What a long, strange trip it's been

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by HatterDon, Aug 6, 2007.

  1. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    I was encouraged to post this thread, so here goes:

    Today is the 43rd anniversary of the first day of my very first full-time job, as well as my first day ever in San Antonio. Yep, August 6, 1964 was my first day in the USAF -- 6'1" 135 pounds of scared shitless 17-year-old at the beginning of what turned out to be the first of three different careers -- none of which was musician, soccer player, or sportswriter.

    And now, I'm 1.5" taller and 90 pounds heavier, and I'm ambling around on two fairly new mechanical knees. Got an endlessly patient wife, good friends, and my life is filled with music, theater, good literature, and FFC. And although the saying "60 is the new 40" is only really true when you're filling up at the gas station, I gotta tell ya, life really is pretty good.
     
    #1
    HatterDon, Aug 6, 2007
  2. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Well, then... there ya go!

    "Wotta Country!"
    - some expat Russian comedian.

    Congratulations, Junior!
     
    #2
    pettyfog, Aug 6, 2007
  3. ChicagoTom

    ChicagoTom Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2004
    Location:
    Chicago
    Don, congrats my friend!! Your presence and contributions to this site are great and much appreciated by all!
     
    #3
    ChicagoTom, Aug 6, 2007
  4. americanmike

    americanmike Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2004
    Congrats on getting older and happier Donny boy!
     
    #4
    americanmike, Aug 6, 2007
  5. FFCinPCB

    FFCinPCB New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2006
    Location:
    Santa Rosa Beach, FL
    Feliz Aniversario!!

    As they say in your part of the world (I think).
     
    #5
    FFCinPCB, Aug 6, 2007
  6. quickdraw

    quickdraw New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2007
    Your first day at Basic Training. Something I know I will never forget. I still remember arriving via bus in the early hours of the morning and thinking all the buildings looked like prisons with all the lights in the sky and such. That was humbling for an Air Force brat.

    I hope I can look back fondly on these days in due time.
     
    #6
    quickdraw, Aug 7, 2007
  7. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    If basic training didnt scare the crap out of you, it was worthless.. The only guys in there who retained their egos were jerks and/or A-holes.

    I didnt want to be anywhere near them.
     
    #7
    pettyfog, Aug 7, 2007
  8. jorge11

    jorge11 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2007
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    i can say that i wasn't scared when i arrived at basic training -- i did derive a great bit of satisfaction and entertainment in seeing the cockiness immediately fall off of some of the guys as soon as we arrived.

    the reason i wasn't scared is that i knew they couldn't actually smack me around (not by the time i got to basic in 1986) and that everything was a mental game. i just took it as a challenge, but nothing to be scared of. i actually really enjoyed basic training -- i got some rest, ate well and put on a few pounds. in fact, on graduation day my TI said. "you really seemed to enjoy yourself here." i then explained that before i went to basic training, i was working in the oilfield where i got up earlier and usually went to bed much later than in basic -- i also told him that i hardly ever had 3 meals a day on that schedule. i guess that explains how i gained 11 pounds in 6 weeks at Lackland.
     
    #8
    jorge11, Aug 7, 2007
  9. andyns

    andyns New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2005
    Location:
    Halifax, Canada
    Nice post Don, helps to get to know you a little better. I feel like I don't know anything about the people on here.
     
    #9
    andyns, Aug 7, 2007
  10. Spencer

    Spencer Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2005
    Good stuff Don, I can't begin to imagine where I'll be in 43 years time, with any luck I'll turn out half as good as ya.
     
    #10
    Spencer, Aug 7, 2007
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