Michael Brush:
CLASS OF 1980
Sequoyah High SchoolClass of 1980
Doraville, GA
Michael's Story
After high school I fooled around and got into trouble here in GA. Well I was already in trouble but after you turn 18 things stop being just funny, lol. I made it out of GA (my father literally had to smuggle me out, the probation officer wouldn't let me leave)and ended up in Texas working on road/construction to get over the redhead that I was heartbroken over. I had just written a long version of what really happened but it really ain't worth it to tell. I got married, and we had a beautiful little girl (Jesseca, I named her after someone in hopes of her future). In my stupid attempts to break into writing she took the baby and left because I couldn't afford the little luxuries in life; things like food, shelter and clothing. Well the fact that I was responsible for screwing up not just mine but hers and my daughters life just tore me up. So I spent the next few minutes (it was really a few years) just feeling sorry for myself and drowning in chemicals, cook jobs and waitresses. At one of those jobs (Whiskers in Dunwoody)I met one of the regulars that introduced me to the A.C.F., and the idea struck me that cooking just might take me somewhere if I study it and get better jobs. So that's what I did, with a two month old baby I worked a full time job and went to school in the apprenticeship. Sounds like something that would work out right? HEHEHEHEHEHE
I did allright in cooking, so allright that I ended up not caring about graduating (I already had the job of a graduate).. The waitress I was with and I stayed together and after awhile we moved to IL where my father lived and had a duplex. When there was a death in the family we ended up getting married. Oh boy, details here wouldn't be fun. Trust me, I lived through it. We moved around in order to ride the journeyman status I had achieved in the ACF, saw some great things, drank from the finest cups...did quite a bit but ended up with nothing left. That marriage split up a few years ago, but the divorce still isn't final (even though I finally filed here in GA just recently).
So I made it back to GA, I'm out near the SC line living and looking after my mother (she loved to get out of where she was and come back to her property). Today I'm feeling better and looking older of course, but my idea is thatthe rat race is for others . I seriously considering moving in a trailer on her property and just settling in for the duration. I like it out here, I've always loved the GA mountains (which aren't far)and being an impromptu cna here means I live fairly good, have a pool and drive a new jeep. Of course I can't seem to get it open but it's fun to look at, lol. I learned alot about myself in the last few years and know now that I'm a bit too much of the type A personality to stick with the retired in FL-sand and shuffleboard (I did live in FL once, one of the places cooking took me was a celeb hideout down there, it's amazin...Expand for more
g what chefs can see and get away with). So now I'm happy with just having my knives to look at and my good Chef's coat in the closet, that's who I was once. Before that I had a lot of ideas that should have ended up on paper, one did. It took me three months to write this 9000 word story, and once it was published I made $0.0103 a word. You do the math, I wrote it under a pen name cause of the subject material. Now I can't even remember what the name was, says alot about what else I spent my time doing at that time.
UPDATE: My mother passed last year before Halloween and what with school and everything going on I managed to at least LOOK like I was holding on. Then around Christmas my father passed away. Skip the next few months- they weren't pretty- I went a little nuts out here by myself. Today I got the certificates (it took a few months)for mom's passing and I'll see the lawyer in a few days. My father's property up north (well the estate) is progressing now. It took a bit but things are looking like they will get better. Eventually, that is. I'm in the second year of online school so looks like by the time I'm 50 I will be able to get a job. Thing is that I have been doing ...eh...ok so we will see what is going to happen. **OK, so I'll be 50 in Dec. of this year (2012) and I'm still in school. The online school I was in left a little to be desired after the magic of the new student wore off, so I transferred to a local college. It's nice here and I will have a degree worth getting by the time I get out- but it'll be a couple more years. New math at my age is ...fun, but the truth is the hardest part of being a student is living on nothing until you get out. And since I lived on nothing (apparently)anyhow I still think this was a better way to spend the modest inheritance- trouble is that it's gone and I've still got a couple years to go. Soooo, we'll see.
*************************************
(can you tell I'm bored?)
I always wanted to be a nobel prize winner when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a stupid idea. As it turns out, they were right about me.
what do I do to blow off steam?
Then? play with women, Now? play with cards
If I won $100 million, I'd give most of it to me, then spend the rest on me(getting my health back), land and property.
In 10 years, I hope to be independently wealthy. I'm going to get there by investing in me this time.
what would suprise everyone at my high school reunion? That I am still alive.
My first job was at the Teddy Bear grill, where I got paid 1.10 and hr. to wash dishes. What I remember most about it is the owners daughter.
If I could improve my home, I'd remodel most everything and add on a a few rooms and a shower. My dream home would be right here.
What did I learn from my daughter? When to let go and just take care of yourself and just make peace with the ones that don't want you around.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
