It was fifty years ago this week when I made the life-changing decision to drop out of college and move to Wild Rose. Although it was intended to simply be a one year break from the routine of sitting in a boring classroom, it altered my life in so many ways. The change of course led me into the world of business for the next 36 years, providing me with a wealth of experience I would draw from once the dream of teaching was ultimately fulfilled.
At twenty years of age, I was strong-willed and self-centered on doing what I wanted to do and no one was going to change my mind. I went from wanting to live in a city the size of New York or Chicago to loving the simple lifestyle of country living which was readily available around Wild Rose. I often ponder how life might look today had I chosen to stay in college, likely graduating with my teaching degree in the spring of 1975, then heading off to New York City to teach middle school somewhere.
Without Wild Rose, the Little Fox experience with Disco would never happen, including the transition of the Red Fox from supper club to 'Disco extraordinaire'. In all likelihood the Silver Lakers would never take to the softball field, leaving all those young guys to play with other teams in the area. Events like the Fox Cup and Memorial Day Tournament may never have taken place, must less been imagined. Our log home in the woods which sits on the edge of Natures Pond would never be built. A Saturday night encounter with Linda, my future wife, would never take place, hence Jacob would never be born. Likewise our experience with Vicente, a young exchange student from Cabo, Mexico, wouldn't have the opportunity come to fruition, a loss in cultural understanding for all.
Without Wild Rose, I would never experience a 31+ year career at Mid-State Supply, learning so many facets of creative selling, management and leadership, and associated skill-sets of writing, listening, and speaking. I would never rediscover my thirst for history, whether it was ancient, colonial, or modern-day. The ability to connect the topic of economics with real-world happenings would never occur in my classroom. And the relationships I built with students, staff, administration and community would be but a pipedream.
At this point in my life, I know my date of expiration could result in a recall at anytime, any day. I might have 24 hours to live...or another 30 years of new revelations. I’ve never been one to second-guess my decisions, so all I can do is ponder ‘what could have happened’ had I not become restless in where I was headed in life. When my life encountered a crossroad fifty years ago, I made a turn for which I will never ever regret.
