4 hours Ago By BY BRET KOFFORD Guest Columnist
In our final discussion of the semester last week, I talked with my film students about what the future might bring to the art form they love. I told the students this was more their concern than my concern, as there’s a good chance I won’t be around in 20 years. There was an uncomfortable silence.
I told the students that I was OK with my limited time left, that I’ve had a good life. I turn 66 today, and I’ve had a fulfilling existence, one rich with experiences and packed with love — a life that has well surpassed my expectations. I don’t think others’ expectations were particularly high for me when I was young.
I was pretty good at sports and good at school, but I had a smart mouth and a volcanic temper. I grew up lower-middle class in a tough factory town. I wore hand-me-downs, including Jockey undershorts, until I left for college.
As chronicled here recently, I put myself through college, through a combination of scholarships and working many jobs. My professional life has been wonderful. I wrote for big newspapers, edited a smaller one.
I’ve had my own newspaper column for more than 30 years, and that’s something I’d wanted to do since I started reading legendary Chicago columnist Mike Royko in my mid-teens. I think I’ve made people laugh and ponder over my decades as a columnist. I love that.
I know I’ve angered many people over that time. I’m fine with that, because maybe they needed to be pricked a bit. I’ve been a college instructor for nearly 30 years.
I’ve taught at a humble community college, a small, lovely campus and now at a huge, breathtaking campus. I’d wanted to be a college teacher since the first time I walked onto a college campus when I was about 7. I’ve taught thousands of students and have loved or liked all but a few.
I’ve loved movies since seeing “Old Yeller” and “Cool Hand Luke” as a boy. I started thinking about writing films when I was about 10 years old. I’ve had two feature films, two short films and some television episodes made.
I’ve made some money from all that, but for me it’s more about touching hearts and making people laugh than making cash. In recent years I’ve reconnected with many of my oldest friends, mainly through social media. Say what you want about the bad aspects of social media, but those reconnections have made me joyous, because those folks are a big part of who I am.
I’ve coached thousands of kids, in baseball and basketball, and I’ll always consider those kids my kids, even though they’re adults now. To be called “Coach” by a player, and to be called “Coach” 20 years later when that former player is an adult, is one of the most touching experiences of my life. I know this may seem trivial to some, but I’ve loved and been loved by many canines with beautiful souls throughout my life.
Each one has been a best friend to me. The best thing in my life, though, has been my family. I’m still in regular touch and on good terms with all my siblings.
I helped raise a young man who has brought me some of the most heartwarming moments in my life. But nothing in my life compares to my relationship with my wife. We’ve been life partners, global travel partners, parenting partners and best friends for nearly 30 years.
We’ve laughed together and cried together. She’s simply the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t want to die today, because it’s my birthday and I have doughnuts to eat and an ice hockey game to attend, but if I did, I would know I’ve lived a rich life, not in the monetary sense but in doing what I love and in getting, and giving, bundles of love.
Bret Kofford is a screenwriter and an emeritus lecturer in writing and film at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley. He now teaches film at the University of Arizona. Kofford can be reached at bmkofford@outlook.
com.
