I don’t know about anyone else, but when I think about things such as what I wanted to be when I grew up, it is almost like I am that kid, again, back in the neighborhood I grew up in. I can almost feel the way it felt, the smells of the neighborhood. Of course, its always summer in my memory.
I remember hanging out on the porch of my friend’s house, two houses down from ours, with a few of the neighborhood kids we hung out with. The topic of “What are you going to be when you grow up?” came up. I’m not sure what spurred it, nor do I remember what the other kids answers were. I remember clearly what my answer was because there was absolutely no doubt in my mind, at the time, what I was going to be: a veterinarian.
I have loved animals all of my life. As a kid, I already had decided that the company of animals, especially dogs, was preferrable to people. My daydreams, the ones I can remember anyway, were of spending every day in the company of animals, taking care of them, making sure they were healthy, and being able to fix them if they were hurt or sick. Every fiber of my being wanted that dream to come true.
Then teenage years came in. I was a hellion. I lost my direction too many times to count. I forgot my dream. Or, probably more accurately, I gave up on my dream. No surprise really. I had given up on me by that point.
Now, teen years gone (heck! a sizable portion of adult life past), children almost completely grown, I have gotten back in touch with that dream. I have to say that blogging has helped me find that part of myself, again. And you know what?! I still deeply want to be a veterinarian.
So, how close did I make it to that dream? Well, I have had many animals, mostly dogs, in my adult life. I know how to care for them, fix minor ailments, and attend to some of the more serious things. I can spend the entire day with my dogs and not feel as if I have missed out on anything. But, I am not a vet.
How am I dealing with this now that I have gotten completely back in touch with the desire to be a vet and found that I still have the desire to be one? Well, I’ve lined up some classes on being a vet assistant. Three of them, to be exact.
No, its not the path to being a vet, but I believe that I will find this satisfying. Do I plan on working in a vet office? I’m not sure, yet. Possibly. I guess time will tell.
Dragonfly Gypsy USA 