My Biggest Accomplishment

 

*burns tongue on first sip of coffee. Didn't expect that but will move forward with this post feeling a little numb on the tongue. It's not like I am using talk to text for thissssssss ssssorrry*

2020 has been a year full of..........I will let you fill in that blank. So I decided early on this year when life hands you lemons...you don't take them you go chase your own lemons to make lemonade. In other words, despite what is being thrown at you, beat those challenges and chase your dreams.

And that's what I did.

*takes a sip this time not feeling whether it burned my tongue or not and gets ready for the big reveal*

My life story can be put into writing or you could say I have been writing for my entire life story. From graded school stories of horror, to high school comedies to later-in-life blogging about pictures of men on cardboard (that doesn't sound right), I have never put down the pen or keyboard. I love to tell stories, see reactions from those stories and practice the art of writing on a continual basis.

One of my biggest dreams in life is to be published. For many years that dream has been to write a non fiction book, but as life has gone on its shown I just don't have the to sit down just yet for that. However, that doesn't mean that dream is dead, it's just taking a nap. 

Does that mean my dream of being published couldn't become a reality? No. Not at all.

With so much going on this year, I worked really hard to achieve my dream quicker. I came to realize not only am I not getting any younger to keep pushing off my main goal, but with a pandemic going on, who knows what life or how life will move forward. If I didn't try now, I may never or may never have the chance to.

That's what led me to wanting to write an article for Beckett. It would get me published and I get to write about sport cards. Can it get any better?

After making a few contacts with Beckett, I finally found the guy I needed to speak to. I proposed a few ideas that were shot down quickly but I didn't give up. Finally I sent an idea that was approved to move forward with, the idea was based on rules, similar to those of Gibbs from NCIS, of not leaving the last pack behind. 

The next step was to sit down and work on my craft. In order for it to be my best work, I knew I would have to write like I do on here. In the back of my mind also; I knew because the idea was accepted, that it didn't mean it would be printed if the piece didn't come out perfect. I would have to get extra help to accompany me to my dream.

So I had my good long time friend, fellow NY Giants fan, teacher, and Author himself, @StephenJFurlong take a look over my article and send me suggestions and corrections to the piece. Without his suggestions on some parts of the article, I am not sure if it would have made publication or not.

With that now being said, you know it got accepted and was printed.

After a long grueling 6 months of corrections and waiting time to hear when it would be published, here is my article in the December Beckett Sport Card Monthly,

(though blacked out name because it's on a blog, I promise you it's me!)

 

I am in awe. Those are my words printed in a nation wide magazine. I still cannot believe it. So much so I bought extra copies of course.

*takes a gulp of coffee, thinks that the morning has moved on enough now for some breakfast. What would be a great celebratory breakfast with so many options out there?*

The only disappointing part of the article, which was the ending and my favorite part, was edited out without notice, which I will share on here for you guys,

"Just don't make the biggest mistake and break the unwritten rule of the hobby. Don't be the Fernando Tatis Jr of the hobby. You know, taking a trip to target and buying three blasters of the latest-hottest product only to forget that you were supposed to pick up that last supper ingredient for your wife who is waiting for you at the door when you get home. That could lead to some real police work or, at least the very least, a Gibbs slap to the head"

Please let me know what you guys think of this alternate ending when you have a chance to grab your issue of December Beckett Sports Card Monthly to read it or try to read it through this blog.

Thanks to Stephen again for the assist on editing.

*takes another happy sip with toaster strudel toasting*

If there is a dream you are chasing, don't let it elude you any longer.

 

The sun is up on another day, today is the day you will chase it and accomplish that dream. 2020 can't stop you, only you can stop you. Go grab those lemons and make some sweet-sweet lemonade. I know I am sipping on it, well that and coffee of course.