Humble Beginnings 2/3

Every Wednesday my father would drive up to Howard St. to check on South Town's (Learner Newspaper) building. And I would accompany him in my late teens. One because it was dangerous for him to go alone and two he would drive me to school afterwards.

It was there I was first introduced to the Nor-Shore and its mysterious landscape. Being I was from the near north side it was interesting that this was so far north but was still part of Chicago. And I guess I felt it was so far away and hence far enough away from my problems that I felt at home there. And funny enough, years later, the old location of Learner was right down the street from my high-rise apartment. I searched for that place for a long time after he died. On bike and on foot. I smiled once I realized it was right below me.

But back to Wednesdays.. After checking on Learner and escorting out anyone who should have not been there we would jump on Lake Shore Drive and he would drop me off downtown at LANOP. It was a Novell Certification school I was interning at after taking some basic computer classes since I had left high school. You see I was extremely interested in this thing called "Networking" and at 17 I was the youngest and only non-industry student attending there. And I felt so lucky and relived that I aced the interview and was granted a free education because there was no way my family could afford the $8,000 it had costed to attend.

I quickly learned sales and how to bring in prospective customers and after a few months I also started teaching the coursework. I vividly recall the dropped jaws when the class would introduce themselves and talk about who they were and what they did in IT. Because I didn't have any experience and just recently earned the right to stay out after curfew.

But it was the beginning, the beginning of a life that I still live today and my path into adulthood. I love the Nor-shore and live in Evanston now alongside the University I always wanted to attend but didn't have the means and certainly was not ready at the time. But more importantly I love my father for believing in me and driving me to school everyday. 

I still remember him saying... Do you want to be a bum Steve?? No Dad I don't! Well then you better get an education or your going to be a bum and I am not going to be around forever to take care of you.

I asked him the weekend he passed away if he was proud of me. He said yes and give me another beer. :)  It was on a 3 day Labor day weekend in Wisconsin Dells that he died along side me and my son. And as sad as it was I can't think of a better way to go. It was a boys only event. And we ate steaks, drank a few beers, and had a fire-pit every night. He left this world in his sleep, happy, and with those who loved him.

I miss him very much and I am the man I am today because of him. And with that always remember where you came from, your struggles, and the fact that everything you have in life is a gift. Because it is easy to take things for granted, we all do. So stay humble and stay hungry.