Like many families from the 1950’s, I think that my family was dysfunctional when we were younger. It seems like we were always fighting about something, or getting into trouble because of this, that and the other, and it never let up.

I think that my mother recognized our dysfunctional patterns of behavior. She knew something was wrong and she tried to straighten us out, even our beloved father tried, but the force was too strong in all of us, and they could not face it or change it alone. We needed to make the change as a group effort but it could not be done. It was not done. We didn’t believe anything was wrong. We never had any counseling, just church and dad’s loud Norwegian voice.

They had their vices. Mom had tranquilizers and the YMCA, dad had cigarettes and beer. They both spent thousands of dollars on antique-hunting that they did on the weekends. Usually the whole family went together, but the party never stopped, and we drove each other crazy with our bickering and complaining, and our dysfunctional thinking.

As kids, we thought that being dysfunctional was a gift. We used to act out at the dinner table in front of mom and dad. We all used to crack up and tell weird jokes and make retarded gestures then laugh about them. Dad even laughed. But sometimes mom and Rebel (my little sister) didn’t laugh. They were sickened by our actions. Now I feel sorry that we didn’t do something about our behavior. We probably needed help from the very beginning.

Despite all of our dysfunctional personalities, we grew up and matured, and learned to be functional in the end. We have all had jobs that have paid very good. My brothers have always worked hard, my sister has been in the communications business for over 30 years and I, well I had been on nearly 30 jobs in 30 years.

I think that I had it the hardest yet I had the most fun. I have met the most people, met the most personalities, been the most places, been to college for six years, had two kids, now have four grandchildren….basically been around the world. Of course I still feel a little dysfunctional, sure, but as a whole, I feel functional. It’s all in how you look at it.

I have a lot of experience as a person, but not a whole lot of experience in keeping a job. I can’t keep a job. I don’t have the perseverance. I don’t like to be tied down in an office setting. I like to explore. I like the journey of adventure. I like to research. I like finding new things. I like to find unknown civilizations. I like to weigh things out in my mind. I like odd hours. I like to stay up for long periods of time and then go to sleep. I don’t like medicines to regulate me. I want to regulate myself.