“A whole new beginning, ” they say br with an overenthusiastic smile, br like clowns at a child’s birthday party. br You know the ones, a bit too excited for reality, br who end up scaring otherwise blissful kids out of their element. br “What an exciting opportunity for you. br Like being the captain of your own ship, ” br so the story goes. Funny, I feel more like the barnacles br on the bottom of that boat, suddenly scraped br from their sweet, slimy comfort zone, drifting br into the abyss of ‘exciting opportunities’ below. br br What ever becomes of those little beads of the sea? br Do they surrender to the surf and flounder, br or seek out a new happy place and settle, br unaware of the inevitable Grim Scraper, br unable to grasp the concept of “life’s a bitch”? br I would like to trail one; maybe he has some advice for me. br br Surveying my new harbor, I suddenly realize br how much less impressive a destination can be br from its image or reputation br when you’re not just visiting. br br I suck in a deep breath of new air, br visualizing the old sailing out as I exhale. br Time to give it a go, I say aloud. br After all, I’m waist deep in it already. br Just hold your breath and jump, I think to myself. br I close my eyes, and pretend I’ve done it all before. br Cover me, I’m going in.