Every event influences every other

Yahoo had a blog topic on the homepage-What were you doing 10 years ago today?
To be honest, I don't remember specifically. I was 19 years old and in the difficult process of prying myself loose from an abusive relationship. It is quite possible I was busy dealing with the legal system a decade ago-charged with the crime of not wanting to be abused anymore. Although the abuser called it assault. I think that's irony-but I'm not sure. It's a terrible crime that is, not wanting to be hurt or controlled anymore. Or maybe I was "dating" a man 15 years my senior with the high powered job of asst manager of the fast food restaurant where I was a cashier, but not trusted to run the fryer. I don't have too many specific dates for these events-I know they happened sometime during the Spring and Summer of 1996. Back when I couldn't imagine living to be able to buy a legal beer, much less a car or making regular rent payments. I didn't have a future in 1996. I was crazy (not in the fun way) and a danger to myself and others. I was unpleasant to be around as well. The person I was 10 years ago was a person upon which no wise gambler would place a bet-a college drop out with a mental illness and a criminal record (courtesy entirely of the previously mentioned asshole). I was well on my way to a hobo camp. If I was lucky.

So, here it is 10 years later. I can't say the jobs have improved much-the money has, but the esteem isn't much higher from fried fish to grilled ribs. It just looks better, and is easier on the hair and skin. My sense of self worth is MUCH higher. I keep so much better company words don't fully describe the difference. I've figured out my views on dating. My brushes with the law are much more mundane-to the nearly non-existant. I am a catch-but not willing to be caught. I'm educated, not just higher but advanced. My only encounters with hobo camps will be ethnographic research. My crazy is the fun kind and I have owned multiple cars (not the one I currently drive-but someday, probably--at least I pay the insurance). I've taken care of not only myself but sweet departed sneaky Baxter and faggy little Coupland successfully. Of my family-I might be the most sane and level headed.
That's unnerving.
Odd to hear what I was then-eh?
Odd to see where I am now.

Life's like that isn't it.