Bare, bare, bear, bear, bear, bear, bear and ... Baer?

The English language is a funny thing.

Although it’s the world’s third-most spoken language behind Chinese and Spanish, the English vocabulary is arguably, debatably and irritatingly the most difficult, arduous and demanding around which to wrap one’s mind.

Comprendé?

Beginning at a very young age (or as a juvenile, adolescent, junior or prepubescent youth), I was already interested in the finer details, rules and the myriad of seemingly endless (or unending) intricacies which come together for the formation of an invisible force, binding letters and words together into a solitary, sovereign and wondrous adventure of the written word -- words that can travel through time for many, or none, to enjoy for minutes, or days, or years, to come.

Taking this initiative a step further whilst entering the age of secondary education (when I got to high school), I can still recall how effortless English classes seemed to be, especially when compared to classes of dissimilar subjects, several of which would dissuade you, the reader, from believing that I displayed any semblance of intelligence during my pre-post-secondary years.

Metaphorically flying past my fellow students in English classes (or is it “passed?” -- Seriously, give it a think and you may agree with my theory that Webster’s Dictionary needs further clarification on the words “past” and “passed”), I then began to think about what that means, exactly.

Should I be an author? A journalist? An essayist? A blogger?

At the time, the only response I could possibly surmise was “no” to any of the aforementioned self-imposed inquiries as I was then-still attempting to pan out my future career as a famous athlete or prominent musician.

However, one thing of which I was most definitely certain was the undeniable fact that I would always have this skill on which to fall upon in the event the Cubs happened to have an already-full bullpen.

With this in mind, and as I reflect back on my days of uncertainty, I have realized that God bestowed upon me, at a very early age, the ability to bend the English language to my will for the collective benefit of myself and others.

And it is with this certainty that I move forward. Onward. Upward.

With that said, I feel I can believe with the utmost confidence that being a journalist is my dream job and, in a less-than-convincing way, has brought me to similar levels of popularity enjoyed by famous athletes and musicians as I strut my way across Putnam County.