This coming October, I’ll be celebrating my 14th year anniversary penning this column for The Post-Journal.

During that time, I’ve been blessed to have the freedom to select my topics, allowing myself and readers to appreciate our community and some members of it, to reminisce, be entertained, and/or maybe be helped through my, and others’ experiences, music lyrics, meaningful quotes, and events from history. It’s allowed me to let my children, students, athletes and those from Generations X, Y, and Z (which include my children) that this was a much different community to live in than it is today. Jamestown and Chautauqua County offered so much as far as growing up with so many fun things to do in this area, and offering many more opportunities for employment that economic changes have taken away.

As I’ve inked this weekly column these near past 14 years, many have asked where I get ideas for what I write each week. I’m sure some may feel I live too much in the past with my stories of growing up, or the television programs we watched, or stories of St. James School, etc. Truth is, I’m not trying to live in the past, but I very much cherish my past.

In the tenure of this column, some may have become tired of my family stories. I tell those stories, first, because I love my family dearly. I’m proud of each and every one of them. Second, I hope others will look at their own family members with the same love and pride, and recall their family memories, share their family histories with family members, and let them know constantly, how much you appreciate the life, and memories, they’ve given you with them.

The quizzes presented through these almost 14 years of the VFTB, are motivated by my love of trivia, all kinds of trivia. I love old time TV, movies, sports, music, history, all topics of the board game Trivial Pursuit. I love Jeopardy. I loved the old GE College Bowl, and the recent remake of it hosted by Peyton Manning. Because of all that, I love challenging the memory banks of readers from time to time.

Some may think the quotes, adages, and song lyric “lectures” have become too much, but in teaching and coaching for so many years, I tried to look for any and everything I could use to help my children, students, players, extended family, colleagues, co-coaches, friends, and anyone who may be a reader of the VFTB. (I hope to give as many tidbits for thought as I can, so maybe at least one of them might be helpful.)

I try to use the help of those quotes, adages, and song lyrics wherever I think they might help someone get through some tough times, challenges, and/or maybe help them find ways to celebrate, feel good about themselves, get through or bounce back from tenuous situations, keep both feet on the ground, or keep their head straight in situations where they may need something to lean on for support.

Some ideas for topics in the Voice from the Bullpen have come from observations in my world and what’s happening in the whole world. Wherever I go, be it a ballgame, concert, Mass on Saturday or Sunday, a night at “Cheers of Jamestown” (aka, The Pub), or down at “The Wadd” (Waddington’s Tavern), or maybe at a restaurant, without being nosy, I try and just observe who, and what, are involved in my surroundings. The same goes for what I see on/in the news. I consider myself a quintessential people/event watcher. I love seeing people in their elements of enjoying themselves, or performing acts of kindness to others, or being a leader in the classroom, or on the playing field, or in their jobs, or pulling together to help someone who may have fallen on hard times, or suffered some bad luck. I love people of all ages interacting with others, achieving successes, some consoling others, or supporting others in whatever situation. Many have been kind to compliment me on some of my articles in this topic category, and I’m very appreciative of their kind remarks, but in reality, it’s those people I observe who actually write those stories. I just put their actions into words to share with others. On the flip side, I sometimes feel the need to express my feelings about the good and bad I see in the world. Politics, I try and write about civilly, with respect, acceptance, and tolerance, but not always agreement with others. I truly do appreciate the leeway given me by the PJ to be able to pick/choose my topics.

All this being said, I’m hoping today’s column sheds some light on some reasons for my writings, or, if you will, some methods to my madness.

I hope I’ve been able to meet most of the goals I set for myself back near 14 years ago when Cris Herbst responded to an email from me asking if The Post-Journal might have room for another columnist to share another perspective in black and white. It’s certainly been a huge rush for me to have been able to share my thoughts, and also some great stories along the way with all who’ve read the Voice from the Bullpen. I hope the gig can continue for many more years to come, and that you’ll all continue to ride along with me on my journey through journalism.