Greetings long lost friends...
I haven't spoken to most of you since high school, and could probably fill pages of the trials and tribulations of my life since then. I have less hair (but still some), a little more weight, and hopefully a little more wisdom about life (that remains to be seen). I remain an optimist, somewhat of a spendthrift, and still have a good measure of social awkwardness.
I left Ft. Myers in 1982 vowing never to make SW FL my home again. I felt it to be too limiting, unexciting, and was really tired of the consistently warm weather. Off to FSU with JP and to my freedom! I still find it ironic that John, who had way less parental oversight than I, turned out to be the conservative one in college (vs. me). I wish I would have handled my friendship with him more carefully (sorry JP). Never the less, in 1986 my obsession with getting out of Florida, and out from under my parent's umbrella peaked, and in a incredibly spontaneous moment, moved to Baltimore, Maryland.
My goal was to attend Johns Hopkins Medical School, but unfortunately had not secured my spot in the class of 1986. Undeterred, I showed up in the dean's office and requested admission. He told me to go home! I didn't listen (still have problems with that skill) and I took a job in a lab, and good fortune came my way and I was admitted the following year. I met wife #1 shortly thereafter, and because I felt old (at age 24!) got married for most of the wrong reasons. I made it through med school at Hopkins and then through another six years of post-graduate training in orthopedics and then a subspecialty year of hand surgery. At the end of all of this, I two young children, a wife, and (ironically) a job offer back in the very place that I vowed to not return to- Fort Myers! Initially, the job and family seemed to be working out pretty well. A number of things happened, however, to upset my applecart, and I left the wife, left the job, and had what most would call a severe mid-life crisis. The details are really unimportant; maybe I'll share them you that are interested one day. Let's just say that I learned many lessons, made some horrible mistakes, and generally became very familiar with my imperfections and shortcomings. As this era wound down (thank God), I emerged a person with more of a connection to a God of my own understanding. Wife #2 was an integral part of this painful learning experience- I will always be grateful to her for this. She was not prepared to overcome her "issues" and we both moved on.
After a necessary period of soul searching, learning about what was really important as well as what type of person will mesh with me, I met Dannette. She is truly the cream of the crop. She's smart, beautiful, intuitive, and has had her share of difficulties to overcome. I truly believe that these "difficulties" are something we all must experience. What doesn't kill you will truly make you stronger!!
Today, I am a practicing orthopedic hand surgeon in Port Charlotte, FL. I love my job! Not only am I the only hand specialist in the county, but am able to limit my work to hands and arms alone! I haven't touched a knee or hip in nearly 10 years! Work is busy, but not out of control. The medical part is challenging, but comes naturally. The business part is also fascinating, and definitely challenges me more.
Dannette (#3) and I raise my two older sons Sam (15) and Reid (13), and a year ago had my third child- Daniel. The older boys' mother still lives in the area, and is involved with raising them. My parents moved to Punta Gorda about 4 years ago after selling the house that I (and many of you to some extent) grew up in. Ben was already here when I came 9 years ago, and Brian (now 34 with a kid and another coming!) came soon after.
Well, I have to leave something for the next time, and will post this on facebook as well.