Alternative careers.

I woudn't trade may time writing for newspapers for anything. The various lives and things we were exposed ot - for better and worse - (I spent some time doing the cops beat) - was truly like a PhD program on the human condition.
But if I could have done anything else - songwriter. Never could get the hang of the piano. Though I tried mightily.

 

Aerospace engineer.

Had the passion, aptitude and the grades for it. Plus, Dad had worked at the Cape and Houston, so I was space-crazy like every other kid in the 1960s. But after Apollo, NASA looked dead in the water in the mid-'70s when I was graduating from high school, and I was still imaging doing baseball play-by-play on the radio.

I took Chemistry but not Physics in high school, and only had one science course (plus all the computer science for my minor) at UF, so it would have been a steep learning curve. But working at JPL or KSC has always fascinated me.

If I had a kid, I'd push them that direction because there are so many opportunities out there right now.

 

Pitcher for the Dodgers.

Center on the Kings' Triple Crown line.

Quarterback of the Rams.

Guitar-playing front man of a band.

Actor.

Golfer. Tennis player.

 

I was going to be in a porno once but didn't because my part was too small.

Seriously, though, I love what I do now as a high school teacher and often think I wish I'd started it years earlier instead of wasting time in the newspaper business, but if I had, I wouldn't be where I am today. It was because of my newspaper job I met my wife and because of her I left the newspaper business and became a teacher. It's a crazy circle. Plus, if I'd started years ago, chances are I wouldn't be at the school I am now, and I wouldn't want to move for anything. It's as much my home as where I eat and sleep, and the people are family.

As a kid, I wanted to be a NASCAR driver or an archaeologist like Indiana Jones.
When I first got out of the Navy, I gave serious thought to becoming a merchant sailor and often think how cool my life would have been, but there again, had I actually done that, I wouldn't be where I am today. Heck, I wouldn't even posting this here because I would have never found it.

 

One of my teachers at MSU intoned that I would be a case study in lifetime dilettantism. She was right. No regrets about it because I've enjoyed it so far. What would I do/have done if things had been different? I would have been a librarian or a minister.

 

Acting. I still have the occasional urge to try out for a community show around here, but haven’t done it. For years my career made that a challenge.

 

Meteorology

 

Seriously, no idea.

 

I too have no idea. I was about 10 years old when I figured I’d never play second base for the Dodgers so I decided I wanted to be the next Vin Scully. Went to college for broadcasting and ended up in print.

I’m guessing maybe teaching. Both of my wives started at newspapers and ended up in the classroom.

 

I used to belong to a group that did online theatre games. It might be a way to satisfy your acting bug and not make the commitment of weeks to months that many shows require.

 

I’ll give that a look.

I got into print because my first love was broadcasting and I wanted to diversify. Very quickly I realized that no matter how many speech lessons I took, I was always going to sound like the guy in the Micro Machines commercials and I just couldn’t slow down enough.

 

I am at peace with the choices I made - they are me, after all.
- but if I had a mulligan -
I would go into veterinary medicine.
I was already at a good school for it.