Mervin Hart:
CLASS OF 1965
Middle Park SchoolClass of 1965
Granby, CO
Grand Lake Elementary SchoolClass of 1961
Grand lake, CO
Mervin's Story
After being retired from the television broadcast news business for what is eight years June, 2008, I remain very much a news junkie, while at the same time, I'm in awe of how quickly the time has passed.
There is just so much happening nowadays in current events that I must say I'm delighted to be in the viewer's seat during these broadcasts. Then, during times of heightened awareness, pandemonium always reigned from within.
Retirement has been a delight! Early on I took off my watch and found that I had all the time in the world - I haven't worn it since. Time in this business is measured in "frames" - 30 frames equal 1 second. I have always enjoyed working with wood; I have found a great deal of comfort and satisfaction in my new element with the business we purchased. I'm so busy at times that the thought of being retired often escapes. Projects up north were always interrupted or suffered considerable delay due to the timeliness of prevailing news.
I've taken time to fulfill at least three of the many dreams of my preteen and teenage years. One was to learn to play the guitar. I have completed several classical guitar courses at the University. I can tell you from personal experience that once one becomes a student of the guitar, they shall remain a student no matter how accomplished they might become.
Another was to obtain an Amateur Radio license. I became the proud holder of the Amateur Extra in July, 2008. I'm generally on twenty meters searching for operators in faraway places to share thoughts. To date, I've checked in with various operators in Africa, South America, and Europe. My call is KJ4DKJ, should you share an interest in this arena, perhaps we'll make contact.
As a preteen I started a collection of U.S. and some foreign military jewelry (medals, uniform devices, ribbons, et al) which has been ongoing and is now near completion except for some rare variations. The most difficult to locate are variations on WWI aviator wings and the very early Congressional Medals of Honor. It's exciting to ponder which of the earlier dreams will be the next pursuit.
The property in Cape Coral we were going to build on is a mere lawn; the house was demolished in '03 - all that remain are trees, a wonderful panorama of the river, the seawall, and the inevitable question,"What's next?"
I purchased a house in a gated community across the river from the lot when I came to Ft. Myer...Expand for more
s in 2001. The idea was to live here until the new home was completed, then rent this one. It turns out that we've made so many wonderful friends at The Landings that leaving is no longer an option. We are caught up in what seems to be terminal renovation.
The prints for the new house have found their place on a shelf in the den. We are still on the Caloosahatchee River about ten to fifteen minutes off the Gulf depending upon boat traffic. From our marina, our lot in the Cape can be seen with binoculars as the river is over a mile wide at this point.
The weather here is wonderful, even though we've been known to have extreme gusts on occasion during late summer through fall. Daily showers keep the horticulture colorful and lush, showcasing a vast variety of flowering trees and bushes during the spring and summer months.
I can't tell you how many turtles I've rescued from the highways to date. I typically take them home to our community for transplant in one of the many ponds or lakes on or near the golf course. Needless-to-say, they seldom dawdle when freed from their brief captivity. Even the very large turtles can scoot along on land when they want to! I've also rescued some that I could hardly lift. I don't doubt that in the very near future the exploding turtle population in my community will come into question as has that of the ducks, which I hasten to add, I've had no role in!
After spending much of my life with the four seasons, I have to admit that I do miss them. Perpetual summer is great; however there is a very special aura with the seasonal transition to fall and spring I often yearn for. Northern winters have always been gorgeous, but, I do prefer to see them on the screen at this time in my life. Maybe I'll visit snow country one day to get in some skiing once again.
The Florida environment has wildlife that I am totally infatuated with. Many familiar species are present that I'd grown up with in the north. I can't describe the thrill of watching porpoise working in liaison as they herd fish to the marina seawall for the kill. I've observed this from our boat on several occasions. Egrets of all sizes and shape dominate the terrain while pelicans and gulls take charge of the seas. We also have the panther among other exotic wildlife indigenous to Florida ... Oh, did I mention the insects??
In short, there've been no uneventful retirement moments to comment on.
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