OPPORTUNITIES

I have had some wonderful opportunities in life. I was born and raised in beautiful, sunny Southern California. I received a great education while living in a happy and safe home. I entered a well paying job in aerospace after graduating from high school. When I was nineteen I lived a vagabond’s life for nine months, but then I returned to work in the aerospace industry again.

At the time, I didn‘t think it was such an opportunity, but my country called me to service in the Army Infantry. Eventually I was picked to take part in a new warfare technology, in one of the most prestigious Army units, the First Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The “First Cav” earned the nickname “First Team” in World War II from General Douglas MacArthur and has lived up to the name ever since. When I returned from my overseas service, I was again very fortunate to be relatively unscathed.

I returned to aerospace work and soon another great opportunity was presented to me, I received an offer to go to work in a new and exciting technology, lasers. I was lucky to be working for a company that valued skill and knowledge. They encouraged me to return to school and work toward a degree. I received an Associate of Arts in Electronics with a minor in Drafting even though I was working full time and helping to raise a family. I worked in Laser Engineering for 24 years, achieving the position of “Member of the Technical Staff II”, a fancy name for Engineer.

My next great opportunity came after my wife and I retired and we traveled the country in our RV for two and a half years. We wandered from the West Coast to the East Coast and back again, and this is a great country.

We finally settled in Idaho near her family, and this again was a great opportunity. We live in a pleasant town, with little traffic congestion, near a city large enough to have all of the resources we need.

Life is good when you let it be.