43 years ago…..

I was just regaling to my bride the fact – that 43 years ago — almost to the hour, that I rolled into Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas. Boy what a life changing event that was~! My Brother [Roy] had told <warned> me that the first thing that will go through your head when that bus comes to a stop is: “What the **** did I get myself into” He was not wrong, for I had just arrived at USAF Basic Training. ‘The fastest 6 weeks of your life’. Wow….. a long time and a million memories ago. When I think of the many turns my life took because of that one decision – it is mind bending. At the time, I was on track to working my way through a single term in the Air Force and returning to my little town, to become an Indiana State Trooper. I had completed all the pre-requites and all I had to do was complete a stint in the USAF Law Enforcement Squadron – to be able to walk right into the Academy. In a blink of the proverbial eye and what seems like another 100000 decisions and I wound up in Civil Engineering, married, 4 Daughters, now 8+ grand babies and living in the U.S. Virgin islands after a half of year of island hopping. You cannot make this kind of stuff up~! Regrets ? I’ve had a few – but then again, too few to mention….. 😉 ((nod to Frank)) Would I change my past if I could ? There is one for the ages….. but hell no – give up not having my Queen, the 4 gorgeous Daughters that I have…… and my Grand Daughters and Grand sons???? Ain’t no friggin way~! Would I have done some things differently ??? Yeah – probably…. but you are getting into 20/20 hindsight there – and that’s not fair……

Wow – not sure where that came from either – but now you have a tiny bit of insight to me – whether you wanted it or not….. today was a mostly quiet day. I was supposed to make a couple of dives today – but that got quickly blown out of the water [so to speak]…… my Bride did some running today while I stayed at the house and caught up on paper work and odds & ends that needed done. A nice change of pace from her sitting here for a half a day while I am out running. She finally made it back and we had drinks and watched Frasier…… Both hungry – I was going to get me a pizza and she wanted a Philly Cheese steak sammich…. The only pizza I could get delivered was gonna be $ 58.00 and unless it was going to be delivered hot and fresh from Turoni’s – there was no way in hell I was putting out that much for a pizza. I ordered Fish & Chips and a burger in case the Fish & Chips sucked. As expected, the Fish & Chips was horrible…. sadly, the burger wasn’t much better. Guess I should have just grilled my own…… and my pizza itch….. still itches.

Good night Ya’ll – – – – – Thankx for stopping in~!

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Bill

Born in Germany as an Army brat - I moved permanently to the United States about the time I was ready to start school - Dad put to me to work when I turned 13 tearing off roofs and packing shingles.. I did that, DE tasseled corn and bucked hay all the way through high school. After graduation, moved down South for a year or so trying to figure what I wanted to do. Finally came home and joined the Air Force serving almost 5 years - which included a 3 year tour in Germany, where I met my Queen. Came home and started working as a roofer. Economy went to crap and I knew I would not be able to support my growing family the way I wanted to, so I pestered the HR department at General Electric until they hired me. A very quick almost 34 years, 4 Daughters and 9 Grandkids later - here I am .... waiting as patiently as I can, to start the next chapter of our life - romping around in the Caribbean Sea checking out the various islands that we have not been to yet. Holy $hit what a ride~!!!! ;-)

2 thoughts on “43 years ago…..”

  1. Love the pictures,,and blog,,,so, the other day, thought it was Jim saying hi, was I right? And, not sure about this one, is this one I should know,,,well, whatever, tell him Hi,,,back,,,I really enjoy and appreciate the time you take to make me feel included in your lives some ,,,you are one of the good guys, Bill,,, you just don’t like to let people know that,,,so enjoyed about Lacklanld,,,I still have my letters Chop wrote from there in 1952, better get rid of them..sooner rather than later, as mine only to read, but just can’t do it yet,,,they are fun to read, bring back great memories, and make me smile,,,be sure and tell these guys going to trouble,,as you are too,,,to say Hi, that it makes me feel good and smile, thanks,,,reading your stuff,,,,my nightly upper, without a pill or drink,,,cheap, and fun, love to you, and Angie,,,take care of yourselves,,,the old New Harmony x neighbor, 😨

    1. Hi Vera –
      Yes – the other day in the picture was Jim saying “Hi”, the one last night was Timmy – a young fun loving guy I think you would like as well. The other that I haven’t shown in a bit is Eddy (Kinda looks like Wolfman Jack) Once you get to know him, he is a good guy – his bark is a lot worse than his bite~! I make sure to say something to all of them when you mention them…. I’m not sure what brought on my tale of Lackland AFB – guess I thought my girls would get a kick out of it if they read it. Something I never talked about with them. or anybody else for that matter. It makes me happy and smile to know you enjoy my blog so much — I’ll try not to miss too many nights 😉

      We will be making at LEAST 2 visits “home” this year — we’ll be sure to stop in and say hi. 🙂

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