Years that made a real impact on my life

How did we ever get through this last year?

For sure not one of the best. I’m totally fine if we don’t have one like it ever again!

Moving on to 2022, it made me take a moment to recall all the “impact years” in my life and what it meant to our country and our world. I used to tell my daughters that 80 percent of your life will be good, 10 percent amazing, and 10 percent will challenge you more than you thought you could ever handle. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s those tough times when we grow the most. The old “whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”

So, here are the most impactful years that stand out in my life.

1958: The year I started kindergarten at the former St. Catherine’s of Siena School. Catholic school in those days was a lot about discipline, and as unforgiving as it could be, I loved it. It was very structured, and coming from a somewhat crazy large family, the caring nuns and boundaries were a welcomed comfort.

1963: By this time, I was in public school being bused “downtown” with all sixth-graders to

The Sheridan School. Public school seemed so freeing, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Maybe a little too much. By far, my most vivid memory was an early dismissal one day in November. I remember seeing teachers and students crying as they were loaded on the bus to go home. Our beloved President Kennedy had been assassinated. People revered our president back then and together we wept as a country, no matter the party affiliation.

1968: By this time, I’m lovin’ my high school days. I remember the lunch food was so good and the woman who served it was so kind.

Pizza, barbeque, tater tots … I was in 16-yearold culinary heaven! Unfortunately, that joy was shattered as we lost two great leaders in the same year: Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. For me it was a confusing mix of a life so happy, so simple, and yet suddenly so tragic.

1972: I started my first real job on the Mack Truck assembly line. Eight-fifty an hour meant I was on the fast track to the American dream. I bought a new Toyota Celica for $2,900 and a gorgeous quaint row home for $18,000. My monthly car payment was $97 and my mortgage was $129. I was a very nervous man, feeling maybe I overdid it. Funny how these numbers seem so minuscule by today’s standards.

1980s: I bundled this as an entire decade of mostly just fun. Good shallow music, lots of crazy hair, Reagan’s “we got this” confidence, and the birth of my daughters, Chrissy and Alex. It’s funny how life oftentimes seems better in the rearview mirror.

1997: The year I started at The Chamber. I was pleading, praying for a different plan but, despite that, I got the job of my lifetime. I’m not too good at, nor do I talk much about, my faith, but God has been better to me than I ever deserved. Maybe it’s why I stumbled upon my favorite bible verse, Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

2000: The year of the new millennium. Who could forget all the excitement and worry about the turn of a century. Would computers cease to operate? Would the grid shut down? Would planes fall from the sky? Turned out to be much ado about nothing and optimistically, the 21st century began.

2001: The pain and fear we all felt over the 9/11 attack. Never will we all forget.

2020: My Phantoms bobblehead night. I mean, what’s left in life after you get your own bobblehead? Very typical of my life, the moment I get even close to being full of myself, thankfully it ends quickly. After the incredible night at the Phantoms, COVID literally shut the world down the very next day.

So, here’s my hope for 2022. How about the end of COVID, more love for each other, and a big dose of the forgiveness required for imperfect humans.

As I watched TV this morning, I was struck by the words of a first-generation American being featured on a program. When asked what he thought of his new country, he replied, “America is not perfect, but it’s by far the best of all imperfect nations.”

This country is worth working to save and you can for sure count me in for that!