Bob
has been ordering me to put up a bio for about 10 years now, so I
figure, I haven't got anything better to do.
Going back and thinking
about the time from graduating at DLF until now does not feature the
most pleasant recollections for me. Most of the time is punctuated by
poor choices, bad decisions, and raising a lot of hell. Well, the root
of everything unraveling was in PKU when I figured I would marry this
Aussie entertainer. What possessed me? Damned if I know. Everyone from
my squadron CO to my mama san advised me against it, but who knew better
than me? Man did I ever screw up. Things did not work out, is the nicest
way to put it. We had three daughters who are all in Australia.
After UPT it was the greasy EC at Pleiku, Papa Kilo, Channel 107, PKU -
call it what you will, it was a pit. The only interesting thing that
happened was it snowed in the Central Highlands in February. Met George
Conlan, so that might have been interesting. Misplayed that hand pretty
much - was offered a regular commission, turned it down. Should have
pulled my papers and taken it, but that is water under the bridge.
After SEA, it was Pease and KCs in the 34th ARS. Squadron CO kind of
hated me, maybe with cause, who knows.
After separating on 15 Nov 72,
I did a stint in the NJANG until they told us we needed to put more time
into the Guard and my employer disagreed. Too
bad, should have stayed at Maguire - didn't. Went back to our family
printing business, but that was not long lived once computer typography
hit the scene. Went to work on Wall Street as a relatively major
parasite on the economy, several years later the marriage dissolved, as
well as the job. Ultimately there ensued, at the former spouse's behest,
a long and costly divorce and custody battle.
At
one point the girls were living with me, and I had to figure what I
could do to maintain control and put food on the table. NYC needed
teachers, and the idea of full medical and dental coverage and July and
August off was appealing. Then the kids took off to Australia with their
mother and I had gotten myself stuck in teaching. Well, still had July
and August...
Never really felt part of teaching, as most of the men
I was teaching with had become teachers to avoid the draft and SEA -
hah!
Ultimately a former student who had become a teacher looked me
up, stalked me, chased me down and hog-tied me. Marley and I were
married in 2003, and I am an old fart with a young daughter.
I have
spent a short period of time every day regretting my having left USAF;
but now, with Marley and our little Katie, well, none of it would have
been if I had not screwed up and become a teacher. So go figure, things
have a funny way of working out. As for these things working out, after
I got sick (about one year after, to the day) Marley took off with Katie
and we are now involved in a divorce action. Life, ya gotta love it.
On other - even less interesting - topics, in 2000, while having lunch
with my sister-in-law at Ikea (she is now the senior chaplain at
Travis), she asked if I was ready to be baptized. I said I was, but we
were in Ikea. She said it was as good a place as any, got a glass of
water, and hauled me aboard. Should have done that a long time ago. But
that is a "whole nother" thing. Go figure.
Am now an observant
Lutheran, and the Lord has been good to me in spite of all my screw-ups.
That enough, Bobby?
By way of a disconnected addendum, let me add the
following. I retired from teaching on 1 Jul 08 for numerous reasons, the
main one being that I did not like it any more.
I was also feeling
significantly run-down and tired all the time. Pretty much
uncharacteristic for someone who had cycled 40 miles a day and kayaked
around Manhattan island twice. So two weeks after I retired I went to
see a cardiologist, figuring my heart needed some help. Make a long
story short, I was anemic, and they thought I had bleeding ulcers.
Endoscopy showed I had a 10.8cm tumor in my stomach. So two weeks after
I retired I began my ongoing relationship with the most excellent folks
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, here in New York City. My
cancer is a rare sort called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, or GIST. It
is a soft tissue sarcoma, and right now it is under control.
Went to
the VA for a claim, which they rejected even though the Agent Orange Act
of 1991 cites sarcoma being eligible for disability. So I am appealing
the decision, if I live long enough I may yet see them pay up.
As of
this writing (early 2010) I have gone about a year and a half NEM (No
Evidence of Malignancy), so that is good. Just had a CT scan and it only
showed some minor enlargement of some lymph nodes. My chemo is working
on the cancer, but it is also working on my ability to create red blood
cells, and I am chronically anemic, which pisses me off. Do not like not
having the energy I am used to having, but I am thankful I am getting
closer and closer to being a cancer survivor.
Anyone having a problem
with that nasty disease, my recommendation is to go to Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center. There just aint no place like it.
Since
Harry and Rog Weller have decided to flaunt their wheels on their pages,
I figure I should put my 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR7 here.
As I said to Rog, you do not even have to try to get 9 miles per gallon
with that 4.6 V8. This thing moves very nicely and I will be driving it
to the class reunion in April.
Maybe we can have some drag races?
(Wow, think about that term - today it might mean a footrace between
transvestites.)