Maybe I can make this into a movie?? Nah.....

I wrote a story that kinda is a analogy of a period of my life what seems like a lifetime ago. Many of you will get it. If you do not, enjoy the story anyway.

Sixteen years ago, I was blown away onto an deserted island.

At first I was kinda happy I was there, but the fun of it wore off pretty quickly and I didn’t want to be there any more. Still, of course, I didn’t have a choice in the matter and made do as best I could.

I started to learn how to do to stay alive on the island and what I needed to do very well and eventually learned to even enjoy it a little. Once in a while in between working on the island I would put a message for help in a bottle.

After a few years, the Island Gods noticed that I was surviving pretty well on the island and paid me a visit. They wanted to drop me at another island to show the latest poor soul who got stranded how there to survive. I figured that if I helped these guys out the Island Gods would look upon me kindly and allow me to someday hang with them. At the very least I would get off my own rock for a while and get a change of scenery. So I agreed and off I was to another island.

When I got to this new island I met the new castaway and saw that he wasn’t cutting it at all. So I got to work and straightened everything out on his island and at the same time showed the new guy the ropes. After a few weeks, he was doing pretty well and eventually he got to the point that he didn’t need me anymore to survive on his own island. Then one day the Island Gods came by, swept me up and plopped me back on my old island without even getting a thank you from them. I shrugged the cold shoulder off and figured that at least I had a change of pace for a while. I went back to my habits, my own work and put some more bottles out on the water.

The following year, the Island Gods came by again asking to go to yet another new island with a new castaway. Again, I figured, the change of pace might be nice and someday they will remember what I did for them. Again I went to the new island, showed the new guy the ropes and got him on his feet. And once again the Island Gods came by and plunked me back on my old island. Again with no thank you or any show of gratitude whatsoever. Again I went back to my old routine and again put some more bottles out on the water.

I knew that the Island Gods would come a-callin’ again the next year and I figured that this time I might be able to get something out of it this time. So when the Island Gods came knocking, I once again agreed, but also gave the Gods the idea that maybe that instead of yanking me off my island every year and leaving my island to rot, they would consider that I can go to all the different islands and check on all the other castaways for them. They dropped me off at the next new island and said they would consider it.

A couple of years later, the word was put forth by the Island Gods that there will be a designated ambassador for new castaways and older castaways that need a hand. I thought to myself “Hooray!!” The Island Gods have considered my idea and thought it would be best for them and all the islands. I was happy as I could possibly be. Not only would I do what I like to do, but I would off this stinkin’ island for good.

But that happiness would not last. I was waiting my visit from the Island Gods to come forth with a new castaway to take over my island. Sure enough they came, but with a castaway that I showed the ropes to a couple of years back. I was puzzled. Are they gonna have him take other my island? Sadly, that wasn’t the case. The Island Gods told me that he was to be the new island ambassador and asked me to help him know what he would need to know to help the others. I was awestruck. Once I picked up my jaw off the ground, I asked them, after all I did, why I was not asked to become ambassador. I reminded them that I gave them the idea for this. They didn’t answer.

Then I got furious. I said “Not only do you not want me to be your ambassador after all I have done for you, but now you want to me to teach this person how to be one?” Still no answer. They acted as though they didn’t know why I was so upset. Then, as though someone possessed my thoughts and actions, I threw an object in the general direction of the Island Gods and told them that if he was the best man for this, he can figure it out for himself!

This made the Island Gods very angry. They towered over me and said that they were very disappointed in me and said that if I would not assist the new ambassador, I would suffer greatly. Defiant, I said, “Give me your best shot!” They told me that they would return the next day and tell me my fate. The next day the Island Gods came again to me and said that as much as it pained them, they felt that I needed to be banished from the islands never to return.

For some reason, even though I was finally getting off this sticking island, I was distressed. I always wanted to leave the island on my own terms and merits, not thrown off with nothing to show for it like some kind of reality show contestant. Still, even though I was devastated inside and felt some regret for my outburst, I left that island with my head held high not letting these Gods know that I wasn’t sorry for what I did or said. I regret the throwing, but not anything else.

It’s taken me awhile to get over my experience on the islands. Over time I realized that even though I was not treated very well by the Island Gods, I enjoyed my time on the islands. In fact, a couple of years later I even went to a small island for a couple of weeks to feel again what it was like. I would maybe consider going to another set of islands someday, but before I did I would make it clear to the these new Gods that it would be on my terms.

Because this time I would be prepared....I’ll have a lifeboat.