The Life I had here
Reflections from RUA Alum, Al Metzger
When I ask myself, what about this life we have is worth saving? The answer comes easy, everything!
Just contemplating my life forces me to ask, who would believe it?
Born in East New York, Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1948, life came to me with optimism I found it hard to explain. When I was eleven, my old man’s city job got us into the projects in Queens, The Woodside Houses. To a lot of people, it is hard to see that as an upgrade. But it was, our railroad flat in East New York rarely had hot water and bugs and rats ran rampant. Not so in the projects. I liked it. We had access to a better way because New York City had a good attitude about housing for working people.
When I turned twelve, the older guys decided it was time I got high. I have been that way, pretty much, everyday since. I loved it among the street kids of the projects and stayed busy working to build an ever growing record collection. Although I could never play music (Mr Tate, my music teacher told me I was a great listener but that was it!) me and my bag of weed loved to be around the music.
Al Metzger at a RUA benefit, 1970’s
Then my friend got hurt and I went out for revenge, thankfully bad shooting held me to Felonious Assault, a short sentence, and even when I got in trouble again, a chance to get out of town. Thankfully, I was a serious student in the NYC Public School System. Even jail did not stop my studies and I became the first one in the family to graduate from High School. W C Bryant H S in Queens. I have had College Degreed people working for me most of my career and usually enjoyed a better command of the
language and superior skills in math and simple design. We need strong schools for every student in America.
That led to my enlistment in The United States Marine Corps. The place where you are sure to find out how tough you are. Vietnam followed training and I came out OK. But not happy.
When I came home in 1969, the world had changed. Everybody was pissed so I joined in. A member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and a Cadre of Rising Up Angry in Chicago. We did a lot of fine things, we stopped a war, we fed children, and we fought for justice. I am glad we had the freedom to have our say and make our difference.
All through the politics, I had my job at Schwinn Bicycle, I even got promoted. Then Sears got Fugi Bikes, 10,000 workers became 6,000 in the first year and it just got worse. I got laid off.
That was hard with a wife and child to care for, no education beyond high school, and a bad attitude. I am grateful that Chicago and Illinois had good Unemployment Insurance so I could get my bearings and find a new way. A guy named Gary R. Clark, Navy UDT from Korea, hired me as a personnel consultant. He said I had to cut my hair, quit saying fuck every other word, and learn how to dress for business.
I learned about business some and needed to do better. We moved up to Wisconsin where I sold Wood Burning Stoves and then, Cheese and Candy. Then I got lucky.
I first found a job in a concept called Supported Work, we built businesses to employ probation and parole releasees, CETA program failures, and people on Aid to Families with Dependent
Children. We made storm windows for weatherization programs and anti fatigue mats for factories.
Then came fifteen years of bliss working with Adults with Disabilities, I ran the business end of companies designed to employ disabled adults. I was working with the Blind in Tampa when we won a big contract to sew for the Defence Department. National Industries for the Blind sent me technical help in the form of the Majestic Lisa, Lisa became my wife and we spent forty years together. Our programs were partially funded so we could effect training and get our clients ready to become employees. From then on we did work that payed wages and changed the lives of numerous disabled Americans. The best jobs I ever had.
As I turned forty, Lisa told me it was time to get a job that paid, her family bought homes. Even though I came from generations of renters in NYC, I got the idea. I found a job selling Telecommunications Equipment and software. I really was able to use past experience to do well. When I got hired, I had to talk my was past the requirement of a College degree. It was only possible because the SEC had just regulated that ATT was a monopoly and illegal. Everybody needed a lot of sales guys and fast. I got in.
We bought a beautiful little house on the water on Davis Islands in Tampa, it was fantastic and home to some of the best parties of my life. As I learned everything but frugality, we lost the house in the 2008 crises. We settled into an apartment on Davis Islands and stayed there. Lisa passed in August. 2024, one month later, the apartment and car got flooded by Hurricane Helene.
With help from my daughter Hopey and her husband, the fabulous Fred, I am now settled into Assisted Living here in Largo. I can make the rent and I am doing just fine.
My answer is the same, everything about the system and the Government that allowed me this wonderful life of choices, decisions good and bad, and the opportunity I have had to serve, to excel, and to express myself is worth saving. Not only saving, celebrating, and worshiping.
All of our American stories deserve telling. All of our American generations deserve the opportunity that only democracy can provide. The opportunity to speak truth to power, the opportunity to vote down fascist clowns, and the opportunity to celebrate America.
God Bless America!
Fight Fascism!