As a child I was privileged to live in the beautiful southwestern states of the United States. From Texas to California where I learned to love the beauty of the world. It’s Tuscan colors of earth and brilliant cactus blooms contrasting with blue, blue sky and snowy white clouds.
From the crows nest on the top of a ship, I’ve seen the top of the world, and saw beauty in nothing but white and green ice.
From the top of Pinnacles Peak while standing in one place, I looked across the San Joaquin Valley and saw the snow capped mountain tops of the Sierra Range. Then looked to the north and saw the fog surrounding the whole area of San Francisco Bay, or looking to the west, beyond Monterey, I could see the Blue Pacific with no ending below the blue sky.
I've been dunked in the ocean between two moving ships, while being transfered at sea.
I've jumped from a hovering helicopter, ten feet to the ground, then scurried down a hundred foot high cliff, over hanging swiftly moving tide water.
I've guided a ship into an ice flow in the arctic, (bringing it to an abrupt stop.)
I’ve been on a ship in a storm out at sea, deck rolling up to my face then the other way to the back of by head, while the ship plunged under two and jumped over one and yet, continued floating until we managed to come through the storm.
I've guided aircraft, heavily laden with people, to a safe landing on an airfield that the pilot could not see.
I laid on my back and pulled my hat over my face so I wouldn't see the nine hundred pound magnet, tethered, on a one hundred foot cable under a moving helicopter, strike the ground just ten feet from my head.
I've discovered love and married my love. Became best friends with her forty six years ago and still love her today, and feel life could not be complete without her.
I've guided youngsters in life and been rewarded by their success.
I've invested money, needed for other things, in a dream that failed.
I've invested all our savings in stock that busted.
To sum it up, my pluses outweigh my minuses. I'd love to do it again the same way.