Big Frick Dot Com

Dateline: June 2nd, 1954. A day that will live in infamy.

At Our Lady of Perpetual Penance Hospital and Bingo Hall in Fort Wayne, Indiana, BigFrick was born between 11:30 AM and 1:25 PM. That is not an estimation, nor is it the length of the labor. I was born measuring 5’ 8” long and weighing in at 197 pounds and it took just under two hours for me to pop out from head to toe. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Needless to say mom was a bit spent after the ordeal. I recall that for several years after my arrival mom had to be moved indoors on breezy days for fear she might actually inflate and fly away. Her condition did however come in handy a little later on when she was able to get a part-time job as a wind sock at the local airport.

Early childhood passed quickly as we moved a lot so my father could stay one step ahead of the law. Dad always a little problem with booze and women and paying taxes and grand larceny, but otherwise he was a pretty lovable guy. He always seemed to find some way to provide for my sister and me. I remember the birthday party he had for me on my sixth birthday. It’s not every kid that gets a four tiered decorated birthday cake saying “Mazal Tov Sheila and Myron”. Ahhh, good times!

Grade school helped to form my young mind and set some of the principles I carry with me to this day. As the only six foot 240 pound first grader I had a tendency to draw a lot of attention. My grades were average although most of my report cards contained teacher’s comments that ranged from “Does not apply himself” to “Satan’s Spawn”. As I went to a parochial elementary school it was usually the latter. I attended Queen of Thoughtless Children Conceived in Sin for the entire 8 years of my grade school education. All of the nuns that taught there viewed my attendance as a form of earthly punishment assuring them a high place in heaven. My mother was such a regular in the principal’s office that they offered her a job, which was convenient as the airport had closed by that time.

I continued in my formal education through high school and beyond and viewed school work with the same attraction as a Vegan at a barbeque. It was suggested on more than one occasion that I might want to tailor my class-load toward something more in tune with my life’s calling to be king of all mankind. But I persisted and eventually entered the workforce.

I have enjoyed a successful career in the steel and steel tube industry for the past 30 plus years. I recall in the 80’s friends telling me of the great growth possibilities in some of the high tech market areas, but I knew that if I just stayed the course all would be fine. I mean what could happen to our steel industry? It’s not like the 30 or so American steel mills are going to go bankrupt and then end up being consolidated into a few mega-companies that will control the entire market, right? As an old business associate used to say “Stick with steel, it’s safe as houses”. And judging from both the recent steel and housing markets his words were more prophetic then he could have known.

But as I stare into the face of that last column in the personal profile questions, the one that says “D. 55 and over” I realize that I have far more to be grateful for than I do to complain about.

So what if I have to walk around with a basket just to pick up the pieces that are falling off. So what if the old expression “Had I known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself” is now too true to be funny. So what if I have to buy special stuff to put the white back on my teeth and other stuff to take it out of my hair. So what if my food choices now involve fiber content and my drug of choice is Advil.

I have far more people in my life that love me than I deserve and I have true friends that actually enjoy my company. The kids are all grown and doing well and the grandkids are all beautiful and eminently spoilable. I know what I believe and why I believe it and I have no problem differing between right and wrong, even if I have a tough time on occasion choosing between the two. Work is what I do, it is no longer who I am. And I don’t feel the least bit emasculated hitting from the white tees.

Life is good.