The boat drifted through a subterranean passage

The boat drifted through a subterranean passage lit by shafts of light emanating from the dragonhead crowning the curved prow. I had no oars, and knew not where these passages led

wave of crushing self-doubt. What if I was missing out on something really special?! I climbed back in the boat, wet & afraid. Paddling toward the unknown again I began to question

whether sailing a ship made of popsicle sticks was such a good idea. I had doubts about my self-doubt. Of that I was sure. I knew about the unknown, so I turned my back to face it.

My Popsicle stick catamaran made it past Cuba but the Elmer's glue was starting to dissipate. It would be blind luck to make it across the Atlantic. I only had a four-day supply of

Twizzlers. I'd be happy then. My catamaran was taking on more water. I could spot some land in the distance! I'd have to swim for it... Two hours later, my boat was gone & I was

sort of just floating on my back and thinking about that summer when I got laid up in Tahoe. Man, what a summer of magic that was. I got a job at a casino as a valet attendant.

A "special" valet assistant, if you catch my drift. I would join the driver in their car and direct them to their parking spot and then they would turn the car off and we would

have a stilted conversation about the weather, maybe. Then the driver would say, " Well, got to get going..." and I'd get out. My supervisor said valeting didn't match my skillset

. I said why should having a Ph.D. in French literature penalize me? I can drive and interact with others, what more do I need? He said I needed passion. So I showed him passion.