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In all fairness, I don't seem to either. Care to go exploring? |
Good morning, all, and welcome back. You may have seen this annoying "six things" infection making the rounds, and now it looks like it's my turn. An acquaintance of mine, Amethyst Snow Angel  , has infected me with it, and while I'll play your silly game, know that I'll get you for this. Okay, here we go.1. I was born in the witching hour under a waxing crescent moon. I do not believe that explains either my love of being alone, or my love of suspenseful horror, but it's a fun story. 2. My great-grandmother had me reading at the age of three. I've enjoyed it ever since. It made for a rough first-grade, as the other kids would be struggling with "S-s-seeeee... Diiiick... r-ruuuun..." while I'm banging my head on my desk, mentally screaming, "GET ON WITH IT!" My fifth-grade teacher encouraged me to write, and I've never looked back. She would read some of our stories anonymously to the class, and mine were always highly-rated. If only no one had liked them, I probably wouldn't be in this rut today. 3. Through a bizarre combination of circumstances, I grew up lower-middle class in Point Loma, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the San Diego region. But down the hill was Ocean Beach, a community of hippies, beatniks, and surfers, where I spent every moment that I could get away. "Safe Haven"  is set in that venue, and rubbing elbows with all those different social levels is what I believe has given me such a wide range of experience vis a vis making my characters rich and varied.4. I joined the navy at 17. I knew that I wasn't doing well in school, I wasn't going to college, and that I would soon be drafted; it was 1965. Why not choose my service? So I chose the one where you at least get hot meals and running water, no matter what else is going on. During my hitch, I served on a minesweeper, an oil tanker, and the big communications hub on Guam. I did some time in Vietnam, and have seven medals, all for time-in-service, nothing heroic. I rode out two hurricanes on the minesweeper and a typhoon on the oiler. I am officially ~ and still ~ salty. By the way, only one of my friends from Point Loma served, and that was by choice. The rest of them all found ways to duck out of serving the country that enabled them to live their privileged lifestyles. 5. Of all the skills the navy taught me, the one that took me the farthest was the ability to type. That and my five-point Veteran's Preference got me a job as a supply clerk with the navy. I met my wife on my first job (more on her later), and worked my way into the Fuel Department of the big Naval Air Station in the middle of San Diego Bay. Once there, I worked myself into a job as the safety, fire, and environmental inspector for the fuel operation. I can never know what might have happened during operations I was present at if I hadn't been there, but it's possible, just possible, that my presence may have saved lives and expensive equipment from young sailors taking shortcuts. 6. I met my wife in 1975. She is the most amazing person I've ever crossed paths with, and we just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last week. She gave us twin boys and a daughter just over a year later. We had great fun raising them ~ mostly ~ and while the boys are scattered across the continent, our daughter lives with us and looks out for the old folks, running errands, squiring us around to appointments and whatnot, and being the third leg of our social triangle. It's been a wonderful life, and I look forward to a lot more of it to come. We're old and wearing out; she's in a wheelchair and my back is shot, but love makes up for it all. And there you are, six things that are interesting to me, at least. Hopefully you found them to be amusing if nothing else. Now the rest of the requirement is that I have to infect ~ I mean nominate ~ three other people, and I decided that, rather than go after friends of mine for years, I would pick out some newbies and let them make themselves known. Sound good? I hope so, because the following members may consider themselves tagged: Vicious  Alex Emberly Gray  Ready, set, GO! J  |
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