I did that thing I said I was going to do
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
1y ago
  Two years ago, I posted that I was returning to college Today I graduated. Gaudeamus Igitur, baby. Retired Ranger Mannie ..read more
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My, how time does fly!
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
1y ago
 (note: for those who are looking for my post on how to get a job as a park ranger, that is the post just previous to this one.) Oh my gosh! I'll be graduating with a visual arts degree in May.  When one is having the time of one's life, it seems that the time just blows by. I'll be doing the actual cap-and-gown thing in the spring, and then it's on to an English degree, and then history, and then psychology...and on, and, on and on. I've made a lot of art over the past year and a half, and it is pretty good art at that,  I've also made lots of friends among staff ..read more
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Visiting Gettysburg
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
 For the past two Mondays I've visitied Gettysburg...I live about fifty miles from the battlefield; this is something that I think I'll be doing regularly. Happily, I no longer approach the place as a Park Ranger, but as the nine-year-old who traveled there with my father in 1962.  It's a lot more fun that way. I stopped by the visitor center and found my good friend and old rangering buddy, John Hoptak, in the midst of swearing-in a new Junior Ranger. John and I had a swell visit, and I was gratified that it wasn't all "remember when" stuff, but rather, reports and reflections on f ..read more
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Pomp and Circumstance
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
 (cue the music) Saturday was graduation day at Hagerstown Community College, and out of over 400 graduates, nearly 250 opted to "walk" as they say. I volunteered to help out, and my job was to pass out gowns and mortarboards to the Johnny-cum-latelys (see what I did there?) who hadn't ordered ahead. It was a wonderful event, and I must say that I got goosebumps when the faculty, in all of their differing and colorful, academic regalia, marched in.   To the strains of Pomp and Circumstance (unfortunately, rendered on bagpipes) the grads made their procession.  It was very ex ..read more
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It's just like riding a bicycle
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
 Last week I gave a tour of Antietam to a group of kids from HCC, a couple of them are classmates, so I enjoyed them seeing something else that I do. The weather was perfect and the kids were really engaged.  I was a little apprehensive as it has been ten years since I left the battlefield, but I must tell you, it all came back.  I loved it, and so did they... just like in the days of yore. See you next time. (retured ranger) Mannie ..read more
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School Days, some stuff I've been working on
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
 I'm having a great semester at Hagerstown Community College.  I'm taking Drawing II and Sculpture I. This is some of my work: Calamity Jane, pencil The Best of Intentions, pencil. Slava Ukraini, plaster, silk, watercolor. I continue to have the time of my life. (retired ranger) Mannie ..read more
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The Dream Team
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
 A snowflake on a warming day. The perfect "work group" is a rare and precious thing...not just people who work well together, but friends who empathize and commiserate with each other, who encourage and console each other, who boost each other to excellence and savor each others successes. When I worked at The Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, I was a part of that type of rare tribe. We were actually friends, rather than merely co-workers, and the sum of us was greater than the parts. We were the ones who started the Park Service efforts at what was then, the newest of ..read more
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OMOC (old man on campus)
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
When I retired from the Park Service (coming up on two years ago) my plan was to take a year to totally goof-off, and then to find some sort of "old-guy retirement job." I ended up in clover.  I have two student jobs at HCC one in the Student Activities office, and the other at the visitor desk (just like half my time in the NPS).   Both jobs are easy, fun, and at $12.50 per hour they pay twice as much as my federal pension (which tells you a lot about federal pensions since they did away with Civil Service). The Student Center is a beautiful building and it is where both of my ..read more
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You never know where the road will lead you
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
2y ago
In 1962 my father took my brother and I to Gettysburg.  Living in Michigan, and my parents being of very modest means, this was a major event, and one that I still marvel that my parents were able to pull off. financially. The trip thrilled me, Gettysburg and the Civil War enthralled me, and I remain keenly interested in the American Civil War. That trip led in a direct (though dotted) line to the career that I retired from, and the one that I found most worthy. My parents would have been so proud of me. Take your boys and girls to historic places... you never know were the road wi ..read more
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How to become a Park Ranger
My year of living Rangerously
by Mannie Gentile
3y ago
Career advice from retired Ranger Mannie. The two most commonly asked questions that I'd get asked by visitors were: 1. Where is the bathroom? and... 2. How can I get a job as a Park Ranger? Throughout my career I was very aware of the fact that people have a perception of Park Rangers that has made the profession iconic...as a result, it's a dream for many people - not just young people- to become a Ranger for the National Park Service. I would get asked all the time for advice on how to get into the "green and gray." And here is what I would tell them, and what I am telling you. ------ If yo ..read more
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