25 Things

The following is a meme that's circulating on Facebook. Taking my cue from Blog-Bud Barry... who also published HIS "25 Things" on both Facebook and his blog... I've decided to do the same. So, without further ado...

25 Things

1. I lived in London (six months), Paris (three years), and Ankara, Turkey (two years)… all before the age of 13. Which, of course, was one of the benefits of being an Air Force brat during the 1950s. I also returned to all those cities as an adult… living in London for three years during the ‘80s.

2. I was bi-lingual once upon a time and spoke French like a native. This isn’t an exaggeration… shopkeepers in Nice, France thought I was a French kid until I came into the stores with my parents in tow one day. (They abused me: I had to shop for them while we were on vacation.)

3. My French is completely gone now… a classic case of “use it or lose it.”

4. I crashed my dirt bikes hundreds of times and was run over twice in motocross and desert races. But never enough to be seriously injured, although I DID get knocked unconscious in a desert race once upon a time.

5. I WAS seriously injured in a motorcycle accident when a clue-free 19 year old girl turned left in front of me. I was doing 70 mph on a two-lane road in Michigan’s Thumb at the time. I was lucky I didn’t get killed.

6. I’ve had one serious car accident but walked away from that unscathed, as well. The car, however, was totaled.

7. I think I’m lucky where vehicles are concerned. (knocks on wood)

8. My best assignment in 22 years in the Air Force was three years at RAF Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

9. My worst assignment was Fortuna Air Force Station, North Dakota. I was there for one year, three days, eight hours and ten minutes. “Worst” is in terms of geographical location… the people were great. I NEVER had a bad assignment where people were concerned.

10. I have three friends I’ve known for over 30 years; one for over 40. I met all of them in the Air Force.

11. I’ve lost track of more people… good people… than I care to think about.

12. I seriously think the demise of “good manners” is ruining our country.

13. I’m a confessed internet JUNKIE. Life without a computer is unthinkable.

14. I’ve been a lifelong photographer. I got my first camera around age nine or ten… a Brownie Hawkeye.

15. Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major” is my favorite piece of classical music.

16. And no… I didn’t first hear it in “Ordinary People.” But I was surprised and pleased as all get out when the credits ran.

17. The Rolling Stones are my favorite rock ‘n’ roll band. “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World” is NOT hyperbole when applied to the Rolling Stones. “Exile on Main Street” LIVES in my car.

18. I LOVE artichokes. Fresh from the steamer or cold… with drawn butter, or vinegar and oil, or mayonnaise. I’d like to meet the first guy that ever ate an artichoke.

19. Thai is my favorite ethnic cuisine. Japanese is a close second.

20. I don’t consider Mexican food “ethnic.” I live in New Mexico, ya know.

21. My passport expired four or five years ago. I may never renew it.

22. I consider loyalty to be one of life’s greatest virtues… if not THE greatest. Loyalty is in a dead heat with honesty, when you come right down to it.

23. I’m VERY proud with what my adult sons have done with their lives. I’m hoping their little brother lives up to their examples.

24. I’m agnostic, in one sense of the word. I believe in a higher power – I just don’t know his/her name. It could be “Bruce,” for all I know. But I like to think it’s something like “Phoebe.” The concept of The Goddess is alright with me.

25. I liked this meme better when it was only five things. But this wasn’t TOO hard.

I was at a total loss for an illustration for this post. It's late... and I'm "imaginatively challenged" in the midnite hour. Hmmm. Wilson Pickett!