Michael Jackson:
CLASS OF 1977
Bentley High SchoolClass of 1977
Livonia, MI
Frost Middle SchoolClass of 1974
Livonia, MI
Kennedy Elementary SchoolClass of 1971
Livonia, MI
Michael's Story
Life
Spent 20 years in the Navy...a definite adventure. I was an Aerographer's Mate (weather and oceanographic forecaster), which is exactly the job I wanted (next to being a major league ballplayer or a rock star, neither of which happened). Traveled the world...played in rock n roll bands and sat in with USO rock bands in my free time...met people from all walks of life. Eventually landed in Newport Rhode Island. I was attending an outdoor festival in downtown Newport, and it was there I met my lovely wife Debbie Vars. We got married in 1994. After retiring from the Navy in August 1998...I held down some goofy computer jobs before getting my dream job with the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass. I worked there directly or indirectly for 10 years. Right now I have a retirement gig at Home Depot...one of the few retail businesses that is still thriving. Play my drums with other musician friends on Wednesday nights. We gig usually three or four times a year...though all our gigs were canceled this year. Grrr. Anyhow, Debbie, our old english sheepdog Angus and myself are living quite happily on the Narragansett Bay (Portsmouth RI) waterfront. Debbie and I don't have any kids (got married a little late for that), but an awful lot of Nephews and Nieces keep us busy. In spite of going everywhere and living in Rhode Island...I still consider Michigan my home. Hope life has treated you all well! Drop a line anytime or stop by if you are in the area!
School
School was a goofy time for me. While I miss some of the good times (playing sports with the guys, playing in the school bands, ROTC drill team, going to parties, etc), I doubt I would want to go through that again. I was trying to figure myself out and I lost my Dad in my sophmore year. That was rough. While a lot of guys I know say they would like to go back with what they know now, that would take the joy of discovery and getting to know yourself out of it, wouldn't it? Crazy times? My cohorts in the percussion section driving in a car on the way back from band camp...me looking out the bus window...and seeing a sign that said "a quarter mile to BRIEF", then seeing the whole bunch of them by the side of the road, posing sans outer clothing. We drummers are a different breed to begin with...but those guys were a crazy bunch that made me laugh...just a "brief moment" from the memory bank. My brother Jim's parties (he hung out with a great crowd!) were always fun and ultimately, someone would end up doing something crazy that would be entertaining and funny. Jimmy hasn't changed much...never has given a damn as long as he got a laugh out of it! My happiest moment probably was when I discovered I had more friends then I thought. I threw a Christmas Party...and got a talking to from Mom because I told her I was expecting about 30 people...and ended up with as many as 60 people in the house...Expand for more
at one time!! What a great night!! You have to go back to elementary school to find my favorite, most inspiring teacher, Mr. Bob Little. I'm not going to put some poor lady through the infamy of announcing to the world she was my biggest crush...suffice it to say she probably knows who she is...and wishes she wasn't!!
Military
I went to Haggerty High (Schoolcraft CC) for a couple of semesters and realized I wasn't getting anywhere. My fire wasn't lit. I wasn't being challenged and I knew myself well enough by then to realize I needed a kick in the butt to get going. I didn't want to read about stuff in the paper anymore. I wanted to be where things were happening, meet new people...get a different perspective on things, figure out where I fit in, and get away from every bodies expectations except my own. What might surprise a few folks who knew me back then...joining the Navy wasn't something I initially planned on doing (most of my friends thought I was nuts when I did it)...but it seemed for me to be the best choice at that time in my life. At times I loved it, at times I hated it. At times I was on top of the world, at times I was lower than the bottom of the ocean. I was a good aerographers mate but not the worlds best sailor (weather was my main interest), but for me...it was the right move. The Navy did a lot for me. I was part of something important and I take a great deal of pride in doing my part for the USA. It forced me to mature, gave me the trade I wanted, taught me self reliance (although I never would have made it if it hadn't been for my family and some of the worlds best shipmates and teachers!). Just seeing other countries and how other people lived gave me a broader view of life and the world and taught me more than I could have hoped to learn in a school room! I'm friends with men and women of all backgrounds, races, creeds, colors, etc. Just that alone would do the youth of the world a lot of good!
You young folks out there that might be considering it, I said I wouldn't render any advice...as far as whether or not to join. That is a decision that should be yours and yours alone. I will say this though. There isn't a nobler calling than serving your country. You get out of it what you put into it. A lot depends on your attitude towards it, and your willingness to sacrifice, work hard and go that extra mile when you really don't want to. Even if you go in an officer, don't go in there thinking you can tell your seniors how it is and expecting a cushy life style. Some duty stations are like that, but sooner or later, you will be called on to pay your dues! Pay 'em with purpose and pride...it is worth it!
In general, I don't regret my decision to spend the 20 years. Everything I have now I owe to my Navy career, and my respect for men and women in ALL uniforms knows no bounds. It was one helluva ride! God Bless America!
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