olderndirt

I was just completing third year at secondary school - then leaving cert and into an apprentice program eventually National Service. As it was, coming to America made me a junior (third year of four) in High School (youngest) and then on to college.

Thought mass was more of a religion thing .

Reeferijerreighter - to keep the beer cold.

There's a little magnet thingy on my reefer says - "If you canna see the hills, it's raining. If you can see the hills, it's going to rain". Scottish but fairly universal.

Made the big eight oh on May 22.

Miss Moore was definitely a 'keeper' but my best friend and I are 22 days from 56 years of maritalness. Back in '62 I was a government employee at Cold Bay, AK - as was her Dad. She came home from college in Anchorage for Xmas vacation and magic struck. We were married in a world war two quonset (Fort Randall for the curious) hut by the magistrate's husband - his day job was postmaster but he did a great job.

You're correct John - my Rochester is in Washington State which is on PST (Pacific Standard - daylight in the summer - Time). The continental US is divided into 4 time zones - Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific which includes Alaska. Hawaii has its own zone - HST and is 11 hours from good old England.

At our age, any thought or idea needs to be recorded before it flies away. FYI I'm on Pacific Daylight time - 8 hours earlier than you people on the Greenwich (0) meridian.

John From where I'm sitting you sound like your plugs are firing on all cylinders. I'm just tickled to have made it this far.. As a youngster in Scotland, I recall both great-grandparents on my paternal side lived into their nineties so there's a bit of longevity in there somewhere. Never did get into the old and ancient game of golf - it demands perfection and I can do that only a few times a year . My step-dad was a low handicapper but he just played with his buddies - 6 am tee and home for breakfast.

Be joining the you Octogenerians in May - seems like it's taken a long time. Interesting life - born in Scotland - US in '53. USAF in Alaska then 40 years up there. Four planes, lots of flying. ATC - strike in '81 - NWS then retirement. Florida????? now Washington. Life is good. Update - officially 80 feels a lot like 79.

He even posted a 'Screenshot' - his first?

Two significant things I remember turning 75 was my Doc telling me no more 'cctv of my ducting' nor checking to see if I still had a prostate.

Be joining you Octogenerians in May - seems like it's taken a long time. Interesting life - born in Scotland - US in '53. USAF in Alaska then 40 years up there. Four planes, lots of flying. ATC - strike in '81 - NWS then retirement. Florida????? now Washington. Life is good.

Dave Ronaldson (Olderndirt) began life in Edinburgh, Scotland (hence the Saltire avatar) in 1938 but, as the son of a GI bride (complicated), ended up a citizen of the USA. Most of my adult life was spent in Alaska - first, courtesy of the USAF then with the FAA at various ATC facilities around the state. Retired here in Washington state, my previous experience as a recreational pilot drew me into the Flightsim web. An expensive hobby but, as the state of the art continues to grow, so does the enjoyment. The webcam shot - about a year ago as I approached my 75th birthday.