Comments:
Well, Billy convinced me it was time to surface. After graduation, I took the “Long and Winding Road”. (You know, it wasn’t nearly as pretty as Sir Paul McCartney made it sound. By the way, if you get the chance you have got to get the Beatles re-mastered albums, er, CD’s. Truly worth the money.) Anyway, I went to Oklahoma Christian, then Oklahoma State University. GO POKES!!! Along the way I got married and had a child, I finished with my Masters in Electrical Engineering in 1976, coinciding with the birth of my second child. Yes, quite long. But the kids were definitely worth the trip, just in entertainment value alone. I especially loved the adolescent years, and yes I am crazy – but that hasn’t really changed. I can describe my kids by using short stories about their adolescence.
Melissa – Called home from college to tell me that she got a very small heart-shaped tattoo on her ankle (for Melissa, this was a real wild streak – she’s now a preacher’s wife). I asked her if she got the tattoo in a sanitary place. Her answer - “Yes, Dad. I told you I got it on my ankle”. We checked for blonde roots. She has my granddaughter, Macey, the one you see in the picture with black hair.
Matt – My true extreme child. I wish I had just half his mental resources. I came home one day and smelled something like burnt carpet (because it was). Matt comes running out of his room to explain how he had run off a couple of vandals who were trying to burn down the house. In his bedroom – two streaks of burnt carpet with a can of WD-40 and a box of matches on his dresser. Matt is an expert chef and likes to do that raw fish sort of thing (stuff that makes you shiver).
John – The protector. When he was a senior in high school his younger sister (see below) was a sophomore. In the locker room, one of his buddies began describing the new red-head, and well . . ., you guys know how locker room talk can go. A fight ensued, and John was suspended for a couple of games, but no one messed with Rachel while John was still in high school. John is currently a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He has my second granddaughter, Amerie, the one you see in the picture with blonde hair. God have mercy on the person who ever messes with her. Come to think of it, I’ll let someone else ask for mercy on them.
Rachel – The level-headed one. She had to go to the adjacent towns to meet guys (see description of John - above). Her only pause in common sense was when she rode on the hood of a friend’s car and fell off which caused the tire rolling over her ankle (I’m still not sure how that happened, I think there may be more to the story).
Shelby - One of my three rent-a-kids. They live with us, and yes, there's a rental fee due regularly. Shelby is my true nerd child.
Karrie - One of the rentals. Karrie is the jock and the one with the most attitude.
Johnny - The last (maybe) of the rentals. Johnny just wants to party.
My Wife - Lori. She is a nurse who works 60-100 hours a week. I sort of remember what she looks like.
Me – I went to work for Eastman Chemical Company straight out of OSU and have been here in Longview, TX ever since. I do analyzer engineering and safety instrumented systems (a US standard called ISA S84). Yes, I’m still a nerd.
