Within a week of graduation,  I joined the US Navy, along with Doyle Ford, John Ringgold, Troy Swell and Tommy Waddell. I think, it's been a long time. After "bootcamp" I was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas for about a year and a half. While in Corpus I married and started a family, but just barely started as I was sent overseas aboard an air craft carrier about a month before my son Randy was born. Not long after returning my daughter Vikki was born.

 

After my discharge, I worked for Wells Fargo bank in San Francisco, California for about five years.  In 1967 I moved to Dallas, Texas and joined the Dallas Police Department. I retired as a Sergeant in 1997. If you like not knowing what each day holds for you then this is the job for you. An old captain (about 60) told us while in the police academy, "You boys and girls are going to have a ringside seat to the Greatest Show on Earth, some acts will make you want to cry and others will make you laugh." How true that was, but I loved it most of the time. Times have changed and police work is for the young.

 

By 1981 I had divorced and married Montie. She has three children, Lance, Leah and Greg. Between our five kids, we now have TWELVE grandkids. The grandkids range in ages from twenty-two years to about six.

 

Shortly after retirement I started working as a freelance photographer for the Dallas Morning News.  And, still work as needed, usually a couple of days a week. Best retirement job one could have, easy, fun, work about when I want, no supervisor around and it gives me a little walking around money.

 

Montie worked as a Commercial Property Supervisor and retired about the same time I did.  Said she was not going to work if I didn't. I couldn't change her mind.

However, after five years of putting up with me full time, she decided that maybe she should find something to do. She works for a Christian (somewhat)counseling service a couple of days a weeks. Now she is just waiting for her first Social Security check so she can retire again.

 

Since our retirements most of our spare time is spent "eating" with our Baptist church friends and riding bicycles. We both love bikes, I guess me a lot more than her. We ride several thousand miles a year and have a garage full of bicycles, five at this time and just sold two within the last year or so. Anyone need a good used bike???  I am thinking about a trip to Ohio this summer to visit my son and three of the grandkids. Hopefully, I can make if before the reunion. I will peddle hard.

 

Looking forward to number 50.  Are we that Old? Somedays I feel like it, but most days are great. I hope everyone makes an effort to be there, would love to see all of you.