It was January 4, 1981. I was driving our Dodge Colt wagon from Rockford, IL to Newbury, OH for a new job at Kinetico. Joan and the kids would stay in Rockford until we sold the house. The snow storm on I-90 was horrendous. So bad that traffic was at a standstill for almost an hour. An eight hour trip took over 10 hours. In the back of the wagon I had a mattress. Sleeping bag. Pillow and even a little TV.
I got to Newbury about 7 p.m. that night. I had rented a place, sight unseen, about 10 miles from the office. In 1981 there wasn't an internet. I found a place to live in through a local paper. No pictures. No google reviews. It smelled like oil because it had oil heat. I was excited and scared at the same time.
I didn't know anyone in the state of Ohio - much less at Kinetico.
I'd always been a dreamer, not afraid to go after what I wanted . . . or what I thought I wanted. This was just the next adventure. My best friend, Jerry, was a Kinetico franchisee. I knew it was a good company. I met my new boss twice and didn't really understand what my new job would be. All I really knew is that I bought a new pair of wingtips. Adult shoes. Oh, and the boots I was wearing for the snow. The parka, too, that zipped up so you could barely see out of it. Little did I know how important that would be.
While I had a sleeping bag and pillow to sleep in, I didn’t know I'd need a stocking cap to sleep in, too, within the week. The oil furnace would go out and the dripping faucet would be ice in the sink overnight.
Monday morning, January 5th. I wanted to be to work early so I traipsed out in the snow to start the car. click . . . click . . . click. Crickets. It was 35 below and the car wouldn't start. Even if cell phones had been invented, I didn't know anyone to call. Only one thing to do. Start hitchhiking. I caught a ride after a few blocks. This driver thought I was nuts until I explained my dilemma. He took me about halfway there to the next major intersection.
The next ride took me right to the office. Yes, I was early with my new wingtips in hand. As I mentioned, the oil furnace quit a day or two later and I moved. This time to the floor of the office. At least I could call home from there. It was warm. No shower in the building, I washed my hair and body with a washcloth and Lava soap. If you've ever used Lava you know how fun that it. Not many suds but a lot of pumice!
June that year we sold the house and the family moved to Ohio. There were a couple moves for me in those six months from the office before the family came to Newbury. By that time I was living with a coworker named Chris - a guy who would be instrumental my entire life.
What an exciting start to a new career! Who would have guessed that almost 40 years later I'd still be in franchising - this time about to retire.
Last weekend we were back in Newbury. My son - Andy, who is now 43, lives about a mile from the office with his wife, Sarah. They are close friends with the that same Chris and his wife, Gay. Chris and Gay watched the grandsons after my son had a double bypass surgery and Sarah was working. Small world. I was with Chris vacationing in Florida when he met Gay. Even smaller world when one discovers Sarah's parents live on the same street as Chris and Gay - only 5 or 6 houses away.
My daughter just celebrated her wedding at Joan's house, who still lives close to Newbury. Both of my daughter's parents, step-parents, nephews and nieces. Cousins. All one family - believe it or not. Just the way it needs to be. Her wedding was scheduled to be held in Banff, Canada. Covid - 19 interfered and moved it to Ohio. The only casualty was when my son, Marcus, slipped on some water and did the splits that no 44-year old body should do. Results? Torn hamstring. Marcus is waiting for a date for surgery now.
On Friday, July 31st, I'll retire . . .or as my wife, Mary Kay, refers to it: graduation! At 66 we'll graduate to our next great adventure.
It has been an amazing career. Living in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas and now Michigan. Eventually meeting Mary Kay 17 years ago but not really "noticing her" for a few years. When we finally connected, I knew I met the mate of my life. My dreams and prayers were answered. Every move in those 40 years brought excitement, new challenges, new friends and great memories.
Jerry, my best friend who was the Kinetico franchisee who introduced me to Kinetico, died a couple years ago. This weekend Mary Kay and I will see his kids in Rockford. We'll even stay at his widow's house in Rockford - same house he lived in when I moved to Ohio. His kids are now the Kinetico franchisees.
I don't know where graduation will take us. MK and I will go hand-in-hand together while holding tightly on the hand of God all the way.
Life? Amazing! If I had to do it all over again would I change anything to be where I am today? Nah. But, I might have bought different shoes. Those wingtips just aren't good in snow and ice. I never bought another pair again.
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