Dear Reader:
Returning by car in 1959 from San Francisco, California, to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, I wrote a poem about riding the rails (freight trains) down to Oakland, California, over that recent Thanksgiving holiday week. My professor of English Composition 101 was so impressed he almost accused me of plagiarism. This was my first serious attempt at writing poetry in my eighteen years of lackluster academic performance.
Growing up in historic Lancaster, Massachusetts, I attended public school there after my daily chore of milking the family cow. My older and younger brothers and I attended Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts; however, I graduated from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, class of 1959.
After one year at Pacific University, I spent three years and graduated in 1964 from the University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida, with a bachelors degree in Fine Arts. After two years as a draftee into the U.S.Army, 1966 - 1968, I became a public school Art teacher, K - 12, in North and East Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Returning to Oregon in 1970, I completed a masters degree in Education at Portland State University and returned to Newmarket, New Hampshire, where I taught Art at the Oyster River Middle School, in Durham, NH, 1972 - 1978.
Dropping out of the education profession, and while I was developing my new product, ROCK MAPLE LIQUEUR, I took some local sales positions; and in 1984 purchased a winery property in Belmont/Laconia, New Hampshire to manufacture and bottle liqueur, wine, and spring water from a natural spring on the property.
ROCK MAPLE LIQUEUR and LAKES REGION WINES were sold in the NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE LIQUOR STORES, 1982 - 1992. After having conducted a National taste test and marketing analysis, HIRAM WALKER of Detroit, Michigan, offered an excellent partnership arrangement for their world wide manufacturing, marking, and distribution of my liqueur.
Retiring in 2004, my last years ‘in harness’ were as driver and instructor in the tractor - trailer industry, and I did some currier work for the New Hampshire State Police Association.
My wife and I are retired and have a blended family of four children, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I have long memberships in the Masonic Faternity, F&AM, the American Legion, and Christian churches.
The BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY was self published in 2020. thebasicsofchristianity.com. Having completed two poetry collections: My WINDSHIELD REFLECTIONS, 1968 - 2023, and: LONG HAUL TRUCKING - OVER THE ROAD (OTR) RHYTHMS; I am planning to publish them.