A Memoir
My Life in Posts
A weathered suitcase, a lifetime of stickers, and eight parts of an ordinary life lived on purpose. These are the stories — from a lake cabin in northern Minnesota to the Golden Gate Bridge — that made the journey.
Fifty two chapters. One extraordinary ordinary life.
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Table of Contents
Eight Parts, One Life
52 chapters published so far, told in order — read straight through, or jump to whichever one calls to you.
Part 1
The Aurora Years
1The BeginningI met my parents at 9:15 PM at 8 lbs 10 1/2 oz dripping wet. In fact the birth announcement mentioned my father now having enough for a basketball team.2The Quiet Strength Behind It AllThroughout the entire celebration, she was everywhere—on the dance floor, talking with guests, smiling, laughing—soaking in every minute, every second, every hour.3Before the PhonesWhen I picture those years in Sunset Acres, I see motion: kids running, bikes skidding to a stop, a coffee can waiting in the road, the last light in the sky fading behind the trees.4Cabin LifeWeekends that felt long. Summers that stretched. Days defined by water, woods, and imagination instead of clocks and screens.5Hero Of The BeachThere it was, issue after issue: the classic "97-pound weakling" story. A skinny kid gets sand kicked in his face, goes home humiliated, dedicates himself to the Atlas method, and returns as a confident, square-jawed powerhouse.6Swinging Through ChildhoodLong before streaming, smartphones, or endless channels, comic books were my escape hatch, my classroom, and my imagination's fuel.7Mornings of EmbarrassmentMornings were the hardest. It wasn't every morning but for a young boy once is too many. Waking up already knowing what you'd find. The smell. The dampness.8The Championship GoodbyeAlmost immediately after the game, I had to leave. We piled into the car, the last of our things loaded up, and pulled away from the only home I have ever known.
Part 2
Becoming
9Holy PursuitWe held our breath. Silence. Then their voices echoed from outside: "You might as well come out. We have both ends covered!"10The Halftime Game I'll Never ForgetSoon, chants started echoing through the gym: "Bring back the little guys! Bring back the little guys!"11Trivia!!!With an old typewriter I'd copy down each answer and its corresponding question—meticulously organized by category. "Potent Potables," "World Capitals," "Presidents," "Famous Inventions."12Learning by DoingWe were re-roofing our house, again in New Lisbon. Somehow, it was decided that I was the ideal candidate to be up on the roof—lightweight, but with big feet.13The ShackJimmy laughed out loud. Not a snicker, not a chuckle—a full belly-laugh that shook the room. He had built magic. "It is ALIVE".14The Table That Held Us TogetherI can still picture that table. I can still hear the conversations, the laughter, the occasional argument. I can still see my mom serving up another helping, making sure no one left hungry.15When Summer Felt EndlessOf course, for middle school boys, Wa Du Shuda Days wasn't really about the rides. It wasn't even about the food. It was about girls.16Growing Up TogetherI don't even remember why she came by that day. I just remember noticing her. That's the only way I can explain it. In the middle of all that noise and movement, she stood out. I wondered who she was, where she lived, and why I hadn't seen her before.17High School Years: Survival at HomeMost people had no idea what was happening inside our home. I didn't talk about it—not to friends, not to teachers, not even to people I trusted.18The Hardest Hits Came In PracticeLooking back, some of our training methods would probably raise eyebrows—or lawsuits—today. But in the 1970s, football was a different world, especially in small-town Wisconsin. And honestly… we loved it.19New Lisbon BasketballLooking back, it reminds me a little of the movie "Hoosiers". New Lisbon was the small-town school facing a much larger program from the city. Our Hickory vs. South Bend Central.20My Iowa State AdventureI remember returning home and my mother asked about the trip and the campus. I replied, "Iowa State is the place for me!"21My Last Week of High School"Timothy," he said, "I need you to listen carefully. Your mother is not responding well from the operation. You should start calling your relatives. She may not survive."
Part 3
Launching
22The Summer of '78I don't remember brushing my teeth, packing a bag, or even fully waking up — I just remember the grin on Doug's face and the word that came out of my mouth without hesitation: "Yeah!"23Finding My Groove At ISUThose nights were full of energy—music blasting, the floor vibrating, laughter bouncing off the walls, and the constant buzz of people popping in to see what was happening.24The Internship That Changed EverythingI woke up to two frozen boomerangs for socks that I had to literally beat against a tree to soften them up so I could wear them on the trip down.25Caps and ChampagneI remember sitting there with nothing to do when my friend Kevin looked at me and said, essentially, Well…we can't just sit around.26Chasing OpportunitiesMr. Smith burst out laughing, slapped his hand on the desk, and said, "I think we have a place for you here."
