Contrary to some beliefs, I wasn’t dropped off on earth by aliens and I didn’t spring up from an organic-gone-wrong cabbage patch.
I actually have roots somewhere and rose up from a culture that helped shape me from its own image.
I was thinking about all that the other night when I was at the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame banquet. Local athletes were recognized, and they all acknowledged the environment that helped their development.
It got me thinking of the people around me that helped make me who I am. I began thinking that if I were inducted into a similar hall of fame in my hometown, who would I credit - or blame - for who I’ve become?
Now there is no such kind of recognition for esteemed products of Gorham, Maine, as far as I know. And my athletic career certainly wasn’t worthy of any kind of recognition. And that is probably the case for must all of us, but it certainly isn’t a bad exercise to think about and acknowledge just who the movers and shapers of our lives have been.
I obviously would have to start with my parents. I was the fourth child - obviously saving the best for last. My parents had distinct expectations for me but also weren’t strict. They gave me the freedom to be who I am and figure out what I wanted to be. I probably had the independent streak in me anyway, but they allowed me the space to learn my lessons and chart my own course - sometimes by doing things the hard/stupid way.
I had three older siblings and following them had a distinct effect on me - especially since I not only went to the same local school system as them all but also the same college. As a young kid, I’d try to be like my older brother, playing sports like he did. When I went to college, I was interested in working for the college paper, something he did at that school a decade before me.
My teachers had a significant role. Many of the things I do today can still be linked to certain teachers.
My interest in story telling was encouraged and nurtured by my first grade teacher Mrs. Briggs. I started writing stories and books as far back as then. Many of her insights presented in progress reports are still true today - such as that I do very well with things that I’m interested in (like consume all knowledge of such things) and that my desk could be a little neater but that I’m not concerned with such “mundane things”. And there was also the thing about liking to make the girls giggle. Still true.
One of our teacher’s aides, Mrs. Miner, suggested in sixth grade that I learn to type as soon as I could. That was after years of showing no potential in the penmanship department. As it turned out, I was a typing prodigy. I always say that when somebody asks “How fast do you type? that I respond by asking “How fast do I have to type?”
My mom was my first music teacher. She forced me to take piano lessons from her. In an effort to avoid that, I joined the band in junior high and learned to play the saxophone. I later also learned to play the bass guitar and the guitar from Mr. Mathieu, the high school band teacher. I had great experiences in the band and stage band in high school, and it fostered a great love and appreciation for not only listening to music but playing it. I can’t imagine life without it.
There were other teachers that were just great people that I enjoyed knowing and learning from. Mrs. Roy, Mrs. McKeil, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Chase, Mr. Evans are just a few that were integral parts of my upbringing. Whether it be Spanish, history or government, they all taught me their subjects well (even if my Spanish doesn’t do El Roy justice). They also were wonderful role models, mentors and friends that I enjoy keeping in touch with and continue to admire.
There were coaches that I had. Mr. Fish was the best. He gave me confidence as a young basketball player and showed interest in me as a player and as a person.
There were family friends. I didn’t know either of my grandmothers. But I had Mrs. Cushing and Mrs. Shaw. They were wonderful little old ladies in our local church. They showered me with attention and kindness. They were my surrogate grandmothers and were wonderful to me.
There were pastors. My father was a minister, but he wasn't serving a church when I was a kid. I had Pastor Bray, who was a great man of God with great dignity and integrity. He's always been the eptimoe of a minister to me.
I could probably go on and on. There are so many people, either from family, church, school, work or the community, that played some kind of role in my life.
In some aspects, much of my life is built around things of my own doing. I became the person because of decisions and paths that I chose. But positive influences through my life that encouraged, nurtured, guided and supported me not only steered me in the right direction but provided role models, expectations and lessons that helped me make the decisions and want to be who I became.
In this every-man-for-himself world where so many people are so self-absorbed and ego-driven, it is easy to forget where we came from and who helped get us where we are. I did my part to be the person I am, good and bad. But I didn’t do it alone. My life is deeply rooted in great people, great values and great expectations. I’m a product of a wonderful environment and a memorable community of people that served me well.
Now, if Gorham would just create a Hall of Fame and give me a call, I’ve got my speech already written - and typed.
