A Lot Going On
by Matthew Savage
I am 85 and now looking back at a great life. Let me tell you about it. I grew up in Guildhall, a small town with a lot of fields and woods. My childhood was very peaceful and quiet. It was a great town to grow up in. I could walk to the store when I was younger and not have to worry about anything.
When I became 18 I left my family and friends to join the Air Force. It's located in Bexar City, Texas. As soon as I got there it was very different. The heat bothered me as soon as I got there I wasn't used to it. I was nervous because this was the first time I had left my family all my life. I had so many different emotions going through my head. It was built in 1941. Never been to a place so hot and humid before. Hard to keep my breath. Way too hot and dry, and very sunny. When I got there, there were flags all over the place. The building was massive all I was thinking was that I have to be here for 6 weeks. Wasn't sure how difficult this was going to be so I started stressing bad. I felt the most empowered when I left home though so I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.
The most important part of my life is my family. I really looked up to my father when I was younger. He would take me hunting and fishing. I would spend so much time with him. Big part of my life.
I ended up meeting someone in Cali. We got married and I ended up having my kids. My sons name was William. He was a medic in the Green Beret. He traveled a lot for the DEA and for medic training. The scariest thing i heard was that a helicopter where he was stationed went down. I thought it was him and it really scared me I don't think I would have been able to live with myself if something would’ve happened to him. My daughters name is Becky. She works for the town office and she worked for Emerson's for about 20 years. She moved to Colorado for a few years but ended up missing home so she came home.
What I want people to take away from this is that you honestly have to live life and what you do is up to you. We all make choices and making the best choices possible will make life so much better. Also that growing up in my time is a lot different than how people grow up now.