The Newsleaders
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay Invoice
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

PineCone Pet Hospital MillerCarlin Serving all of central Minnesota locations!

Albany: 320-845-2035
Holdingford: 320-746-9994
St. Cloud: 320-252-7004
Upsala: 320-573-6234
Toll-free: 1-800-644-4058
Collegeville Stearns Bank
Home Opinion Column

These are the best years of my life

October 17, 2013
in Column, Opinion, Print Editions, Print Sartell - St. Stephen, Print St. Joseph
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Someone recently asked me, “If you could go back and re-live any period of your life, what would it be?” That started me thinking. I believe I have had a good life. I enjoyed my childhood. My brothers and I played all the normal childhood games. We also went hunting and fishing at what would now be considered a very young age. My school days were mostly normal. I didn’t take school too seriously but I was able to get through with decent grades because I paid attention in class. I played sports, which helped.

I remember my teen years. I recall my clumsy and somewhat comical attempts at dating. At the time I thought I was the only one who was that clumsy. It turns out the young ladies were equally uncomfortable with the whole dating thing. But, as always seems to be the case, I managed, as did my friends.

Then there were my years in the military. Again there were wins and there were losses. As do most people, I have some regrets. While I was serving in the Army I was appointed to go to West Point Military Academy. Thinking back, that was quite an honor but I turned it down. Maybe that was a good choice and maybe it was a bad one. Who knows? I could have ended up in Vietnam with a target on my back. Also, had I gone to West Point I probably wouldn’t have met the love of my life. That happened soon after I got out of the Army. We have been married more than 50 years now.

After meeting and marrying my wife, we set about making a life together, which included two children and working for a living. Those were all good years.

Now my children are grown and have families of their own and our nest is empty. That is a lot better than it sounds.

And so I am left to examine what are the best years of my life. I had a great childhood. I enjoyed my teen years even though they were clumsy. I even liked my time in the military. I didn’t think so at the time, but the years have allowed me to re-examine that time. I got more than I gave.

My years with my wife have been a picture of ideal. Norman Rockwell, the artist who painted scenes of idyllic Americana, would have been proud. My working life, while in the past, was a time of learning and doing. There were good times and bad. There were successes and there were failures. I suppose that’s the way it is with most people.

This then is what I have concluded. Everything I have ever done, every decision I have ever made, every choice I have chosen, has brought me to this point in my life. When I turned to the right instead of the left, I got here. When I went up instead of down, I got here. When I said yes instead of no, that brought me here. And this point in my life is the best time of my life. I am living in the best years of my life. I have definitely had some regrets. I have definitely had some victories. But, whatever the choice I made, I am here and loving my life. Had I chosen differently, my outcome wouldn’t have necessarily been different.

I was discussing this column with my little granddaughter and she offered this brilliant comment. “Grandpa, how can you know when you have lived your best years. They may not have happened yet.”

Ah, yes, out of the mouths of babes . . .

Previous Post

Oct. 18

Next Post

Website unlocks magic ghosts of the past

Next Post

Website unlocks magic ghosts of the past

Please login to join discussion

CMCU Twitter Follow us on
Twitter
for the latest news!
Facebook Follow us on Facebook
for the latest news!
calendar Click here
to view our
calendar
of events!

Go Fund Me # 1 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Elizabeth Brunsvold
Cultural Connections
Jim Berg & Mary Kruger
Mary & John Davis
Sandy Denne
Bobbi & David Gouker
James & marry Graeve
Juliana Howard
Julia Joplin
Linda Kmitch
M. Molus
Sheila Nahan
Go Fund Me # 2 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!

Peggy & Michael Roske
Judy Scheuerell
Geraldine Schwab
James Stotko
James Towler
Anna Trobec
Kaye Wenker
Ellen Wahlstrom
Leona Wieland
Jeanie Wilkens
GAGEN & VASUGI RAMANATHAN
Go Fund Me # 3 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Nicole Borg
Erica Karger-Gatzow
Dane & Lori Listug-Lunde
Nadine Martin
Doris Minnerath
Merry Mund
Marilyn Peitso
Stephen Schwanke
Dianne Tuff
Dale Zacher
Private Donors

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Funeral for Marilyn ‘Lynn’ P. Borgert, 86 & Eugene ‘Gene’ J. Borgert, 89
  • 6 candidates selected for Sartell-St. Stephen superintendent
  • Kluesner appointed to St. Joseph City Council
  • Wood sentenced for killing two children
  • A list of school superintendent finalists expected March 1

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2021 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2021 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay Invoice

© 2021 Newleaders

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In