The long lost roommate...
The following story is half true and half fiction. I will let you discern from there.
I moved to San Marcos, Texas in August 2007. I was off to meet my roommate there who I had previously known in my community college years. We will call him Pancho.
I first met Pancho at my first place of employment which was South Texas College Health and Wellness Center. Working at this gym was the best job I ever had because I was addicted to working out, living a healthy lifestyle, and meeting new people everyday. Pancho was one of the "new people" that I had met while working there. Our desire for achieving the ultimate body was our main goal when we worked out; therefore, we became great workout buddies.
We would share protein shake recipes, workout tips, tricks, and we would always achieve and surpassed our gym goals.
Our friendship extended beyond the gym to hanging out at local coffee bars and sharing computer related conversations. You see, Pancho was (and still is) very tech savy and worked for a computer company as a salesman. Pancho had a gift for selling stuff as he was always leading his store and sometimes district in sales.
When Pancho found out I was going to attend Texas State University in the Fall, he was excited because he was going there as well. It was then he pitched the idea of us being roommates. I thought it was a great idea and decided to make that happen.
And it was a good idea. I lived with Pancho for about a year and a half which made for great memories and helped me live my best years to the fullest.
For instance, Pancho was wealthy. He worked hard for his money selling computer parts and other electronics to consumers while banking on commission. He was so rich, money was never an issue for him. The apartment was pimped out with the coolest electronics known to man at the time. We had high speed internet, powerful laptops, an impressive home theater system, and our own weather prediction center. Why? Because Pancho could afford it. He even had a brand new Mazda 3 GTi which was envied by most of the college kids around the complex.
Most of the time he would buy lunch and dinner. When we ventured out to explore the town and Austin, he would always pay. He was so wealthy, he would tip the bouncer at exclusive clubs just to get us into the V.I.P. area.
Pancho's wardrobe was filled with designer shirts, jeans, pants, blazers, shoes, ties, and other fashionable accessories. He liked to keep up with the current fashion trends as advised in his monthly subscription to GQ.
During our second semester together, the recession finally hit Texas... hard. The computer company Pancho worked for closed down and he was laid off. The next few months, I saw Pancho go from living off steaks and protein shakes to noodles and cheerios. His attire went from Gucci to Gap.
Pancho tried finding other jobs, but no one was hiring.
Pancho sadly could not afford college anymore and had to go back home after completing his last full semester.
I remember him walking to his new car and cursing to the sky, "This really sucks!"
I looked down from the third floor and yelled back at him, "Hey! You are going to rise back up and become powerful once again! You will be filled with new powers that you have never experienced before! You will rule the world!" We liked to think were superhumans with superpowers... Shut up.
About six months later, I met up with Pancho back in his hometown of McAllen, Texas. It was great seeing him and finding out he got a job with another computer company selling computers and other electronics to people. This time it was different. His store was only a few miles from a bridge that brought traffic in from Mexico. Many of his customers were Mexican lawyers, doctors, and business men who spared no expense. Pancho was once again leading in sales and making it rain.
The last time I saw Pancho was when he came to visit me in Austin. He visited me to tell me how life has changed for him for the better. His plans at the time were to finish college and marry his girlfriend who he met back in McAllen. I was very happy for him.
That was four years ago.
Since then, Pancho has disappeared. Our mutual friends have not seen or heard from him in years. I am friends with him on Facebook, but he hasn't been on there since 2011.
I know somewhere out there, Pancho is living his dream. He finished college. Married the girl. Bought the dream home. Bought the boat... Not the farm.
I like to think Pancho is still selling electronics because that is his gift. He can sell car phone to a man with an iPhone.
I also like to think Pancho is out there coaching others who are struggling. He comforts them with his humor and wisdom from having being there at the bottom.
He probably uses the line from the movie Batman Begins.
"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up again."
Pancho learned how to pick himself back up and is now living the dream... somewhere.
The following story is half true and half fiction. I will let you discern from there.
I moved to San Marcos, Texas in August 2007. I was off to meet my roommate there who I had previously known in my community college years. We will call him Pancho.
I first met Pancho at my first place of employment which was South Texas College Health and Wellness Center. Working at this gym was the best job I ever had because I was addicted to working out, living a healthy lifestyle, and meeting new people everyday. Pancho was one of the "new people" that I had met while working there. Our desire for achieving the ultimate body was our main goal when we worked out; therefore, we became great workout buddies.
We would share protein shake recipes, workout tips, tricks, and we would always achieve and surpassed our gym goals.
Our friendship extended beyond the gym to hanging out at local coffee bars and sharing computer related conversations. You see, Pancho was (and still is) very tech savy and worked for a computer company as a salesman. Pancho had a gift for selling stuff as he was always leading his store and sometimes district in sales.
When Pancho found out I was going to attend Texas State University in the Fall, he was excited because he was going there as well. It was then he pitched the idea of us being roommates. I thought it was a great idea and decided to make that happen.
And it was a good idea. I lived with Pancho for about a year and a half which made for great memories and helped me live my best years to the fullest.
For instance, Pancho was wealthy. He worked hard for his money selling computer parts and other electronics to consumers while banking on commission. He was so rich, money was never an issue for him. The apartment was pimped out with the coolest electronics known to man at the time. We had high speed internet, powerful laptops, an impressive home theater system, and our own weather prediction center. Why? Because Pancho could afford it. He even had a brand new Mazda 3 GTi which was envied by most of the college kids around the complex.
Most of the time he would buy lunch and dinner. When we ventured out to explore the town and Austin, he would always pay. He was so wealthy, he would tip the bouncer at exclusive clubs just to get us into the V.I.P. area.
Pancho's wardrobe was filled with designer shirts, jeans, pants, blazers, shoes, ties, and other fashionable accessories. He liked to keep up with the current fashion trends as advised in his monthly subscription to GQ.
During our second semester together, the recession finally hit Texas... hard. The computer company Pancho worked for closed down and he was laid off. The next few months, I saw Pancho go from living off steaks and protein shakes to noodles and cheerios. His attire went from Gucci to Gap.
Pancho tried finding other jobs, but no one was hiring.
Pancho sadly could not afford college anymore and had to go back home after completing his last full semester.
I remember him walking to his new car and cursing to the sky, "This really sucks!"
I looked down from the third floor and yelled back at him, "Hey! You are going to rise back up and become powerful once again! You will be filled with new powers that you have never experienced before! You will rule the world!" We liked to think were superhumans with superpowers... Shut up.
About six months later, I met up with Pancho back in his hometown of McAllen, Texas. It was great seeing him and finding out he got a job with another computer company selling computers and other electronics to people. This time it was different. His store was only a few miles from a bridge that brought traffic in from Mexico. Many of his customers were Mexican lawyers, doctors, and business men who spared no expense. Pancho was once again leading in sales and making it rain.
The last time I saw Pancho was when he came to visit me in Austin. He visited me to tell me how life has changed for him for the better. His plans at the time were to finish college and marry his girlfriend who he met back in McAllen. I was very happy for him.
That was four years ago.
Since then, Pancho has disappeared. Our mutual friends have not seen or heard from him in years. I am friends with him on Facebook, but he hasn't been on there since 2011.
I know somewhere out there, Pancho is living his dream. He finished college. Married the girl. Bought the dream home. Bought the boat... Not the farm.
I like to think Pancho is still selling electronics because that is his gift. He can sell car phone to a man with an iPhone.
I also like to think Pancho is out there coaching others who are struggling. He comforts them with his humor and wisdom from having being there at the bottom.
He probably uses the line from the movie Batman Begins.
"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up again."
Pancho learned how to pick himself back up and is now living the dream... somewhere.
