Growing Up Westsider 1950s, 1960s and Beyond

If you want to move forward, one needs to look back, otherwise you'll forget where you came from and where you need to go. From time to time we need to conduct a Life Review. This book is the Author's Life Review and it points out the need for detail that you need to include in your own Life Review – to be effective, it needs to have detail. The Author's process will lead you to what the universe knew the day you entered this world – thorough Astrology you will learn that there is a Plan built into your Natal Chart that could guide you along your path instead of finding your Path through circumnavigation (the method we have all used to "beat the bushes" and walk a circular path about the problem of what is the meaning of life and specifically, your life. The Life Review will show that what appeared to be random was in reality the Path that, if projected, points to you future. Look at everything as a lesson to be learned and not as a problem to be solved. A Life Review will show that the "puzzle of life" does come together for a purpose and often points to the future. STOP GUESSING AND START KNOWING! Take control of your life or others will control you.

As an Architect, we often think of 'Way Finding", starting when one approaches the site we create signs to point to the emergency access, the normal access, and delivery dock. Once inside the facility, we provide directories and directional signs. In life our parents, then friends, then teachers and employers try to "point" us in the direction they what us to take. However, we came into this life with a Plan, Mission, and a List of Lessons to be learned, but it takes us nearly a lifetime to rediscover the reasons we came here and what we intended to do while we are here. If you want to move forward, one needs to look back, otherwise you'll forget where you came from and where you need to go. From time to time we need to conduct a Life Review. Essential for me is a Sense of Place. A beginning point to always call home. I am and always will carry with me being a 'Westsider" (now termed the Old Colorado City Historic District). It is and was a community located within Fountain Creek Canyon (Hurricane Canyon) between the Mesa and the Mountains, was fully built-out by 1920, and at one time was self-contained. Here a sense of family and community were paramount, where neighbors knew neighbors, merchants knew the kids, a family had a "tab" at the Mom & Pop grocery store, and where honesty, civility and good manners were the norm. As Dorothy said, "There is no place like home" even when one is not at home. This book is the Author's Life Review and it points out the need for detail that you need to include in your own Life Review – to be effective, it needs to have detail. The Author's process will lead you to what the universe knew the day you entered this world – thorough Astrology you will learn that there is a Plan built into your Natal Chart that could guide you along your path instead of finding your Path through circumnavigation (the method we have all used to "beat the bushes" and walk a circular path about the problem of what is the meaning of life and specifically, your life. The Life Review will show that what appeared to be random was in reality the Path that, if projected, points to you future. Look at everything as a lesson to be learned and not as a problem to be solved. A Life Review will show that the "puzzle of life" does come together for a purpose and often points to the future. STOP GUESSING AND START KNOWING! Take control of your life or others will control you.

Life begins with a preconceived Mission and Plan, both unbeknown to us. That Mission is supported by the personality we were given, both internal and external, and an enneagram. Everyone emerges into life with one of the nine dominating enneagram personalities. This inborn orientation largely determines the way we learn to adapt to our childhood environment. As life progresses we change enneagrams eventually leading to an endpoint enneagram. These changes reflect the totality of all the factors (including genetics) that influence our journey through life. I began life as the "Peacemaker' (#9) readily willing to bend to the desires of others, be they parents, family friends, teachers, etc. If my Mother wanted me to exhibit certain traits, I was it. If a teacher wanted a well mannered, studious pupil, I was the one. At this point, I was unassuming, open, accepting, fair, and nature-oriented. Slowly I moved along the enneagram path to that of 'Achiever'/'Investigator' (#3-#5), the one who was detached, ingenious, innovative, knowledge-oriented and wanting mastery of knowing the Truth; I made a strong attempt to find and define Myself. It was here that I sought authenticity. I wandered from Advanced Mathematics/Chemistry/ Physics to Metaphysics, from Theology to Philosophy and Existentialism, and from Astronomy to Astrophysics. At the end of this journey, I obtained a degree in Architectural Design and Engineering with numerous Minors. I was a Military Officer, Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, an Engineering Manager within a major Oil & Gas Company, a Coordinator for a Hospital Design Firm, Director of Architecture for Higher Education, and a Senior Engineering Manager in Military Engineering & Construction. The midlife crisis occurred when I traveled the enneagram path from 'Investigator' to 'Individualist' (#4). I bent to no one. I searched and found my inner-self and made the change to being Who I Really Am – the Authentic Self. I became enlightened and realized I was and have always been a spiritual being.