In many ways, that was the beginning of my entrepreneurial spirit. I find inspiration in work that allows me to shape the agenda, determine the measures of quality, and set the timeline. That spirit is an important aspect of my personal preferences and to some extent has guided me into my current work.
I came from two sets of families. My parents married at the early age of 15 and 16 and celebrated their 73rd Anniversary last year. Unfortunately, my father just passed in September of 2011 and my mother just past this May of 2012. Not long after being married, they had a son and by the time they were 20 and 21 found themselves with four children. Children having children. My dad worked three jobs and my mom had her hands full taking care of the kids. During that time in their life, they didn’t have much. It took another eight years before my other sister came along and then another seven years before I came along; thirty-eight when she had me. There was a 22 year gap between me and my oldest brother. In fact, my brother’s wife’s were pregnant the same time my mother was pregnant with me; my brother old enough to be my father.
During those early days, my father worked anywhere and anytime he could to make sure that he had food on the table and the general necessities for his children. He made so many sacrifices during his own youth to provide for his family. Finally, in 1945 my dad started working with the DC Fire Department which gave him an opportunity to get financially on his feet and also have one job versus three. By the time I came along in 1960, my dad was in his late 30’s and from the day I was born to the day he passed he was my hero. He still is. He had so much insight on life and such an inspiration to me.
The era of the DC Fire Department brought a deep and rich love with our family of the services in that field of work. Although there were many nights that I did not get to see my dad when I was little because of the long hours he worked and also certain situations that arose like the Marin Luther King riots that went on during his tour in the fire department. I remember being home with my mother during that time and watching the television and seeing all the fires and rioting going on; worried so much about dad. It wasn’t long after the riots that my dad acquired throat cancer due to the apparatus at that time not being as good as it is today. He started radiation treatments when he was about forty-four and I was about six years old. Dad made it through all that even though they treated the wrong side of his neck the first time and had to put him through a whole other series of radiation treatments.
At that point, a family decision needed to be made since my dad was now forced to retire from the fire department with service disability. Since he now could no longer afford to keep our permanent residence and the little cottage on the water (about 50 miles away); we needed to give one of them up. So, we all decided we wanted to move to the cottage and be by the water since we all loved crabbing and fishing, as well as, all the beauties of living by the river.
I graduated early from High School; 11th grade. Back then, the only required 12th grade requirement was English. So, I applied for taking my English class during the summer and I was accepted. I graduated in the summer of 1978 versus having to go through the entire senior year. My dad had talked to me about going up to Washington DC and taking the civil service test as he thought working for the government would be a good thing for me to do. So I did, and I passed.
It wasn’t long after that I took a job in DC as an entry clerk. That sure was a long commute; 50 miles one way. Every day I had to leave at 4:00 a.m. in the morning and not get home until 6:00 p.m. I still lived at home since I was still just seventeen. Sometimes it took everything I had to get up and make that long journey. However, I always seemed to get encouragement from my parents; mostly my dad, to stick with it because in the long run you won’t regret it. While my friends were out having fun during their teens, I was off to work. So I did, and twenty-four years later I was able to retire as a GS-14 from the government with benefits and a Bachelor’s Degree; now contractor making triple digits pursing my Master’s in Leadership.
All my life I have lived by this river and I have grown to love and appreciate the small things in life. I have learned from my two best friends; mom and dad. They taught me how to love, they taught me about traditions, encouraged me to work hard at everything I do; never to give up. But most of all, they have given me the realization to know when I have been blessed.
As I write this blog, I can say that I have learned from their life. What they stood for made me what I am today. I have a successful career, I have wonderful sons; they are now my best friends. I have learned not to give-up, I have learned that you have to work hard and earn the things in life that you want to acquire. I have learned that families are important. In addition, I have gained an appreciation for those that provide services to the safety of our country; military, policemen, and especially the firefighters. My parents instilled values and morals that no one can take away. They gave me the support, encouragement, love, and inspiration to take the leap of sustaining a quality of life and I am forever grateful. Now it is my job to share my life experience to my family, friends, and people I meet to hopefull add value in their quality of life.
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