Part 4
Building a Life
27When The World OpenedDriving on the Autobahn was unforgettable. I distinctly remember pushing the car to around 125 miles per hour, only to have other drivers in Mercedes Benz and Porsche sedans and sports cars casually pass me.28The Rotary Rocket"Remember, you can sleep in your car, but you can't drive your house." Brilliant, I thought at the time.29Long Lake SummersI can still remember the feeling of leaning into a sharp cut, ski edge biting into the water, spray shooting out in a perfect arc, the tow rope vibrating with tension.30My First Address Of My OwnI began investing in the early '80s, did surprisingly well, and slowly built enough for something I really wanted: my own home by the time I was 25 years old.
Part 5
Family, Fatherhood, & Hard Lessons
31Jacob TimothyAs he rotated and faced me, I watched something miraculous happen. Color suddenly filled his face. Life seemed to rush into him.32A Complicated ChapterIt would be easy to look at this story and focus only on the struggles. But that wouldn't be the full truth. Because out of all of it came Jake—and the experience of being his father. And that remains one of the greatest blessings of my life.33Our Summer CatchThere's something sacred about a kid's first baseball glove. The smell of the leather. The stiffness of it. The way it feels far too big and far too new all at once.34The Alumni GamesElbows were used. Screens were set a little harder. Drives to the basket came with contact. Slaps on wrists became more frequent. And honestly, I didn't mind it.
Part 6
Adventures Along the Way
35Moments Marked in PaintPanic set in on both sides. Halfway across the field, I hit a muddy patch and lost a shoe. One shoe. One sock. No time to stop.36The Maiden VoyageAnd that mud? It wasn't ordinary mud. It was the kind that grabs your boots like it's claiming squatter's rights. More than once, you had to pull your foot out carefully to avoid leaving your shoe behind.37Fifty CandlesFifty years is a milestone birthday. It's not subtle. It's not easily forgotten. And yet, there was silence. I had to actually remind her when I got back home.
Part 7
Redemption
38Finding His StrengthHis discipline was unlike anything I'd seen at that age. His body changed quickly. Shockingly quickly. Strength followed. Confidence followed. And before long, word spread at school.39A Day of Triumph and LossI counted four Gulfstream V's fueled and ready to go. My thoughts immediately went to a quote from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "If you have the means, I highly recommended picking one up."40Rock BottomThe first person I called was my wife. I told her what had happened. Her response was immediate and devastating: "You can't come here."41Finding My MatchBefore my divorce, online dating had never crossed my mind. Not once. It wasn't part of my world, my wiring, or my imagination.42Best Date EverEventually, something pulled us back to reality. Not an announcement. Not a gentle reminder. Vacuum cleaners. They were cleaning up. We looked around and realized we were the last two people in the entire restaurant.43A Tent Full of LoveThen it hit me. They weren't gathering without me. They were gathering for me. I was completely surprised given it was the 5th of August.44Devil's ThroatMy inexperienced mind didn't process this calmly. Instead, it shouted, "You're going to die down here". I signaled to Roger. He gave the thumbs-up to ascend.
Part 8
Legacy
45A Bridge to ForeverRight there, at the midpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge, I asked Pam to be my wife. I was shaking and I could feel my heart coming out of my chest. She smiled...46A Life Among HousesThat was one of the first clear signs that I was on the right path. Learning the material didn't feel like a chore—it felt engaging. It felt practical. It felt useful.47Toward the Green LightBecause by the time you reach the second half of life, most of us are no longer living off potential—we're living off experience. Scars included. Lessons learned the hard way. Wins earned, not given.48Five Years Into RetirementI stepped into retirement not knowing exactly what the next chapter would hold. Looking back, I can say it has been a time of purpose, challenge, and unexpected joy.49The Friends Who Never LeftNearly fifty years have passed since we first met in a college dorm. Somehow, the laughter has never grown old.50Miles, Memories, and the Journey We ShareTravel wasn't just something Pam enjoyed—it was part of who she was. Thank goodness she invited me along for the ride.51The Family You Marry IntoBlood may define your relatives, but love defines your family. This is the story of what it feels like to be welcomed, accepted, and truly treated as a son.52The Art of StillnessI've learned that success looks very different at 68 than it did in my 20s. Today, success means being present. It means being a better husband, a better father, and hopefully a better person.EpilogueEpilogueSome stories don't end with success—they end with gratitude. This epilogue reminds us that life's greatest accomplishments aren't measured by careers or possessions, but by the people we love and the memories we create together.