John Totels:
CLASS OF 1965
Ossining High SchoolClass of 1965
Ossining, NY
John's Story
Hi.
I am not sure if anyone will read this, but it is a chance for me to write about one of my favorite people - me. Hope it's not too boring, because if it is, that means my life is boring and that would be disappointing. I'll start with a brief chronology then see where my indulgence takes me.
Graduated HS then attended College - did poorly. Joined the Air Force, got married, had two girls, then left the Air Force. Back to school to get a bachelors degree in Computer Science (didn't do so poorly this time). Worked as a programmer, project manager, and now consultant with a small company that has a great business model - it is ethical, respects and rewards its people, and mindful of the community. Refreshing.
Still married to my first wife, Linda (39 years). Somehow I managed to keep from driving her to a second husband. Secret of our success in life? We share our lives with one-another in all things great and small. Constant communication helps - a lot.
Currently we have four grandchildren, two and two, and visit them whenever we can: one in North Carolina and the other in New Orleans. Obviously they are off-the-charts intelligent and good looking, which means they take after my wife.
Our favorite vacation: relaxing at the Outer Banks for a few weeks each year.
On my Q&A I listed Starbucks over Folgers, but the choice was limited. I actually prefer Caribou over Starbucks and home roasting over Caribou. I buy fair trade coffee, no matter what variety, whenever I can.
Our greatest guilty pleasure is the television program "Ninja Warrior". We do not watch a lot of TV, but we like the philosophy behind this one. It is a unique and demanding obstacle course, part of w...Expand for more
hich is run against time, all of which require strength, stamina, endurance, and strategy. But rather than competing with one another, the 100 athletes compete against the course. If they all get through it, they all win. In 17 tournaments spanning about 9 years, only two men have won. In the women's competition, only one woman has won, but she did it three times in a row: a remarkable feat.
To Lin and I, this is an example of what healthy competition is all about. It is great to see how the competitors not only cheer each other on, but work together to preparation one another for upcoming events. Ever since I participated in a demonstration of cooperation vs competition a long time ago, I realized that a charging, unbridled run at the prize, in sport or in life, is more damaging to ourselves and to our planet than is a cooperative approach.
Recent favorite books: "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "Collapse" by Jared Diamond, and "Banker to the Poor", by Mohammad Yunus. New respect for an old classic, "The Count of Monte Cristo", by Alexandre Dumas - what a lot of intrigue that one has.
Favorite movies: Action and adventure movies, such as, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy and british comedies, like "Death at a Funeral".
We believe that "Goldens" Rule, and that if we treated one another the way our dogs treat us, hunger, poverty, and war would all evaporate in a cloud of fur and a bath of warm, wet kisses. Idealistic and messy, but more tolerable than the status quo, I think.
That's it before this becomes a tome (A bit late for that, John). It has been a few years, and I hope your lives are as fulfilled as is mine. I wish you all happiness. Thanks for listening.
-john-
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