Since my last letter to update my life was written about seven years ago, I thought it was time to update my story a little. The last seven years of my life has been very eventful. First off, I separated from the Air Force in November of 2002. My last duty station was Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. So I had to leave Europe behind and became a civilian again. Transition wasn’t too difficult, although getting use to the American way of life again was trying.
Secondly, I enrolled in college again. With a little help from the GI Bill, state grants, and a credit card, I went two more years and finally graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Forensic Chemistry from Edinboro University.
I took about 6 months finding a job. Needless to say, chemist positions around the Erie area are few and far between, so I picked-up and moved my wife to Chicago in hopes of finding better prospects. Then a break, just as soon as I settled into a cramped house with my mother-in-law, I received a call to come back to PA for an interview with the Department of Environmental Protection for a civil service chemist position. Next thing I knew, I got the job. One day after hearing that, I learned that I was going to be a daddy.
Yes, a legacy is upon us by the name of Jared Jason Bailey. He was born March 25, 2006 at 12:20 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 8.5 oz. He is a monster now at 21 months, weighing over 30 lbs and 36 inches long, and he has a shoe size of 8 double E wide (Big guy like dad). He is a humongous joy, even though he keeps us up all the time. He definitely keeps us busy. He loves Bob the Builder, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and the Count and goes completely bananas for Baby Einstein videos. Plays with any kind of cars, Weeble-Woobles and Little People, blocks of all sorts and heaven forbid you get him anywhere near one of those Thomas the train railroads. Get this; he is a duck lover. If he sees a duck or you say duck he goes, “quack-quack”, so Skin the duck would be proud.
My wife, Tammy, is doing well. She works for Linens-and-Things at night to supplement the income. It works out great for parental supervision; at least one of us is always around, since I work days. This keeps him out of day care. Although the extra pay is helpful, it is not enough for us to even consider having another kid. However, someday we would like to have another, or as many as it takes to get one of each.
I have been with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Laboratories for two years now. My primary duty is to test mine drainage water samples for the presence of sulfate contamination primarily for the Bureau of Mine Reclamation. Just trying to keep the lakes and streams of this great state of ours free of acidic run off from the vast number of old mines that dot the landscape. I also test for nitrite and nitrate, total nitrogen, and will be learning a ferrous (iron) test. It’s an easy job to pick-up. For now, it’s paying the bills, but it affords me the time to keep looking for a better, more relevant position in a forensic setting.
Well got to go, happy holidays and see-y’all at the reunion.
Sincerely,
Eric “Bro Cuck” Bailey (Fall 1992)
