I am now in the nighttime of my life. It has been a good life – no perfect, of course – but complete with challenges, accomplishments, disappointments, laughter and sadness. No two lives are the same, and my reflections will be from my unique experiences. They are not profound. You won’t find my name in history books or on buildings. I consider myself an average persons. Unless I record my memories, they will soon be forgotten, so I am choosing to record them. Hopefully, you or someone will find them of interest. I will share my experiences, but, also, I will share what small amount of wisdom I have gathered during my lifetime. I have reached my 95th birthday as I share the following pages. I have always had a fascination with live theatre, and, since I discover3d a creative gene in my old age, I have chosen to include a group of short skits I have written. Hopefully, they will produce a smile or two, and, if you have desire to perform some of them, you have my permission to do so. Some have already been performed, and I include a list of those occasions. Before you start reading – you do plan to read, don’t you – let me share with you what I believe to be the three things necessary for a happy life.
Charles "Bud" Vear ("Grandpa Doc" to his Grandchildren) was born in 1926, just before the Great Depression and World War II. He grew up in Wheaton, Illinois, a small Suburb of Chicago, spent two years in the Navy during the War before returning to earn an undergraduate degree from DePauw University. His dream of becoming a doctor took a while to blossom. He first earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from Indiana University and worked for the Chicago Boys Club in the inner city of Chicago, trying to turn troublesome teenage gangs into productive groups. After a 15 month stint in the hospital with tuberculosis, he taught middle school science and math for seven years before finally pursuing his doctor dream after he and his wife had eight children! After finishing medical school, he became a small town Family Physician in Hillsdale, Michigan for the next 24 years, delivering over 2000 babies in a town of 8000. He and his wife, Gloria, ended up with twelve children and 43 grandchildren and are co-authors of a book, "Love, Laughter and Dreams", the sometimes frolicking story of raising twelve children and pursuing their dreams. His wife of 68 years passed away in 2019. Bud has produced two other books. "Ask Grandpa" is a compilation of his reflections on life and "Vear Clan Tales" is a collection of stories from 53 different authors - all members of the Vear family. Bud, 94 years young, still lives in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Id like to go to medical school. This statement sparked the stimulus for a family adventure that was unusual, not because of the statement, but because the man making it was a 34 year old schoolteacher with eight children. This book relates the challenges of this pursuit, but also the joys and struggles of parenting twelve children. It is filled with the challenges and humorous accounts of life in an overflowing household. It is not about perfection. It is the reflections of two nave newlyweds who learn to love, to laugh and to pray through on-the-job training as parents.
Id like to go to medical school. This statement sparked the stimulus for a family adventure that was unusual, not because of the statement, but because the man making it was a 34 year old schoolteacher with eight children. This book relates the challenges of this pursuit, but also the joys and struggles of parenting twelve children. It is filled with the challenges and humorous accounts of life in an overflowing household. It is not about perfection. It is the reflections of two nave newlyweds who learn to love, to laugh and to pray through on-the-job training as parents.
I am now in the nighttime of my life. It has been a good life – no perfect, of course – but complete with challenges, accomplishments, disappointments, laughter and sadness. No two lives are the same, and my reflections will be from my unique experiences. They are not profound. You won’t find my name in history books or on buildings. I consider myself an average persons. Unless I record my memories, they will soon be forgotten, so I am choosing to record them. Hopefully, you or someone will find them of interest. I will share my experiences, but, also, I will share what small amount of wisdom I have gathered during my lifetime. I have reached my 95th birthday as I share the following pages. I have always had a fascination with live theatre, and, since I discover3d a creative gene in my old age, I have chosen to include a group of short skits I have written. Hopefully, they will produce a smile or two, and, if you have desire to perform some of them, you have my permission to do so. Some have already been performed, and I include a list of those occasions. Before you start reading – you do plan to read, don’t you – let me share with you what I believe to be the three things necessary for a happy life.
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