All About Me

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First a bit about myself. I’m 77, going on 78 soon. My folks wanted me to become a medical whiz kid – but I did not; I was fascinated by the rudimentary computers of the late 40’s and early 50’s. As soon as I turned 18 I dropped out of college and joined the Air Force (for one year of active duty plus four years in the reserve) because they were starting to use advanced computational equipment. Well…. Korea came along and I wound up serving for four years, three months, and nineteen days. During this time I was fortunate enough to be selected for six months of advanced training by IBM at Endicott, NY so that I and 20 other Airmen like me could work on IBM equipment in locations either too secret or too dangerous for IBM’s own engineers to service.

I learned a lot, saw a lot, and matured a lot. Naturally I applied to IBM for employment after my discharge, but we could not come to terms. Since I had had three years of hands on experience plus those six months of training I felt I was worth $400 a month. They thought $350 would be a good starting wage. I bounced around a bit for the next few months in local (Boston) punch card accounting installations, then applied to ARAMCO (Arabian American Oil Company) to work overseas. Wonderful experience – I spent a few months in Lebanon learning Middle East language and customs, then a year in Saudi Arabia in Dhahran on the Persian Gulf.

In those days Americans were liked and respected all over the world. Perhaps we will be again soon under the new administration. But I digress.

After my contract in Saudi Arabia ended I was on my way to Lima Peru, via a 30-day vacation at my mother’s home near Boston. She was not at all happy to hear my plans and spent most of our time to...

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...aire, then divorced him and returned. We had wonderful times together everywhere we went. She passed away most unexpectedly this past Good Friday, March 21, 2008 after 10 days in a coma in intensive care and I am ready to move on with what ever is left of my life.

I have a 9-year old Schipperke who is still as frisky as I am, although COPD has slowed me down a bit.

Today I live very modestly in a small retirement community in Winter Haven, Florida. Now the chinks in my days are filled with music, photography, reading, backgammon, pool, etc. I am an avid TV watcher, movies, history, news, sports, and politics.

I also assemble and sell miniature books, chests, etc. for doll house manufacturers.

I pretty well quit smoking a few months ago but I still enjoy a drink or two in the evenings.

That’s way too much about me, now a few ideas about you.

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