Welcome to December 31, 2009...the last year of this decade.
As always, I am compelled, no matter how few entries I post within the year, to provide some type of year-end overview. In years past I have compiled my thoughts about a multitude of things from famous deaths to sports analysis and so one. This year, for the first time in the history of my Blog, affords me the opportunity to look over the past decade. Sure, I could have done this before, but actually doing it at the close of a decade makes a little more sense.
In 2001 I started this Blog as to express, mostly bad, thoughts about my life. Basically, it became a sounding board for a lot of different aspects of life and, in particular, my career. So what better place to begin my decade in review than looking at my career.
My professional life actually began in this decade. In December of 1999 I received my undergraduate degree, little suspecting that at the end of this decade I would still be in school! Nonetheless, my first job of my professional career started in March 2000 at the Wildlife Habitat Council. While it had its quirks, I still recognize it as one of the best jobs I have ever had. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, no matter how brief it was. And maybe, in hindsight, that is what made it so good. I didn't really have time to hate. Of course, the same could be said about my experience at Liberty Productions as well. My short 7-month tenure there was wrought with speculation of when I was going to be let go. From almost day one, my job search was sustained, an indication in any job that it probably isn't good. Again, though, I found myself searching for a job which, after 3 1/2 months of being unemployed without pay, I took the temp job with Academy (Pearson) Artworks. I have said it many times before, but when my career as a politician truly takes off, my first act of legislation will be a Temporary Employees Bill of Rights. To work for a company for nearly 3 years and be considered a temp, with no benefits, no vacations, nothing is not fair and equitable treatment of an employee. I was doing the same job as a permanent employee who had been at the company for 15+ years, yet getting paid so much less and getting no benefits. Anyway, I digress, I was never so happy to leave that place and begin my journey down the path of Higher Education. My tenure at The Restaurant School was tumultuous, especially at the end, but it gave me many opportunities to draw from my experiences and a platform to draw upon when drafting my own personal thoughts on an admissions policy and procedure. That then led to my job currently at Thaddeus Stevens College. After nearly 2 1/2 years here, my role has expanded greatly and again, my experiences have been a great learning experience.
More important than career, however, is my family which decreased in size early in the decade, but expanded greatly at the end. In March 2000 was when my mom died unexpectedly at the age of 49. No matter the age, especially if it is unexpected, nothing can prepare you for this loss. My mom and I were close and that made it much more difficult. I used to call her first in regards to all of the big moments, good and bad, that occurred in my life. As a matter of fact, the day she died, I was calling all day to tell her I was offered my first job out of college. Its funny how even almost 9 years later when something big happens, I feel the urge to share it with her. I guess you never outgrow that.
On a more positive note, in March 2006, Ms. Ella Marie Baker joined our family. Ella has shown me in the past almost 4 years what it means to be a father and shown me a brightness to the world. Her infectious smile and her bravery in dealing with her Diabetes is unparalleled. It sounds crazy to say a 3-year old is your hero, but in many ways, she is. I love her with all of my heart and sole.
And then there is Pudge. In October of this year, Anderson Jacob (AJ) Baker joined our family. What a blessing. His calm demeanor has been a refreshing change of pace from the overactive, overstimulated mind of a preschooler! As he continues to expand his abilities I am sure I will be no less astonished and amazed by him as I am with his sister. We have been very blessed with two awesome children who will someday overthrow this world and become its supreme ruler :-)
Besides the growth of our family, our family really began in this decade as well. In September 2001 Jen and I were married. Despite all of my kidding and obnoxiousness and ignorance, Jen has been my rock and I am truly blessed to have her in my life. There are few couples that I have interacted with that feed off of each other the way that we do. In a weird way, we are like Lego's, we just fit together. After 13 years together, 8 of which have been marriage, I am very blessed to have Jen in my life as well.
And of course, there is the little pain in my ass I call my brother :-) His life has been nothing but a roller coaster ride this decade. From the multitude of jobs, girlfriends, apartments, etc. it is amazing for me to see him today, at the end of the decade, as the devoted family. Its not that I never thought this day would come, but now that I have, I see him in a completely different light. While he is still the little twerp that I used to fight with endlessly (and still do when given the opportunity...ask me about our Boston trip sometime), I see Jason as a matured and dedicated father to three great little girls. God knows our paternal experiences can only be a testament to what we didn't get as kids. Sadly, we were taught not how to be good fathers, but what not to do as dads. While it wasn't always bad and certainly not as bad as some, our memories and experiences will forever shape us into what a dad really should be.
Some brief experiences I want to mention, if not to just recognize them as part of my life in the past decade...
9/11/2001 - how can we ever forget that. As a historian and as a person alive at that time, this event will forever shape this generation and many beyond
Cal Ripken's last game - I was there and will cherish that sports experience forever
Cal's Hall of Fame induction - just a truly awesome experience as an Orioles fan and as a baseball fan
Barack Obama being elected - political differences aside, what another amazing and positive event to be a part of in history
Buying our first house! - talk about maturity slapping you right in the face
Getting Buster Brown - as a dog lover, nothing warms your heart than to bring a dejected dog into your life and giving him the best home he has ever had and knowing full well, he is giving you more than you could ever give him
Governor Rendell's first inauguration - being of a political mind, this type of event is awe inspiring, especially when it is sub-freezing temperatures and your wife is next to you sick as a dog!
The trip to New York Summer of 2008 - in the words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I got to say about that!"
I know I am missing so much, but...at some point this trip down memory lane needs to finish, plus, you can always go back and read all of my entries from the past 8 years at least.
2009, I joked, was the year of transitions and in so many ways it was. But that really is a truer evaluation of the decade as a whole. In the past 10 years, my life has changed dramatically and, as much as it pains me to say it, I became a responsible adult in the process. Good and bad, the events of the past 10 years have shaped who I am, who I have become and how I move forward in my life. I have been more than blessed and I recognize this each and every day of my life. 2000-2009 will truly be one of the most transformative decades I will live.
To all of my friends that make it to the end of this, many best wishes for the year to come and for the decade we are about to delve into. And keep watching this Blog, if I do slack on writing, it will still be here for your perusal!
I never suspected that my first Blog entry of the new year would be in reference to television. Actually, if I had to guess, if it wasn't about the kids or the job, TV would be the next logical subject for me.
