March 28, 2021

Ordinary Average Guy

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down to the keyboard to write. An author should write about something he knows. The thing is, I don’t want to write non fiction. I don’t have the patience nor the time for the endless research. Besides, real historians have covered any topic I might find interesting ad nauseam.

If I look to my own life, I find little inspiration. I am truly the epitome of the ordinary average Joe. I wasn’t picked on in high school. Prom was nothing special; a dance in the high school cafeteria where I wore a rented tux. I wasn’t scorned by the popular kids, nor was I one of them. I got along with the jocks and the band geeks.

I can’t sing. I can’t play an instrument. I’m not an athlete. I was never the fastest, nor the slowest runner. I wasn’t the first one picked when teams were chosen. I certainly wasn’t the last one picked either. 

My home life and childhood was good. I had loving parents who gave me what they could and supported me in every way. 

I got slightly better than average grades in school. I had a girlfriend. I had a good time in college but was rather anonymous. 

I have three kids, a wife and a middle class existence. 

I am, like you, a perfect nobody. An average guy, living in the Midwest. Hardly the inspiration for the next great American novel. I live the “Seinfeld” of lives.

I can cook all the dishes your Mom prepared when you were a kid. I probably make them just as good, but not better. I can do basic home repair, but no more. 

I probably traveled more than most, unless you were in the military. 

I often joke that I would have been voted Most Forgettable in high school, but no one could remember my name. 

Heck, even this little-read blog is anonymous. 

I live the average life. I’m like you. There is no “It’s a Wonderful Life” story about me. I didn’t touch anyone’s life. I haven’t done good in the community. I’ve inspired no one. I’m good with that. 

It just makes for boring.

4 comments:

Practical Parsimony said...

That is an excellent piece of writing. Aren't you glad you were happy and ordinary. Most of us do not have stories to tell.

Cheryl said...

I read your blog because your just a normal man. You probably are well liked , people can count on you, and your valued at work. I don't want to read about people living a life I'll never have.

Jackie said...

That's the point of "It's a Wonderful Life"--we all touch people that we never think about and realize that we made a difference in their lives. I, too, am an incredibly average person, except I live in CA in the Los Angeles area and not the Midwest (though I was born in Terre Haute, Indiana!), but I'm sure that I have impacted people that I'm not aware of.
Never think that you are not an amazing person!
Jackie in CA

Ed Bonderenka said...

Like Jackie said.

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