The Basics

• Author: Kenneth P. Nolan
• Pages: 3-9

The Basics

3

I always wanted to be a world-class athlete, able to throw the

Mariano fastball, do a so-very-quick crossover dribble leaving my

opponent looking like a chump, knock down a tailback with a shrug

of my broad shoulder. Instead, I was born a hottie. Yeah, those are

my daughters laughing in the background; but what do they know,

they think George Clooney and Bradley Cooper are cute. If you’re

reading this, you’re probably somewhat like me—ordinary for the

most part, gifted not really, proficient if we’re being kind.

I’m a trial lawyer. Even though my photograph has yet to adorn

the cover of Vanity Fair, I’m pretty good at what I do. And what I do

is work—mundane, often tedious work. A lot of it—weekends,

nights, and rushing down the gum-stained, slick subway steps, brief-

case in hand, silently cursing the old geezer in front who clutches

the worn-smooth handrail and moves fearfully. Hurrying because

I’m late or because I want to be early. Just hurrying because that’s

what I do. What most of us do. And we do it all day long.

It’s hard and laborious; and as I age—er, become more experi-

enced—I realize it’s the ordinary work that makes you good, makes

you win, makes you successful. Not always fun but, heck, what job

is fun anyway? I guess if you’re Julia Roberts or Tom Brady, life’s

not so bad. You’re better looking than everyone else and your head-

ache is to sign a few autographs.