Brad Weiner:  

A writing teacher once said that so many wealthy kids want to be writers but they've got nothing to write about. Not that I'm wealthy, hardly, not even close. I've been the hot shot youngest in the corporate department and I've been the oldest. I once had the wife, kids, white picket fence, commuting into the city, to working out of my apartment. It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage Most unexpected event, I was a full-time househusband for a couple of years, then the primary caregiver for a few more. Now I don't recommend what I went through, but every guy should experience it for at least a few months. However not with teenagers, but with young kids. My youngest was 2 when it began, and I became her number 1. An insurance agent once tried to convince me that men change the most when they get married. No way. I changed the most when an angel (in the form of a nurse) placed my one hour old baby in my arms then worked away. At first I looked up and with panic in my voice yelled to her, oh excuse me. She never looked back. Within one minute I had bonded and would later discover that I had profoundly changed. Lots of regrets, didn't seize onto the opportunities when they had presented themselves. Didn't understand the concept of family until it was over. But I also had the greatest love affair ever when I first met my wife, saw Led Zeppelin from the 8th row, viewed the milky way galaxy from a remote area and finally understood how it enthralled and inspired early man. And I've lived long enough to see a black man elected President and to appreciate. wise man knows how much he doesn't know. I've taught Math in a Bronx middle school and didn't survive. I solved computer problems before IBM published the answers in a Redbook, I once stumbled onto the origins of Calculus without knowing it. And I discovered that I really did have ADD my whole life, which explains quite a bit. I lived a life. What have I learned? No excuses, overcome and accomplish. Cherish love wherever you find it. Time and love are our most precise commodities. And as for marriage, which is funny since I'll never get married again, I now believe in two things. 1 pick your battles (also works with teenagers). 2 in a relationship if there isl no agreement then you have to ask yourself one question. Do I want to be right or have a happy relationship? You can't have both. I'm 54 and recently passed my nuclear stress test and a colonoscopy. And I'm one week late with the rent. And where does that leave me? Still wishing I had gotten to know Fran Vizzini, taken my studie...Expand for more