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{"id":2118,"date":"2018-05-21T19:01:46","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T19:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rjgeib.com\/?p=2118"},"modified":"2018-05-21T20:38:47","modified_gmt":"2018-05-21T20:38:47","slug":"jesmyn-ward-gatsby-possibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rjgeib.com\/jesmyn-ward-gatsby-possibility\/","title":{"rendered":"The Life One Chooses: Then, Now, and Tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read recently an excellent article by Jesmyn Ward<\/a> about a book I teach each year, The Great Gatsby<\/em>. It really struck home with respect to how the essayist suggests that the literary character Jay Gatsby resonates strongly for young people who see limitless opportunities as to what they can do with their life.<\/p>\n

I was once like this: young, full of dreams, everything ahead of me.<\/p>\n

But no longer. And not for a long time.<\/p>\n

Next month I am set to finish my 24th year of teaching. I am married, have two children aged 8 and 11, and work a full time job that exhausts me. I am a member of the middle class. I will turn 51 years of age next week. I am some ten years away from retirement.<\/p>\n

My life is highly circumscribed. The obligations in my life take almost all my energy; my \u201cfree time\u201d is limited. There are many days when I wake up and there is little I am going to do that day that is enjoyable. I get up out of bed in the morning, a bit reluctantly, knowing this to be true. For example, today:<\/p>\n