Erik Guidotti:
CLASS OF 1983
South Park High SchoolClass of 1983
Library, PA
Erik's Story
Life
After graduation, I tried college for a while. Not for me, not at that time anyhow. I eventually ended up in the Army, getting out in 91. Eight years later I came back in, wondering why I ever left.
I got married in 1988. I have two children, Tracy who is 15 (her adolescence may kill me) and Wayne 12. He's a living example of the parental curse of 'I hope when you have kids, they act exactly like you act. Naw, he's not really that bad.
Ya know, its amazing how things happen, right in the midst of the ending of one relationship, another one arises to take its place. One day in August of 04 I had gotten an email from Classmates saying that there were a few new profiles from the class of '83. When I checked, it said that one was from Terri Zychowski. I'm thinking; 'wait a minute, I thought she already had one'. So I look at it and it says shes divorced. I felt bad, I mean I could sympathize. At that point it was becoming clear to me that my marriage was nearing its end...actually, at times I think we dragged it out about 6 years longer than we should have So I emailed her to say 'how you doin'?' and sorry to hear about the divorce, ya know, the usual smalltalk stuff. She emails me back, and we kinda went from there.
About a month later, I notice that we had been sorta getting closer (or as close a you can get online) Well, one thing led to another, and we're together again. I gotta tell ya, the first time I saw her at the airport on the 18th of December (she picked me up there)it was almost like the past 20+ years never happened. And all I did was check my email one day in August...
Well, I graduated from CI course on the 24th of March 2005. Because of a paper work snafu, I ended up not leaving Arizona until the 8th of April. That kinda put the brakes on the initial plans that Terri and I had, but we still spent a week together after I graduated. I flew back to Ga to get my car, than drove up to Pittsburgh.
Terri and I are married. We got married on the 29th of June in Gatlinburg TN. We rented a little chalet in the Smokies for our honeymoon. That Saturday,...Expand for more
we went to Pittsburgh to celebrate with family. To quote my dad, "I don't think that smile could be taken off of your face with a chisel".
Yep, thats me. That was taken at the FTX for the course that I took to change jobs within the Army.
Military
This little adventure began in 1987 with me joining the Army Reserve. 6 months after I graduated basic training, I decided to go onto active duty. I reported to Ft. Campbell and the 326th Engineer BN of the 101st ABN DIV in March of 88. In Sept of 90 we got orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. Well the Shield became the Storm, we won, but werent allowed to finish the job. I left the Army in Dec of 91, and figured I had closed that chapter of my life... Wrong! After 8 years of trying to find something I liked, it hit me...I should be in uniform. I returned to the Army in Dec of 99. I became a member of the 10th EN BN of the 3rd ID. 2 years later I got orders to report to Korea. I spent a year at the 44th EN BN at Camp Howze in Korea. I returned to Stewart fully expecting to deploy in support of what would become Operation Iraqi Freedom. Didn't get deployed, the war ended before they could coordinate a flight for me and those of us who were prepared to deploy...guess it wasnt my turn this time around. But I have another 10 years till I retire so, I guess I'll be involved in another little tussle at some point. Or at least end up in Korea again....hey dog doesnt taste that bad...kinda like a barking chicken.
I was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2003. I am no longer a combat engineer but have reclassed (changed jobs) and am involved with the investigation of National Security crimes. I am presently stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY. Coming back into the Army, and than choosing to reclass to what I do now, are two of the three best decisions I ever made in my life. The other one involves a girl named Terri, who is about to go from one hard to pronounce last name to another. (thats another way of saying going from Zychowski to Guidotti...for those of you viewing this through a tequilla fog).
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