Baseline

Baseline is the name of the road on which my final high school stands.  My ‘last chance’ authorities called it, as I’d been ‘asked to leave’ the previous one.  Turned out the attendance officer was a parent of a former classmate and recognized me.  I felt trapped.  Skipping school was how I coped in those days.

The school on Baseline Road is where the drama teacher took me under his wing and encouraged me to try out for the school play, and when I landed the starring role, it is also where I learned how success makes others hate – the former leading lady and her friends threatened to take me out if I didn’t refuse the part.  Of course, I wasn’t intimidated.  I could bully with the best of them. (Not something I’m proud to admit, by the way.)

Baseline is where I broke my rule of never dating a classmate.  In fact, I broke it twice and ended up marrying the second.  I wasn’t even out of my teens.

Twenty-odd years later, Baseline would be my first address, as a single home owner with three children.  From there, I would start my own business, take up theatre again, and make more mistakes with men.

Baseline is a mile marker in my life’s road map.  It’s about making hard choices, learning to shine despite opposition, and recognizing that there is always room to grow.

What are the baselines in your life?

(Baseline is the focus of V.J.’s (my) weekly challenge.  Love if you’d join us.)