Phase Two: Sunshine, Church Friends, and Swans

I wanted Chris to attend the same schools in Moline that I had attended, so it was imperative that we locate a home in the Coolidge Junior High School district. Little did we know that my determination to have Chris go to Coolidge would turn out to be a decision that shaped Chris’ friendships for the rest of his life. As it turned out, our little house at 2525 11th Avenue would be situated within two or three houses in three different directions of three young men that Chris would soon befriend and keep in contact with into adulthood. He grew up playing soccer, basketball, and wiffleball in whatever backyard was available. After learning soccer on the playgrounds of Germany, Chris promptly joined the Moline Soccer Club and played, ate, and breathed soccer every waking moment until he was eighteen. The highlight of his soccer career was when he kicked the fourth longest field goal in Quad-City football history (twenty-three yards) while playing for the Coolidge Chiefs undefeated football team in 7th grade. Remember, this was in the age when soccer-style kicking in American football was still a novelty, and to watch my thirteen year-old son blasting soccer-style kick-offs into the end zone was thrilling. Charlie and I were so proud of him that day. He also had the historical opportunity to not only play on, but also be the captain of the first soccer team ever established at Moline Senior High School during his senior year, 1985. As Chris headed off to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, his interest in soccer started to wane and his fascination for rock stars and loud, hard music flourished. “If the burn-outs in high school can play the guitar, so can I,” he said. He spent months growing his hair to a respectable, heavy metal length, practiced his guitar, and joined a college band. After playing his first show ever in front of three hundred people, he understood what the allure of super-stardom was all about. He was hooked. Between jam sessions, Chris received a Bachelor’s degree in English along with minors in music and sociology. And he did it all in four short years, graduating in 1989. Chris is not one to sit idly, but must have three or four projects brewing at all times. Besides holding down a full-time job, he loves to write music. He released his first full-length CD, Where Have I Been All My Life. In July of 1997, he started SMEC (Slow Moving Earth Creature), his own record company. He put together an Easter Seals Benefit CD featuring Quad-city musicians and bands, and he also helps struggling young bands. He works as a free-lance writer doing music reviews and feature articles for two Chicago music newspapers. Chris compiled the Guild Family Recipes Remembered cookbook, which captures all of Mom’s delicious recipes as remembered by her adoring family. It was presented at the Guild Family Reunion held July 10, 1999, at Bob’s house on the Rock River in Janesville, Wisconsin.

NOW

I retired from the Rock Island Arsenal in October, 1993, and we moved to Florida in July of 1995 to enjoy what we call “Phase Two” of our lives. We now live in a cozy home in a nice small town called North Port located on the western coast. We have made many new friends and enjoy the slower pace of retirement and the Florida sunshine. Much of our life here centers around church and our church friends. I now have more time to enjoy my hobbies. I still love to read and have learned to play the keyboard. I enjoy making Christmas ornaments like Mom made, and I also make Christmas ornaments from seashells. I have a large swan collection that’s still growing. Charlie gave me the first three on our first three anniversaries. After that, the family and friends started giving swans to me, and today I have over one hundred, one more beautiful than the next.