Much to my delight, Dad frequently involved the children in his television projects. I can remember sitting in The Peanut Gallery on Howdy Doody, and it was through The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that I made my international debut in National Geographic magazine (July 1964, page 73, directly across from Bullwinkle the Moose). 

[My brother Larry is standing in front of me, directly to the left of the arrow, in the blue hood, and we are singing the opening number for the parade with the cast of the Broadway musical "It's Love".]

The 1960s were an unstable time for a child and young teenager. As a child of 9, in 1962, we endured the Cuban Missile Crisis and the very real threat of nuclear war. The next year, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and more assassinations and attempts would follow on other politicians and civil rights leaders. In 1964, my mother died. Grandfather Miller, Aunt Peggy, and Grandmother Hultgren soon followed. The Viet Nam war was ongoing. 

My first stethoscope, given to me in the early 60s, had been used as a prop on the Shari Lewis Show by Lamb Chop's doctor, played by Fred Gwynne.

During the 60s, Howdy Doody was cancelled (but was the longest running television show at the time, along with being the first show regularly broadcast in color). Dad moved on to direct the Shari Lewis Show and Ruff and Ready, followed by Jeopardy and G.E. College Bowl.

After Mom's death, two months of our summers were spent at Camp Milbrook in Bridgton, Maine. At camp I learned to swim, sail, canoe, water ski, ride horses, and hike mountains. Each week we would take a two- or three-day camping trip on the water or to the numerous mountains that surrounded us. We attended Camp Milbrook for six years, and I developed a great appreciation for the outdoors (especially for mountains).

Jenny and Larry sat at Shari Lewis' feet to listen to a story on one episode of the Shari Lewis Show.

In 1966 I began attending an all-boys boarding school, Darrow School, in New Lebanon, NY. Darrow is situated in the Berkshire Mountains at the site of the former Shaker headquarters -- a beautiful location rich in history, since we lived and went to school in the old Shaker buildings. Not only did we have to study hard -- we had to work hard, following the old Shaker tradition of "Hands to Work" to keep the school in shape. I learned to tend sheep and make maple syrup. I helped build a rope-tow for our ski slope (and learned to ski). Sports were required daily, and I was on the soccer team, ski team, and lacrosse team.

The New Lebanon First Aid Squad, where I began my EMS training in 1969.

During my junior year at Darrow, in the winter of 1969, my friend Steve and I decided to walk down the mountainside into town two evenings a week to take an American Red Cross Standard First Aid Course held at the local rescue squad. Little did I know, at the time, that this choice was the first step that would ultimately lead me into a long career in emergency medical services.

The Darrow School Library at the former Shaker Headquarters in New Lebanon, NY.

Between Darrow and camp I was only home for brief periods during holidays. While I regret not being able to spend more time with my family (although Larry and Jenny also attended camp with me), I must admit that these experiences are irreplaceable.

Darrow taught me many things, but perhaps my most memorable moments was when I met the famous artist Norman Rockwell (in the bathroom at Darrow, and where I asked him for an autograph so I could give it to my grandmother for Christmas). Later he would tell me stories about the famous people he had painted portraits of. Before Mr. Rockwell began a portrait, he would spend a few days with that person to get to know them, and the stories he told were fascinating (and filled with history). Years later I realized that his advise was true for any piece of art -- you can't take a photograph of a waterfall until you have spent the time to get to know it.