Jul 09 2009
About
I grew up in the country, in East Texas, and there was never much to do other than throw rocks at trains and annoy cows with BB guns. Every once in a while, someone would get a new cement driveway poured which availed the opportunity to scribe my name into history… and get beat like a drum for doing so by my father. No one likes a quitter though, so I continued down the road of disobedience in the hopes that I would go so far past where others have dared to go that I may find something of value at the end of that road. Nope. Nothing. Nadda. Zilch. I don’t recommend that path at all.
For my 9th birthday, I received a “go cart”, and immediately knew I was destined to be an Indy race car driver. That dream thrived for three solid years until I moved into town and had to leave the go cart behind. Now living in the big city of Marshall and with no train tracks or cows within miles, there was absolutely nothing to do when not in school annoying teachers with my (lack of) comedic talents. However, we lived near the mall and I spent most of my time hangin’ at Radio Shack continually listing files in the directories on the TRS-80 computers by typing “DIR” and watching the oh-so-beautiful green-on-black screen light up with gobledy-gook. I had no idea what I was doing but it looked impressive.
This will eventually pick up speed. I promise. Hang in there. You’re doing great!
That was when I discovered the brilliant game of chess. My father taught me the game and told me that I would never be able to beat him. “OH, IT’S ON!”, was my thought. So, I completely submerged myself into chess with books and a subscription to Chess Life. I know; sexy right! I couldn’t play, mind you, because the only person to play was my father and he was at work most of the time. Personal computers didn’t really exist yet so I just had to play anyone who was available. When personal computers became available (1982), my father bought me a Tandy Color Computer II so I would come home. I did. And then I spent the rest of my school years buried in my room writing software and playing chess. I was president of the chess team, co-captain of the programming team, and a member of the math team… oh, but I had to quit the band my senior year because it was cutting into the academic decathlon’s study time. I missed my prom because I was at the state programming contest in San Antonio. I had signed the pledge to be celibate so I wasn’t that remorseful to have missed it anyway.
At the end of my senior year, I qualified and went to the National High school Chess Championship held in Albuquerque, NM. I flew out there by myself and did pretty good. There was close to 900 players and I got up to 32nd. Eh… who cares?
No money for college and ready to leave my lucrative career with Pizza Inn as a delivery driver, I decided to listen to my Uncle Sam and join the Army to become a Russian Interpreter. I HATED the Army but it got me out of Marshall and since I was about 85 pounds overweight, I figured it would either kill me or make me thinner and possibly even provide me with some opportunities for meeting women!
Let’s pick up speed… I got out of the Army as soon as humanly possible, went to college, became a strip-club and mobile DJ (holding head in shame), took up photography, partied a lot, studied a little, met a girl, got married, had two beautiful daughters, moved to Dallas, got divorced, met another woman, got married, and am currently expecting another daughter soon! Take some time to absorb all that.
I am currently working as a Senior Code Monkey for Improving Enterprises and I love it. My family is active with our church (Prestonwood Baptist) and I have the best parents and in-laws on the planet! My wife Julie is simply amazing and I do not deserve her but I am blessed to share a life with her. My daughters Bailee and Avrie are superb children and continue to grow and impress me more and more each day. The best thing in life is the feeling of being loved. I pray that you are blessed with that feeling each day of your life as well!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself” — Paraphrased by Wil but originally written by “Big Daddy”!
My (aspiring) photography gig: http://www.ParkImaging.com
