From: Big Dan: A Collection of Poetry and Short Stories

I am going to share 3 entries from my book over the next 3 months. It can be purchased here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Dan-Collection-Poetry-Stories/dp/1304983153

Lulu.com: https://www.lulu.com/shop/daniel-j-oneil/big-dan-a-collection-of-poetry-and-short-stories/paperback/product-m2demyp.html

I hope you enjoy.

As we got into the late 1990’s, about 1997 to be exact, college and my dream of finishing seemed further away. To try to pay for courses I had been taking on a lot of different dead-end jobs until I came across a job at a local budget bookstore named Buck A Book. I had been there about a year and a half and though the money wasn’t great, I did enjoy books and reading. It was near the center of town where many of my friends and former classmates from high school worked so it made lunchtime great.

One day my friend Paul had told me he was taking a job at the post office. He also knew I was looking to make a little more money. He asked me if I’d be interested in taking on his position as the delivery driver for The Dedham Flower Shoppe. I told him I was interested. He told me to stop by the next day, which was my day off, and I met Ann Praught. I knew her as a friend of the Caruso family at the Deli, so I stopped over and we discussed the job.

She asked me if I was in college, and I told her scheduling classes and affording them was very tough and trying to make them work around my schedule was not easy. She then made me a deal. She agreed to give me the job on the condition I went back to college and finished my course work and graduated. She told me she

didn’t want to see me working here forever. I agreed and she was so accommodating. I was able to schedule two morning classes with alternating days and a night class to start.

This would go on for the next few years and after five part time semesters, I completed a ten-year odyssey to complete my associates degree and was eligible to graduate with the class of 2000 at Mass Bay Community College with a degree in Paralegal Studies. The reason completing my education took me so long is

when I graduated High School, my parents simply couldn’t help me the way they would have wanted, and I didn’t qualify for financial aid and didn’t want to end up in the college loan trap that befell many of my friends as they sought their education.

In life’s journey we all need help sometimes and I’ve been very fortunate to have people come join the journey at the right time and sometimes they leave and sometimes they stay, but the effect they have had on my life has been amazing and Ann is no exception. Without Ann coming into it at just the right time I may never have finished, and I have no idea what my life would be at this point. There is a verse in the Holy Bible, 2 Peter 3:8, “He has perfect timing: never early, never late. God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time.” I believe when things happen, and people come into your life just when you need them at least as far as I’m concerned, his timing is impeccable.

Essentially because of this one interaction with a good person who cared, I was able to pay for my education, finish it and walk out of Mass Bay with a degree and a quality education. I stayed on with Ann another year while I looked for work. Life can be an interesting journey. After so many attempts at trying to get into the legal profession a door opened in a place I was not expecting. The payroll department for the Department of Mental Health Metro Boston Area at the Dr. Soloman Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, a state-run facility. This became my first job and led to a career in state service that still goes on today over 22 years later.

Because of Ann’s kindness I got my education and my first job. This all led to me getting my Celtics Season tickets, which I’ve had as long as I’ve had my job, purchase my first home, given me the means to join Lifetime Fitness, and led me to meet another special person that gave me the help I needed to get back into shape and run the Boston Marathon in 2016. All these things gave me the confidence to write my first children’s book and publish it. That story ended up in Runners World. So, if it wasn’t for Ann, there wouldn’t have been a Big Dan running the marathon or a Dan O’Neil with a college education, a successful career, or a home I could truly call my own.

I appreciate everything Ann did for me. The flower shop is no longer there, but the memories and friendships of that time in my life will never be forgotten. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Mass Bay Community College for giving me that education that I actually paid for in cash. They probably don’t see much of that these days. Their slogan says, “Go here. Go anywhere.” That is so true. I have had experiences I never would have had and gotten to do things I never thought were possible or even meant for me. I am truly blessed and have had good fortune. The good fortune of good friends and a wonderful life journey so far. Thanks, Ann, for getting me back on track when I truly needed it.

Dedicated to my parents Dan Sr and Deborah O’Neil because they wanted this dream realized too.