good to have learned how to love myself, to love life, and to love my spouse. I think there are people who have big opera careers that haven’t learned these necessary things. Regardless of what I do to pay the bills (not that difficult) I will still be happy and enjoy life, here in the greatest city in the world. Although it appears that I don’t have much to show, the intangibles are securely in place. My existence is lean, spartan and very efficient, but I feel rich. I enjoy Laura’s company tremendously, I have health insurance, we eat pretty well. I think if things had turned out differently, i would expect to have a different set of joys, but also a different set of problems. Eventually I will generate some kind of life’s work, but I am not in a hurry and I make no more promises. Verdi wrote the masterpiece Falstaff when he was eighty years old, don’t count me out. It’s all good.
