Well I Bought a Car.

This past week on a very rainy and miserable looking day. It was made official as of this date Wednesday, May 28, 2008 that LeeFredrick Bowen finally bought a car. It took me about a good ten years to get around to it but better late than never. I know that buying a car for those who are around my age and my peers isn't a big deal at this point. I have friends that are my age who are getting married, buying houses, graduating with Masters Degrees, in Ph.D programs and MD programs, and even having children. All great and wonderful things to tell folks at their ten-year high school reunion in which mine is coming up next year around this time. Getting a car is a big thing at probably sixteen through 21 whether bought or given used and new so what's the big deal with it now at age 26 and will be 27 years by this July. Well if you know me from back home, then you are pretty familiar with some circumstances of my past. If you know me well, then you are familiar with the great deal of struggle it really took to get here and do a lot of these things on my own. All of my life I have been playing catch up. I struggled in school until I finally manage to catch up academically in middle school. I coudn't get a driver's license without insurance and I had no parents who drove to put me on any insurance. I wasn't expected to make it through college, I wasn't expected to find a descent job after college, I manage to find an apartment in walking distance to ECU. I manage to get a driver's license while working my first full time job through ECU doing clerical work. I went through a driving school and learned just enough to pass the driving test. Then the next day I was given keys to a state vehicle and became familiar with the rest on the streets of G-Ville. To everyone's great supprise no tickets, no car accidents. I didn't tell my supervisor at the time until about a year later that when she gave me the keys to bring the van around to pick her up so that we could do inventory at the warehouse that I nearly hit the fire hydrant on my way out the parking lot. And I was thinking in my mind, "Thank God, she is not around to see that." But I managed to do ok and was given a few assignments outside of G-Ville to work on a promotion since travel is required for Admissions recruiting. I still remember my first drive outside of G-Ville which was to Raleigh. I was nervous but excited at the same time. I came dangerously close to learning the lesson harshly that the yellow underneath a green sign that you are passing under means that you are in an exit lane. It was dark and if I didn't see the taillights of a car in front of me turning right then I probably wouldn't have slammed my breaks to slow down from 70 miles/hour to just enough speed in order to not lose control of the vehicle as it flys down a sharp curve off the exit going towards Zebulon I believe. I pulled in a parking lot and breath for a bit before getting back on forty. There were a few close calls but God was with me. One of the concerns in my interview for a promotion was all the travel we have to do and they knew I just had my licenses for about a year. And I said, "Oh, I'll be find. I'm excited." In which was true, but I understood their concerns because I had them too. So they took a chance on me, I got my promotion and I assume that I would get a chance to get my feet wet in Virginia, then Maryland and work my way up. But no, my first full week of travel is straight to northern NJ. I guess I was being tested. If I can drive there, I could drive anywhere. Many of my co-workers were scared to death for me. But I was still excited despite their concerns and my concerns. I drove in northern NJ and to Long Island and all over CT like a pro. I don't know where it came from but God was with me. After a month of travel everyone was pleased I got back safely. I have always had God's favor and I thank God that almost three years of getting my license in the first place and earning the promotion allowed me to be able to afford my first car. Bought and paid for because at this time I don't believe in car payments. It's nothing fancy but I believe God blessed me with a good car for my current needs. I feel like that this is the last official hurdle I had to overcome that stems from the cirrcumstances of my past. Sure I still have a few internal issues to heal from mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And I don't have as much as many of my other peers so but I feel like I am finally on the same playing field as everyone else. The really hard parts of catching up in life are over. At this time I thank God for a great full time professional job that allows me to take graduate classes for free at ECU, and learn a great deal about working in a professional environment, no bad debt, I still pay my tithes and offering, a great church, great friends in the area, and a great family who has helped me cope with a lot (my Mom and my siblings). I had about a day, maybe two to sit back and relax at what all has been accomplish before I focus on the next task. I am Humbling Forward in a New Era of Faith in 2008! What's Next?