Countdown to 60, Part 2

Forrest Gump?

A new associate and I were chatting over "lunch" the other night at work. We were sharing life stories and after all was said and done, she likened my life to that of Tom Hanks character in the movie of the same name...

I wasn't offended as much as I was taken back a bit. My life has had no where near the number of encounters or event participation that Forrest had during his, or has it?

I was born in Pennsylvania when Dwight Eisenhower was President.

I moved to California when I was two.

I remember my older brother's 5th birthday (I was 3).

My Dad helped design the Minuteman Missile.

Traveled by car in the 60's to more than 20 of the lower 48.

Moved to the Virgin Islands before my 13th birthday.

Spent most of my teenage years living on a 66' Sailboat.

Cruised with family to most of the Bahamian Islands.

Met Buddy Ebsen (Beverly Hillbillies) when I was 16.

Had lunch with Carol Burnett when I was 20.

Made several trips up and down the east coast Intercoastal Waterway.

Had drinks with Walter Cronkite on his sailboat in Miami.

Ran a 48' private yacht for a Miami restaurant owner.

Ran a 70' private yacht for a Bermudian businessman.

Attended Miami-Dade College.

Got married, had two sons, bought first house.

Got divorced.

Remarried, had another son an a daughter.

Met and worked with most of the cast from 3 Star Trek TV Shows.

Worked for Burger King Corp and Burdines/Macy's in Miami.

Worked for Circuit City in Ft Lauderdale before moving to Richmond.

Jumped out of an airplane for my 50th birthday.

Came "Out of the closet" the same year.

Moved to Williamsburg and then to Portsmouth (VA).

Met my biological father (Pop).

Have 3 wonderful grandchildren (with another on the way).

Had two relationships since coming out (hopefully a 3rd on the way).

Wow... There are so many other things I have done, places I have been, and great people I have met along the way... Maybe I am a little like Forrest after all... On the other hand there are so many things I still want to do, places i want to go, and people I want to get to know... Ahhhh, plenty of time still!

Stay tuned for more adventures (and probable misadventures) leading up to and beyond the countdown to Sixty!

Over and "Out", from Richmond, VA