A Matter of Degree

Had I better grades in my younger schooling days,

I may have become a physician or perhaps an

attorney. Had my GPA been of a higher grade, and

had I either the funding or a scholarship award, I

may rightfully boast of a prestigious graduate degree.

But alas, those lofty career and scholastic avenues were

not afforded me. However, in the Army during my late

teens, I did manage to pass a number of tests and earn

my high school GED. At the time, that and a natural

talent for art proved good enough to get me by. And,

to my surprise, I have thus far managed to survive the

roller coaster ride which (with all its ups and downs)

has formed the essence of my life. Of course, given the

hit and miss nature of making ones way along the span

of an unbroken 70-year life’s chain, today I can breathe

easily with a sigh of relief. At birth, had I instead been

endowed with wings and a protuberant beak, only as a

flightless Kakapo parrot could I have possibly lived as

long. But not in captivity, mind you, the stress of that

and some high-flung academic degree would have most

certainly proven to be a bit too much for me.

Chris Hanch 9-10-17