a Retrospective | Turning Points

I first shared this personal list in 2011, October 17. It’s been a while since my master list has been updated, so I offer this dated one as a sneak peak at my experiences, my values, that form me.

Turning Points:

• The day my 2-year old bro, Rick, directed traffic on the French highway
• The day my bro, Rick, and I realized being 13-months apart wasn’t so bad after all
• The death of my 3-year old bro, Norman, a pioneer in pediatric open-heart surgery
• My “Nanny” taking care of us while Mom and Dad got away for a while
• The day my youngest bro, Michael, was born and we found out he wasn’t a girl
• The day I said no to my Mom with Dad unexpectedly home for lunch, ouch!
• The day we chucked mud balls into the neighbor’s bathroom window, ouch!
• Learning as a 3-year old that playing doctor with the girl next door was not a good idea
• Being a trusted neighborhood newspaper carrier at age 9
• This 11-year old flutist consoling my adult “jam partner” after her husband committed suicide
• Meeting Senator Hubert H. Humphrey in his Capital office at age 12
• M.L.K. marching on Washington, DC and giving his “I have a dream” speech
• Collecting and giving the Washington, DC marchers food and bedding and welcoming them to our city
• The assassination of President John F. Kennedy
• The assassination of Martin Luther King
• Nearly drowning in the Glen Echo Public Swimming Pool
• The 1964 New York World’s Fair
• Summer 1964 vacationing at the Catskill Mountain Lake Hotel, a living ‘hommage’ to Dirty Dancing
• Holy Redeemer Elementary School, Kensington, MD
• Teacher Sister Rose Bernadette taking noticing of a quirky kid
• Michelle Nys and Mary Anne Clark awaking the sleeping lion
• Michael Toussaint being a great childhood friend
• Sadly losing the best choir director ever in 1965 simply because he was Gay
• Summer vacation in Germany and our last visit with my “Opa”
• Vatican Council II throwing the baby out with the bath water
• Dad leaving us for a tour-of-duty in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Mom learning to drive, scary!
• Moving to Sacramento, CA from Kensington, MD 3-months before the family joined me
• Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard being wonderful “parents” for 3 months
• Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento, CA
• Teachers Br. Thomas, Br. Ed, Br. Claude and Mrs. Frascinetti
• John Morton and Tom Santiago being great high school buddies
• Summer vacation in Fullerton, CA and our last visit with my “Grandpa Lee”
• The day I realized my Dad was more than ten $20 bills on the buffet
• My parent’s finally divorcing
• The day my Dad sold me his nearly new 1968 VW Bug for a promise
• Carl Keech teaching me that friendship has no age limit
• Diana Trumble teaching me girl “friends” are about more than a kiss
• LaVonna and Charles Trumble trusting Diana, ok me
• My early career with McDonald’s Restaurant
• Greg Kuster telling me his sister was, well frankly wrong headed
• Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church Youth Group
• Nick Gladysz teaching me to relax and how to be a friend for life
• John Zimlich bringing me to my senses about love
• Randy Langan teaching me to laugh
• Dawne Leslie Wood saying YES and never wavering
• Robert and Lois Wood trusting me with their daughter
• American River College, Sacramento, CA
• Professor Whitmer and Professor Williams
• California State University, Sacramento
• Professor Art Sherman hiring me as his test writer
• The day I learned politics trumps pragmatism, particularly in local government
• The day Ken Kruger validated my dream to be an educated, professional working stiff
• Carl Seymour being there every time I call, even months later
• Sacramento Employment and Training Agency
• Norma Johnson trusting me, a slightly obsessive-compulsive white guy
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• Sheila Wright (now Vickers) picking me off the ground, regularly
• The birth of my kids, Michelle and Robert
• The birth of our “adopted” kids, Allyson, Nicole, Stacy, Nick and Michelle
• The amazing strength of character and kindness of all our kids
• Carl Andonini teaching me government bosses are blind to invention and genius
• Cullinet Software, the best job I ever had
• Debra Stacuzzi showing me Boston and more
• The day the doctor’s told me my Mom had ALS and three months to live
• My bro Michael taking Mom home to Germany and caring for her for 2 years, wow
• Jim and BJ Wagner teaching me that family can be your best friends too
• Sierra Photocopy Services
• Shane Balkowitsch being a loyal and exceptional young co-worker
• Shane Balkowitsch tracking me down years later to say hey, wow!
• The day my kids celebrated their acceptance into the OC High School of the Arts
• The day my daughter, Michelle, announced she was going to be a teacher, not a psychologist
• The day my son, Robert, announced he was going to be a professional dancer, not a soccer layer
• Each of the days when the kids announced they were engaged
• Each of the days when the kids went through with it and wed wonderful partners
• Realizing our children’s spouses and new families considered us family
• Each of the days my godchildren married their sweethearts
• The day we buried Dad at Arlington National Cemetery
• The day my grandson, Matthew, was born
• The day my grandson, Anthony, was born
• The day they diagnosed me with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome
• The day Dr. Harward, vascular surgeon extraordinaire concurred
• The day the Law Judge reversed 5-years of Social Security admin hell
• The day Mayor Pulido gave the OC High School of the Arts a permanent home
• Today, as I awoke six feet up and ready to rock and roll

Born:

• Fort Huachuca/AZ (Army Brat)

Baby Years:

• Fort Huachuca/AZ to San Antonio/TX to St Louis/MS

Childhood:

• St Louis/MS to Verdun/France to Kensington/MD

Teen Years:

• Kensington/MD to Carmichael/CA

College Years:

• Carmichael/CA

Adult Years:

• California including Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Sacramento, Anaheim, Los Alamitos, Running Springs, Lake Elsinore and Aguanga

Travel:

• USA, Germany and France

Academics:

• Philosophy, Psychology, Research Methodologies, Applied Statistics & Business Management

Post-Academics:

• Project Management, Information Systems Management, & Certified Compensation Professional

Work:

• Government
• Private Sector
• Laborer
• Crew Leader
• Manager
• Personnel Officer
• Analyst
• Project Manager
• Consultant
• Business Executive
• Community Volunteer

Passions:

• Humanity
• Family
• Constructive Conversation
• Children’s Education and Maturation
• Art and Arts Education
• Photography
• Bettering Community
• Systems Improvement
• Conservation and Sustainable Eco Systems
• Refurbishing and Repurposing
• Writing
• Self-Actualization

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