I think a lot about paths. I’ve walked a few different ones. All 4 of my newspaper companies had unique paths. I remember the day I drove into the Times building on 8307 Main Street in Ellicott City. This was my entry into the field.

Here is this Newspaper plant in the middle of the sleepy town. Across from the lumber mill and a few doors down from the firehouse, which was a daily reminder as they sped by with sirens blaring to save life and property.

This pathway (below) is behind the old Times building in Ellicott City. That used to lead to a dirt/gravel lot used by employees.

The small walkway pictured above actually was built on top of that old bridge which if you look closely, you can still see below the freshly constructed walking path. Yeah, we used to drive cars over that rickety structure and park in a lot behind the building.

That is all paved nice big parking lot D now. Both of those bridges are gone now courtesy of the floods last decade and weren’t replaced.

One day my path took me to that Times building where my mom worked to pick her up from the job on the way home from my first semester in Community College. There were two guys just a little bit older than me arguing in a hallway leading to the Composing area. We might have called it flatting back then I think. 1975 was a long time ago so bear with me.

Anyway, the argument escalated and someone said, “you’re fired” and then someone said, “I quit,’ And I heard one gentleman mumble now I got to hire someone. BINGO. I spoke up and said I was looking for part-time work. And so, my career (didn’t know it at the time) began. That part-time gig quickly turned into full-time with as much overtime as I could work, which was anywhere between 20-30 additional hours a week.

I was just starting my second semester at the time and funds weren’t plentiful. Plus, I was working in a photo reproduction/engraving area. Which was somewhat related to my Applied Art and Design major. Well, those hours and paychecks quickly became more important than school so my career in Newspapers had begun and college came to a close.

I always park in that lot now behind the building and look at it. And think of those days over 50 years ago. I was standing on that bridge for the last picture they took of me for last employee edition of the company paper when we bought out in 79.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• I like jerk seasoning much better on chicken than shrimp. Secrets in OC has some good jerk chicken.
• Some doctor visits can give you a good perspective on what is important in life and what is the small stuff.
• I just noticed on the bag of animal crackers that the animals are no longer in their cages. Lions and tigers, oh my.
• So much for the rule of law. Being that’s been usurped I’ll be making my own.