As we go through life, we experience events that we celebrate and also endure some that are tragic.
When I reminisce, I always like to revisit the good times that are filled with fond memories that stay in my heart and mind forever.
So I chose to go back to those good years before the not-so-good years.
First up, 1966. Oh what a wonderful year this was — well, it actually began in September of 1965 and continued through 1966.
I recall this year vividly. I see all the stores lining both sides of Main Street, and they stayed open in the evenings. In 1966, Plymouth was celebrating its centennial and men grew beards and women wore bonnets as classic cars rode up and down Main Street.
Our high school’s basketball team won the Wyoming Valley Conference championship and took the District 2 title before losing in a controversial game against Williamsport. There were parades for the opening of Little League and for Halloween, as storefront windows were painted in festive scenes. The town was safe, and it was fun and it was “one for all, all for one.”
I see the magnificent PHS school campus with its beautiful brick buildings, winding sidewalks, and tall shade trees and Huber Stadium and its amazing wall and the adjacent Plymouth Little League.
All this changed forever in 1966-1967 when nine West Side schools merged to become Wyoming Valley West, bringing rivals together, wearing new school colors and a new nickname — Spartans.
It got worse in 1967-1968 when we all were bused to one school. It just wasn’t the same.
But it was even worse for me and my dad as we lost mom on the day before Mother’s Day in 1968. So as bad as it was to adjust to the new WVW, it was mostly a blur for me because of my mom’s illness and her passing.
From all the joy in 1965-66, to nothing but confusion and heartache in 1967-68.
The Way Back Machine’s next stop was 1971. Things were going pretty well, but my journey, while certainly not smooth, was kind of fun in a juvenile, immature way. Reality was fast approaching, but I really didn’t seem to care much about it. I had not even begun to map out a future.
Then came 1972 and a woman named Agnes. We all suffered from the devastating flood. But to be honest, the dirty, smelly waters of the Susquehanna River actually brought me to the starting point of positivity.
Mayor Ed Burns saw potential in me and gave me a job coordinating the clean-up crews for my hometown. With the help of several others in the old Town Hall, we got it done. Plymouth cleaned up faster than any other flood-affected town.
This led me to a real job at the Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County and a path to somewhere.
My next stop was in 1986. Things seemed joyful where I was, but I was wrong. I did get to travel to California to visit family I hadn’t seen in years. But this was to be the beginning of the end of a marriage and life as I had known it for many years.
In 1987, my marriage ended and I somehow found myself in the then-Leadership Wilkes-Barre class of 1987-88. It still seems a bit strange, but this is just what I needed. And Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre was the project I worked on and it’s still flourishing today.
And believe it or not, in 1995, I was chosen to be a part of Leadership USA and I can proudly say that I was the least important member of that 36-member class. But my peers did select me as chairman of our graduation ceremony.
Wait. What?
But 1995 was also the year my dad passed away. A strange feeling for sure when you realize both your parents are gone. I found myself staring at the ceiling wondering what the heck was I going to do now?
I worked at the John Heinz Institute for 12 years and I really liked it, but returning to newspapering actually rescued me. I can’t express how much I look forward to doing this job every day. It’s enjoyable, it's fulfilling, it's challenging, it's meaningful and it's important. And when I think of all the people I’ve met and where I’ve traveled, it's very humbling.
That’s why 2007 is one of my top years — it’s when I returned to the job I love here at the Times Leader. But altogether, I have worked in this business much longer — from my days at the Wyoming Valley Observer, the Sunday Independent, another Wilkes-Barre daily, and here at the TL — about 35 years or so.
And I must mention all the organizations I’ve been involved with: Teeners’ League Baseball; Wyoming Valley American Legion Baseball; Make-A-Wish of NEPA; Challenger Little League; Victory Sports; Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame; ASA Softball; Litewska Street Children’s Hospital in Warsaw, Poland; a playground for patients at the John Heinz Institute for pediatric patients; the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania; the Book Kids Program at Wyoming Valley West School District; the annual Riverside Rumble wheelchair-only race; Bowl for Kids Sake for Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and the Wyoming Valley West Community Advisory Group.
So cherish your days with your moms and dads and families and friends. Make every day count. Enjoy these times. Serve your community.
And take lots of pictures. Write everything in a journal. Value all the days you have.
Life really is a journey to be enjoyed.
