What was the moment in time that changed your life, or at
the least, opened your eyes and caused you to be where you are today? Was it a
single event? Was it an individual, .... perhaps a teacher who inspired you to
follow in that profession? Or did you feel like you never had a choice in the
matter...or never wanted to choose?
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| Some of my early academic successes at Our Lady of Mercy |
When the stars crossed and my turn arrived to take a
crack at the world, the event happened over the midwestern city of Dayton, Ohio.
which was my birthplace, my hometown, .. and I guess it was written in the big
book eons ago that this is where I would sort out the decisions I had to make,
no one knows. ...you just took the ticket and got on board.
I was fortunate enough to attend a parochial grade school
that gave me a solid foundation, and even after my repeated attempts to derail
my train of life, I still managed to get out of there with all ten fingers and
most of my knuckles still in working order. And then onward, my attempts
to what would be the continuation of my academic successes in life, my high
school days at Fairview High School. I have hundred of
stories of those days that I share often, but back to the persons or events that
helped make me who I am today.
It was a high school Journalism teacher from Northridge
High School, in Dayton Ohio. He was the manager of the Jewish Community Center
during the summer, and I worked there each summer, from '66 through '69, upon
my return to Dayton from the University of Oklahoma. Ben Campbell, shared
thoughts and ideas all day long and he told me in so many words, while his
walrus-like moustache moved up and down as he spoke, "Life is going to throw you
a whole lot of pitches...some fast balls, some curve balls and some right down
the middle of the strike zone....just keep your eye on the ball and you'll know
which one to hit.....swing at it like there's no tomorrow and you'll hit a home
run".
I took Ben's advice and even though I struck out a few
times and even occasionally got hit by the ball I've managed to find what I was
searching for....I found that purpose.......I'm a story teller and that ain't
half bad........and I think Ben would have liked that.
