Last Sane Man Standing - Blog of Corey Deitz

"Independence Day"

July 4, 2007

Today is July 4th - Independence Day in America.

We Americans are really ticky about our independence and "independence" has so many meanings in our country.

My independence was first defined by a driver's license issued by the state of New Jersey when I was 17-years-old. Although I was able to drive on a permit at 16 1/2, that meant another driver had to be present.

The Holy Grail of independence came only at 17. Once I was able to drive, my life changed. I could go anywhere, see anyone, no longer begged for rides and no longer was dependent on my parents for transportation.

The second great wave of independence came over me when I graduated college. Finally: I was done with school - forever! (At least I thought so. I did do some graduate work later but, by MY choice and no one else's.)

Leaving college and going out into the "real world" (you know: the one where you can still get drunk on a Friday night but instead of crashing in your dorm room 'til noon Saturday your boss actually expects you to work a sixth day) was another liberation, another freedom, another independence. Finally, I was free to go find a job, earn a living, live past my means, run up charges on my credit cards and pay minimum payments for years.

Ah, independence!!! ("Hello, Dad? Yeah, it's me. Can I borrow $500 dollars?")

The day I got married? Another day of independence but more for my parents who were finally able to say to themselves, "We're done. He's on his own. Let his wife worry about him."

How could they be so callous? So cold? So uncaring? I couldn't understand - until my kids were born. Upon the birth of your own children, you must become more mature and smarter in all your decisions. Any risky activities must cease since very little and defenseless offspring are constantly gazing up at you with needs: more food, more toys, more game consoles, I gotta' pee, my finger hurts, I'm scared, Johnny hit me, waaaaaa!

So, now I work towards the goal of liberating my children by educating them, providing for them, and basically hoping that at some point they will be completely capable of taking care of all their own needs without my help. Oh, happy day!

Yes, that will be the day I'll buy that risky, big-ass motorcycle with all that extra money I'll finally have to myself.

Independence Day!