Probably the biggest regret I have occurred in 1975; it happened soon after I graduated from high school.
Back then, the job market wasn't so hot. They were sparsely available but nothing you'd plan on making a career of. I hadn't done much planning for my future in the high school spring of that year, choosing instead to concentrate on baseball, enjoying the four study halls I had and goofing off with my buddies.
In other words, I coasted for most of my senior year. I only needed four credits to graduate and surely didn't apply myself, as I knew college wasn't for me. I'd had this burgeoning dream of making a career in law enforcement, but knew at the time I was still too young.
Graduation day came and went, and I remember thinking, "well, what now?"
I knew I needed to find a job, especially if I wanted to continue living at home; Dad had been abundantly clear on that point. Looking back all these decades later, I realize that he'd been teaching me a life lesson: nothing is free. If you want something, work for it. Stand on your own two feet.
I put in job applications all over the place....and I came up with a Plan B: if I didn't have a job by the end of June, I was enlisting in the United States Navy.
My junior year of Journalism (1974), I'd been assigned to attend a press conference in Columbus, as part of a state-wide high school journalism function, in which Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Chief of Naval Operations, was to speak. CNO, if you're not aware, is the top spot, all-commanding king of the hill for all things Navy. He was The Man. The only two people who out-ranked Zumwalt militarily were the Secretary of Defense and the President.
After his speech, which primarily outlined the Navy's capabilities at the time and morphed into career opportunities for those fresh out of school, Adm. Zumwalt took questions from some of us wanna-be journalists. Most were along the lines of 'what was the biggest ship you commanded in your career?'
I raised my hand. God of Navy pointed at me.
Though I can't recall the exact wording, my question concerned the Navy's ability to counter threats posed by Soviet naval forces globally. Admiral Zumwalt actually smiled, kept pointing, and announced to the crowd of students, "now that's a great question!"
His answer, which took a few minutes, is now a blur in my mind but CNO had planted a seed within me. I wanted to be a sailor.and see the world from the deck of a warship.
Alas, life gives us some twists and turns far beyond our ability to see them coming. Eight days before my self-imposed deadline I got a job installing seamless gutters for my brother-in-law's Dad at Wolf Plumbing and Heating. Less than a year after, I married my high school sweetheart, effectively killing my Navy dream.
Time went by, life evolved and I eventually became a police officer in 1979, spending portions of five decades wearing a badge until retiring in 2013.
To this day I regret not enlisting in the Navy and serving my country. However, if I'd have done that back in the summer of 1975, my life now would doubtless be drastically different. I wouldn't have my sons, I wouldn't have the grandchildren I now cherish, I wouldn't be living at Black Gold Homestead, I may have never gone into law enforcement and I wouldn't have my redheaded angel of a wife.
Though never serving Day One, I still love the United States Navy and carry a pang of regret for not having enlisted; however, I have to say, I've still been very, very blessed with this life that I have.
For that, I thank God above.
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