Work and Family: New Subjects Emerge

(Continued from Formative Years: A Developing Photographer)

Featured Photo: “Flag Stickers on Car Bumper” Near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—2019

At this point, perhaps a brief review of my life after college is in order. In 1980, I graduated from Trinity University (in San Antonio, Texas) with a B.S. degree in chemistry. The photo below was taken just after graduation, with my oldest sister and mom; the strange double mortarboard was caused by the camera flash. A quick non-sequitur about the weather: like Memphis, San Antonio was hot and humid—only more so—but I was used to that kind of climate. During my college years in San Antonio, I believe it only snowed once, but I missed it; I had already gone home for the winter holidays!

Following four years of college, I went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin (in Madison) for an additional two years, receiving my M.S. degree in organic chemistry. I must admit, I was ill-prepared for the differences between San Antonio and Madison, both in terms of the challenge of the chemistry curriculum and the weather. Madison is wonderful in the summer—gorgeous lakes, lush open spaces—not too hot, not too humid. But I chose to move on—before completing a Ph.D.—for several reasons, in part, because it was so cold there. I recall walking to the chemistry lab one bright, crisp January morning; the temperature—with the wind chill—was minus 78 degrees Fahrenheit! When I reached the building, my mustache glistened with tiny icicles, created by the moisture in my breath. That entire month of January, the temperature never rose above 10 degrees. The lakes were frozen solid and each day on my way to school, I walked past snow mounds that had been plowed to the side of the street. These mountains of snow—gray-colored from the ashes spread to melt the ice from the roads—remained until April.

In search of somewhat warmer climes—and of equal importance, a steady paycheck—I took my first full-time job in 1982 at the pharmaceutical company, Merck (near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), where the weather was more moderate, and I began my career as a synthetic organic chemist in new drug discovery. Here I am with my dad in front of my first apartment when I started with Merck.

Except for a few brief interludes, I essentially spent my entire career there—at Merck—in various roles. It was a good place to work; colleagues who had been there for many years jokingly referred to it as “Mother Merck” due to the generous benefits provided. And in a way, the company became a kind-of-center-of-gravity in my universe, with a tight grasp on me. Or put another way, I felt myself attached to a rubber band; occasionally, I would stretch away from Merck in search of something new, only to snap back in place after a while.

The first time I left Merck was in 1988—after just six years on the job—having realized that a Ph.D. was necessary to succeed as a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. I returned to graduate school, this time at Purdue University (in West Lafayette, Indiana). Indiana was once again a cold place—although not Wisconsin cold. After a year at Purdue, I realized I did not even want to be a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. Disillusioned—and missing my previous income—I struck out in another direction.

I took a job at a two-year college (near Atlanta, Georgia) teaching chemistry to nursing students…

…but after only a two-year tenure there—despite enjoyable interactions with students and faculty—I capitulated to the hot, humid weather, and the generally negative atmosphere at the school. The administration was trying to turn the college into a four-year institution, and there was no place for non-Ph.D. professors. So, I decided it was time to move on, once again.

As I pondered my next career move, I did what I thought was a reasonable thing: I called my former boss at Merck and asked if he would be a reference in my job search. He agreed—then paused—and asked if I might want to come back to my old position. We talked briefly and, despite feeling like I was just picking up where I left off a few years prior, I soon rented a U-Haul truck, packed my belongings, and returned for my second stint at Merck (back in Pennsylvania.) Perhaps it was my destiny, after all, to be a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry.

I was grateful to be welcomed back, but again uncertain whether this was my ultimate career destination; indeed, I left Merck the second time less than a year later. My brother—with whom I had shared that darkroom so long ago, and now also a chemist himself—called to tell me about a position I might be interested in at Schering-Plough (in Memphis, Tennessee), where he worked. It was still chemistry at a pharmaceutical company, but it was different—it was analytical chemistry—so I took the job to try something new.

Moving back to Memphis, where I had spent my high school days, brought an added benefit: being closer to my parents, who had recently retired to Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was very fortunate to spend some quality time with my mom and dad while they were still around. There was another, unexpected benefit being back in Memphis: in 1995, I would meet the woman who was to become my wife—a story that deserves more time than this brief introduction allows.

We were married a year later (you can see us in the photo from our wedding day, being held by my mom and dad in this picture…)

…and began to discuss where we might live next; my wife (originally from Ohio) was not particularly keen on staying in Memphis. Contemplating my options once again, and this time also considering my wife’s prospects, I started working with a professional “head-hunter” to seek possible jobs.

About this time, in conversation with one of my nephews, he suggested that I instead pursue my long-standing passion and try to work as a professional photographer. That option had not occurred to me; it seemed unrealistic, reckless, and risky. But it also sounded exciting. I considered the possibility; I knew it would not be easy, trying to get a job with a newspaper or magazine, or possibly selling photos at craft fairs. There would likely be less money than I was used to. Still, I was intrigued by my nephew’s challenge to take the chance—to see what I could accomplish in photography.

In the end, I chose the more conservative, safer-feeling direction, continuing to focus on jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. After rejecting a career in photography, I was dismayed when my head-hunter called to ask if I might be interested in returning to Merck. “How could I go back yet again?” I silently asked myself. I’m sure my head dropped, and my shoulders slumped, but I listened to what was offered.

It turned out the job was different than what I had done previously at Merck—I would not be returning as a research chemist; the work was more like what I was doing—and enjoying—at Schering-Plough. The new position was to test and approve excipients—the inactive ingredients needed to manufacture medicines—for use in potential new drugs going into clinical trials. So, in 1998, after five years at Schering-Plough—and ten years after first leaving Merck—I returned once more. I would not leave Merck again—at least, not to work for another company.

In the photo above, I’m standing just outside the gate at Merck; the building in the background is where I worked—testing excipients—when I went back, in 1998. (And now, an interlude…a quick fact-check for those doing the math: Later, in 2009, Merck and Schering-Plough merged, with the combined company continuing to operate under the Merck name. I was given “Merck credit” for my service at Schering-Plough. These 5 years, added to my 27 years working at Merck, brought the total to 32 years, validating my earlier assertion that I essentially spent my entire working career at Merck. We now return to the story…)

The excipient work I did initially, upon my return to Merck, led a few years later to a position in a different department—Compendial Affairs; this was the most interesting and challenging and fulfilling work of my entire career. I remained in Compendial Affairs until I left Merck for the third time—my retirement in 2018. Meanwhile, my wife and I had started to raise our family—two wonderful sons; my boys then became the most interesting and challenging and fulfilling work of my entire life.

But I intended this blog to be more about the pictures and less about me. So, what does this summary of my work have to do with my photography? The story covers about 40 years—nearly two-thirds of my life—and it is this period that provides much of the source material for this blog. And there is one key detail: during these years, my family and job provided me with new opportunities—and interesting subjects—for taking photographs. The family side is obvious: capturing images of my boys—both at home and on family vacations—as they grew from very young…

…until now (they are both college age, as of this writing) …

…and all the years between…

…afforded a wealth of memories, and photos galore.

The connection between my photography and my job is less obvious. The Featured Photo, which I refer to simply as “Flag Stickers on Car Bumper,” was taken in 2019, in the driveway outside our house in the Philadelphia suburbs. I would not suggest the photo is great or unique or even terribly interesting. It is intended only to serve as a placeholder, allowing me to return—later in these introductory posts—to the following point: my work in Compendial Affairs showed me the world. The stickers in the photograph depict the flags of the 20 or so countries I was able to visit during this later stage of my career.

(To be continued…)