I'll start in a highly traditional way: I was born on the 15th
of January, 1981 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was adopted
before birth by two of the best parents a kid could ever hope
for. A couple years later I was joined by my brother Justin,
and despite the fraternal spats we had growing up, he has proven
to be one of the most mature, caring, and fun-loving people
I have ever had the pleasure to know.
Since then, a lot has happened: I've sung the National Anthem at a Pirate's game, had numerous adventures in the woods near my house in Pittsburgh, seen a move to Harrisburg, driven my first car (and saw it wrecked by my brother), had girlfriends, performed in plays and choirs, learned to ski (well), learned to golf (barely), graduated high school, attended Penn State, gone on cruises, designed websites, had internships, gotten a job in Ohio, moved to another job in Manhattan, made amazing new friends, experienced a life-defining tragedy, seen the terrifying turns reality can make, and experienced the grace and love God provides directly and through friends and family to deal with it all.
Right now I'm at the point that has me balanced between the "start-up" time of schooling and the rest of my life, where I jump from academia into the sea of my professional life. Wife, kids, grandkids, and my Saviour await, and the anticipation to experience those things, the desire to hold on to the past, and the pain, happiness and sadness of the present are making their arguments heard. Here's to knowing life adds sugar to the lemons it has planned, and that the friendships I've gained so far hold eternal. My love to all of you, and I'll see you around.
Since then, a lot has happened: I've sung the National Anthem at a Pirate's game, had numerous adventures in the woods near my house in Pittsburgh, seen a move to Harrisburg, driven my first car (and saw it wrecked by my brother), had girlfriends, performed in plays and choirs, learned to ski (well), learned to golf (barely), graduated high school, attended Penn State, gone on cruises, designed websites, had internships, gotten a job in Ohio, moved to another job in Manhattan, made amazing new friends, experienced a life-defining tragedy, seen the terrifying turns reality can make, and experienced the grace and love God provides directly and through friends and family to deal with it all.
Right now I'm at the point that has me balanced between the "start-up" time of schooling and the rest of my life, where I jump from academia into the sea of my professional life. Wife, kids, grandkids, and my Saviour await, and the anticipation to experience those things, the desire to hold on to the past, and the pain, happiness and sadness of the present are making their arguments heard. Here's to knowing life adds sugar to the lemons it has planned, and that the friendships I've gained so far hold eternal. My love to all of you, and I'll see you around.
