Just playin' the hand we're dealt without even knowing what cards are in the deck

[jkernitzki]

Sometimes it's harder looking back than forward, or at the very least, just leave one amazed at how it all happened, especially with absolutely no planning.

26 years ago today, I landed the post-Navy retirement job that would ultimately take me across America and beyond, put me in a plane seat for nearly 3 million miles, hotel rooms for over six years day-for-day, and ultimately land me in Afghanistan and Iraq for five years, with side trips to Australia, Italy, Germany, the UK, Mexico, Dubai--and the Mayo Clinic for life-saving surgery...

…and all I can manage looking back is to say, "So, that happened".

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[wireman]

Life for sure takes twists & turns and at 18 I didn't know what lay ahead.

Survived the "Nam", cancer survivor for the last 15 years, a good career, a couple of great kids and a wife of 55 years who for some reason has put up with my sh!t for that long.

Here's good health to everyone, and don't take life to seriously, and enjoy it with passion.

 

[dwrufus53]

At 17 I felt nine feet tall and bullet proof. Made a lot of mistakes early, but fortunately was able to recover. Married young and that didn't work out, in large part because of our immaturity. I chased a girl to Arizona where I eventually met my second wife.

After 35 years with her, we're still happily married. We have 6 great kids between us and 17 grandkids. Spent almost 50 years in the IT industry and retired a few years ago.

My best decision ever was coming face-to-face with my mortality and discovering my need for a Savior. Been following Christ for most of my adult life.

It's really pretty interesting how one's life evolves - the butterfly effect, if you will. If this hadn't happened, then that would never have been possible.

Looking back, I have very few regrets. Somethings I wish I had avoided (don't we all?), and other things, I wish I had done sooner. I'm relatively healthy (for an old guy), and just living out my years - traveling some, enjoying family, friends, my Bronco Sport and wishing the Bears would finally figure out how to succeed at professional football again.

 

[Bill G]

Ah yes, life — the hand of fate has writ, then moved on (or something like that).
Enlisted in USN on 18th BD; had delay to report so I could graduate HS. Served (3) Nam tours (Navy, NOT Army) from ’68 to ’71, then @ 15 years on PD’s until I was so banged up they retired me.
Got “Dear John’d” once, married “the girl next door”, and we just celebrated our 48th.
Made some mistakes along the way — nothing I can serve time for, learned from those; all-and-all I wouldn’t change my life for anyone else’s . . . guess that makes me “the winner”.
Here’s looking at all of you who’ve made similar trips.

 

[jkernitzki]

Served (3) Nam tours (Navy, NOT Army) from ’68 to ’71,

Missed it by not that much, had three years of the draft lottery and I jumped to the USAF as a firefighter before I drew a single-digit number. Went Navy a few years after that, my Sea Daddy was on PBR's for three years, and boy, did I get an education. I do miss standing Shore Patrol in Subic, though.

Congrats on 48! Got ours coming up in February.

 

[Bill G]

Missed it by not that much, had three years of the draft lottery and I jumped to the USAF as a firefighter before I drew a single-digit number. Went Navy a few years after that, my Sea Daddy was on PBR's for three years, and boy, did I get an education. I do miss standing Shore Patrol in Subic, though.

Congrats on 48! Got ours coming up in February.

Yeah, joined the Navy as I knew my draft # was #1 . . . 2nd week of boot camp in the first mail call we had was my Army draft notice — I sent it “return to sender” with a note that said, “If you want me , come and get me” and the NTC post-mark (those were my “idiot” years).

 

[jkernitzki]

Yeah, joined the Navy as I knew my draft # was #1 . . . 2nd week of boot camp in the first mail call we had was my Army draft notice — I sent it “return to sender” with a note that said, “If you want me , come and get me” and the NTC post-mark (those were my “idiot” years).

Totally a Navy answer.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

What amazes me is how fast it goes and how the hell did I survive the early years! Like others have said, problems or roadblocks become new opportunities or direction. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have done some things differently but what is done is done and no going back.

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