Damn you, Liam Neeson

Posted byEd KowalskiPosted inUncategorized

So today, my daughter decides to prank me while she is on a business trip in Amsterdam. Prior to her leaving, I ran through the list. Where are you staying? What’s your schedule? Don’t go alone to the city’s Red Light district………now, Jen has lived in Europe when she was a college student….the closest I’ve ever been to Europe was the last time I was on the No. 7 train out of Flushing. ‘Relax, Dad’ was all she said. I smiled but still tried to adjust my schedule to hers, so I could ‘keep track’ of her. Today, my phone rings. ‘Dad,……..I’ve been TAKEN’….”. While my heart jumped through my chest, Jen laughed hysterically and said that I’m no Liam Neeson.
Very funny…..
Being a parent is not for the faint of heart. I may joke about knowing fear, but the fact is, the first time I ever knew real fear was the day Jen was born. Suddenly there is someone in the world you care about more than anything. As a parent, you experience the most of everything. The most love, the most fear, the most hurt and the most tired, the most of every emotion. One, day, my daughter will know all about this when she has a kid. Now, all I have to do is wait for her return flight….and not watch TAKEN 2……

Published by Ed Kowalski

Ed Kowalski is a Pleasant Valley resident, media voice, and policy-focused professional whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, and community life. Ed has spent his career working in senior leadership roles across human resources, compliance, and operations, helping organizations navigate complex legal and regulatory environments. His work has focused on accountability, risk management, workforce issues, and translating policy and law into practical outcomes that affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, and communities. Ed is also a familiar voice in the Hudson Valley media landscape. He most recently served as the morning host of Hudson Valley This Morning on WKIP and is currently a frequent contributor to Hudson Valley Focus with Tom Sipos on Pamal Broadcasting. In addition, Ed is the creator of The Valley Viewpoint, a commentary and narrative platform focused on law, justice, government accountability, and the real-world impact of public policy. Across broadcast and written media, Ed’s work emphasizes transparency, access to justice, institutional integrity, and public trust. Ed is a graduate of Xavier High School, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, holding a Certificate in Business Leadership from Georgetown. His Jesuit education shaped his belief that ideas carry obligations—and that leadership requires both discipline and moral clarity. He lives in Pleasant Valley.

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