"My name is Bond... Cheryl Bond... Um... Antier."
When I was young, I decided I wanted to be a spy when I grew up. I thought it would be terribly exciting, and romantic and fascinating (there’s one of my favorite ‘F-Words)…
To help give myself an edge when I was ready to go apply with the CIA, I studied Morse Code, and the latitude and longitude of all the countries, and even started teaching myself Russian, from tapes I borrowed from the local library. And I also started doing some strength training exercises from the Marines, and reading everything I needed to know to become a locksmith (of course, I was mostly interested in learning how to pick them – something else I taught myself how to do.)
And I wrote marvelous, exciting stories about my life as a spy… (“Bond, Cheryl Bond…)
At 18, I almost joined the army – not only did I want to ‘be all I could be’ – but I thought being a helicopter pilot would be a useful skill for a spy as well. Of course, I changed my mind on that one after a family friend who was a high-ranking officer explained that just because the recruiter promised I’d be flying helicopters, enjoying spa days and having lots of time for dating and going shopping – DIDN’T necessarily mean it – I changed my mind. (Mucking around as a mechanic and getting grease under my nails just WASN’T my idea of fun!)
When I was a little older, I started repo-ing cars – cause I liked the adrenaline rush, and because a spy never knows when they’re going to have to be able to hotwire the nearest get-away car. And after getting formally escorted off an Indian Reservation in Arizona, and being politely told I wasn’t welcome to return, I came up with an idea for not only being able to repo any car for my clients – but having their owners happily cooperating and giving me their keys.
And then, after I had kids, I decided being a spy – when I was an old woman – would still be a good idea. First of all, it’s great cover. Who would expect a nice little gray-haired lady to be Mata Hari? Plus, I figured, being a spy beat being a bag lady in the cold, or spending my final years in a nursing home somewhere, where the most exciting thing that happened was sitting in a rocking chair while I watched my teeth soaking in a glass by the bed. And I created bedtime stories for my boys – full of heros and heroines, brave deeds and evil foes…
No matter what job I’ve ever had – or what business I started and later sold, or walked away from, one thing stayed consistent. Somehow, some way, I always wrote. And eventually, I figured out that writing – is my biggest, and longest-lived passion.
And a little while after that, I learned I could do what I loved – and make enough money to build the kind of lifestyle I wanted.
So what about you? When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? What were you so excited about – so passionate about – that you’d spend all your extra time doing it? What did you love learning about? Trying? Playing with?
Please feel free to leave a comment below, ’cause I’d love to hear about what you wanted to be when you grew up!
I love this post! As a child i wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I grew up and became a graphic designer instead. Now I make signs which I really like but in the end I should have become the kindergarten teacher.
Cheers
- CoconutPalmDesigns
Thanks for responding – and I LOVE your Website and your banner design! Wow – great work… And I’ll bet kids would love you as a Kindergarten teacher too… Maybe when you’re ready for a change, you can become a teacher… or a volunteer teacher… But whatever you do, don’t give up on your dreams!
Warmly,
Cheryl
I never really had any dreams of accomplishing much when I was young… it was not something that was stressed in my family. I had to do well in school but never really thought further than that.
Now I have many dreams– and I plan to fulfill them all with the help of the Lord. I like this post because at this stage of my life I can relate better to it because my mind is always imagining and exploring possibilities. I guess I am a late bloomer but thankfully I finally bloomed.
Wow so nice! I like this site.Keep it working every day
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it, Good job My friend
I Found your site on delicious today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later:)
Love this article! Really enjoy reading your blog too.
Cheryl – this is just one of the funniest things I’ve ever read! I love that you used to want to be a spy! I always wanted to be a school teacher – and guess what? That’s what I became. But I wonder what would have happened if I’d wanted to be an astronaut, or a fireman or a spy???
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It’s a lot of fun reading your posts, but I wish you’d post more often! You’re a good writer.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to post. And I totally agree with you – better a late bloomer than to never bloom at all!
Warmly,
Cheryl
Hi Susan,
How wonderful that you followed your dream? And who knows how many future astronauts or firemen or spies (well, maybe not spies) – you’re inspiring today? Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in the world, and I want you to know I admire you! Thanks for reading!
Warmly,
Cheryl
Thanks to everyone for posting. Even the spam person. (Don’t know how I missed you and let your post in, but I’ll be deleting it shortly.) I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and post!
Warmly,
Cheryl