50 Years
Way back in 1969 I graduated from High School. Back then there was family and classmates. Between them they were the most important folks in my life.
Over the years I went away to school, got an engineering degree and then got a job. For the first 20 years I changed jobs about every 3-4 years, each time getting a bump in salary. I got fired once only to get hired to a better job the next day. Finally, I got laid off. At the time it was one of the best things that could have happened, and then I settled down and stayed in the same place for the rest of my working career.
In my personal life, I became a tennis fanatic working myself into the best shape of my life. I got married. We had a son and the tennis went from daily, to weekly, to monthly, to never.
After which I got divorced and remarried. After some really good years, I became widowed and am now single again.
How do you summarize 50 years in a 2 minute hello, what happened in the last 50 years…
Short stories…
How about the trip with my 2nd wife about a year before she passed. It started in Sonoma Valley with a wine tasting trip. Should I mention that I was looking at red wines, since my doctor recommended a single glass a day. Not bad medicine for those our age. The trip continued with a visit to my nephew’s in Los Angeles area. Followed with a visit to London Bridge and a late arrival to Grand Canyon lodge in Arizona. It started snowing as I got our bags to the room.
The next day we started toward the canyon, and were admitted to the park, but were warned that the visibility was poor. We got to stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon, but did not see it because of the blizzard.
The drive that afternoon to Phoenix was treacherous. The 1st accident we saw was a car parked nose 1st in the bed of a pick up truck. Followed by many spin outs, slow going, until we got to a sign which stated about 20 miles of down grade. Snowing at the top/rain at the bottom/ice in between? Driving in a rental car was not one of my favorite times. Until it was raining and the road was wet with no ice. Relief!
When we got to the hotel for the night near the airport to prepare for the flight home I decided we would eat in the hotel restaurant. It was a neat trip and provides me a line that I’ve been to but not seen the Grand Canyon.
But this as with the other good stories, just does not seem appropriate for a reunion.
My best accomplishment
Raising my son. Most of my classmates were talking about their grandchildren. Another thing that has not yet been part of my life. Yes there are several grandchildren from my 2nd wife’s 1st marriage, but all are far away and I don’t know them well. Another trip and future story to tell maybe.
Recent Comments