Mark A. Hakemack
Here I
sit writing my Bio for the 20 th reunion. It is really sad that all of
you have Alzheimer's, and actually think it is the 40 th. I am
absolutely, positive that only 20 yrs have passed since graduation. I
hate running with old people LOL.
After
graduation, I went to U of H for 7 (seven) years, accumulated many hours of
credit, and never graduated. I think fraternity parties, throughout my
stay there, had a negative impact on my dedication to the institute of higher
learning (picture--Animal House!). I did learn to play a mean hand of
bridge, though. I was a draftsman for 7 years (the old kind, board and
pencils), served in The Marine Corps. Reserves, married, --7 years later
divorced (ironic how so many of us didn't get it right the first time!), and
went into the warehouse and trucking industry in 1970. I owned, operated,
and ran several large public warehouses for the next 11 years. I supplied
production lines at Maxwell House Div. General Foods, Budweiser Brewery, Folgers,
Continental Can Co., Anchor Glass Corp. and many others. The bad side of
this job was it was 24 hrs a day FOREVER. SOMETIMES we would close
Christmas Day. Having to negotiate with the Teamsters made it even more
fun.
So I
quit in 1981, bought a little 22' sailboat, and took a hiatus from the
"grind it out" work ethic. I fished, sailed, grew long hair and
a beard (helps keep your neck and face from sun burning), and thoroughly
enjoyed the next year and half. But the trouble with "retiring"
at 37 is, no one else your age is! LOL After finally getting as
"loose as Jimmy Buffet", I went back to work, and sold myself as a
warehouse and trucking consultant, and by golly, several large companies bought
it over the next 5 or 6 years. Blow me over with a feather! I had
to lose the hair and beard though.
While
doing the consultant gig, I started reading books on "Get Rich In Real
Estate!" I probably have 40 or so books now. Bought my first
investment property and several others from Glynda Davidson Lake (class of
'61). Oh, yeah, I got married again in 1982 and divorced again in 1994
(ironic, isn't it, how so many of us didn't get it right the SECOND
time!). Since then ('82) I have bought 26 houses, kept some as rentals, and
"flipped" others. After 25 years in management, I found out I
really enjoyed "working with my hands" and putting together the
deals. The good part of this business is, you could do 3 or 4 houses in 6
months, and fish and hunt the other 6! My dad was retired, and we spent many
happy days at out beach house in Port O Conner, Tx. with many of our fishing
buddies.
I now
live in Channelview, Tx. with my "significant other" (Female! When we
were growing up I would not have had to make that distinction!) of 7 years (I
really don't think it is politically correct to have a "girlfriend"
at age 50….., er, uh…57…uhhh….. and a half). I never had kids by
choice. My two wives were both "career women" and procreation was
always shoved to the back shelf. I am somewhat envious of all you
with the kid pics, and grandkid pics, but then I had a lot of freedom that
having them would have curtailed. I am still in close contact with Glen Gary
(62) and Monty Weatherholt (64), and see Glynda and Jimmy Lake (61) once or
twice a year. Funny how you take those friendships for granted when you
are younger, and really cherish them, as you get older.
I am now
considering what "job" I want. My fantasy job is running a
rooming house for college girls. My money making job is a star basketball
player or defense contractor. My fun job is a private fishing establishment for
kids only. My reality job is EEErrrrrkk!! I am like Maynard G. Krebs---I
am now allergic to real work!!
Important Things I Have Learned In Life:
1. Don't get behind a "blue hair" in
the grocery store check out lane-they pay for everything with coupons and
pennies out of one of those little change purses I thought they quit making in
the 40's!
2. You can't pee out of a canoe without tipping
over.
3. Time spent fishing or hunting doesn't count
against your life span.
4. Women aren't just "soft boys",
they THINK different!
5. Most womens' happiness in life is in direct
proportion to the distance they live from a major Mall!
6. "Screwing with computers" wastes
more time than they save, for the average person, although your knowledge and
communication base is boundless!
7. Most of the real characters I have met in
life, usually drank a little too much, often smoked, dipped, or chewed, and/or
had other habits that might not be totally desirable at a church social.
8. If I had really thought I was gonna live
this long, I would have taken better care of myself!
9. Everyone my age it too old for me!
10. I
had 15 or 20 more important things, but thankfully for everyone reading this, I
have hit one of those "blank spots" in my mind!
I look
forward to seeing all of you at the "20" year reunion and hope all
are safe, healthy and happy until then, and long after!!
Later,
Mark
Red3Fish@aol.com