'I Dream of Jeanie'

I really was a pretty lucky kid.

I was born into a migratory American family in Boise, Idaho. I was two weeks 'early;' a real easy delivery in the Emergency Room at the hospital as mom was rushed there from shopping in the city that day.

We lived in a small place some 60-or-so miles away from Boise called, 'Mountain Home.' To the best of my knowledge there is still an active Air Force Base there. It's wild for me to think that when we lived there my dad's job was flying B-52 bombers armed with nuclear weapons to protect us from the threat of communism.

We moved from Idaho to Seattle when I was just six-months old. My dad was attending the University of Washington for his MBA; at the same time he was on active duty with the Air Force. We lived in the Seattle area for two years; I'm sorry to say, I have no memory of this time. Mom always told me it was nice place to live; too bad the sun only came out in August.

We moved from Seattle the WHOLE WAY across the country to Cocoa Beach, Florida. My dad was an electrical engineer by his college degrees; by then an experienced pilot, too. His service was needed to fly 'electronically-equipped tracking flights' for the early Space Program. We lived just across A1A from the beach for five years; seven miles south of Cape Canaveral at the narrowest point of the barrier island. We saw 'Mercury,' 'Gemini,' and early launches of 'Apollo.'

As dad flew tracking flights, we knew when all the launches were scheduled from 'the Cape.' My earliest childhood memories are of the rocket launches we saw from our backyard or the nearby beach. During those early 'discovery' years before and into preschool I was learning words and terms like; 'gantry,' 'telemetry,' and 'down-range.'

No doubt, an example of the 'kismet' I describe in the entry below.

It's fun for me to watch 'I Dream of Jeanie' re-runs as our family lived there during that time. It 'takes-me-back' to childhood memories I am really lucky to have. It is this rich personal back-round that separates me culturally from the locals.

I grew up in a world that was 'limit-less.' My father traveled all around the world on his job; protected us with nuclear weapons in the 'belly' of his bomber, then helped us explore beyond our world, too. He went on to do 'other things;' but my early childhood experience in Florida helped shape my perception of the 'world.' My horizons were never bound.

Last evening I went for a quick drive into the country; minutes from my house. I stopped at local 'self-service' produce stand. The stand is along a local two-lane highway. The stand operates on the 'honor-system;' the prices are listed, there is a 'slotted lock-box' for the money. I bought a small bushel of Yukon Gold potatoes; a small basket of tomatoes; two bell peppers and six ears of fresh corn for less than $5. There can be no doubt the items are 'fresh.' One of the perks, I suppose, of living on the suburban fringe of this micropolitan area. 'They' really do know how to grow sweet corn here; some REALLY good tomatoes, too. I've been making the 5-minute drive 'out-there' every Saturday for the past few weeks. Their garden-fresh stuff is really good.

Agricultural products are produced here in abundance. Agricultural is one of the three pillars of the historically-sturdy local economy. The other two are tourism and industry. Interestingly during these times there is another surprising component which is real estate. Property values here continue to appreciate; despite the over-all national economy. I suppose as a result of our close location to the BosWash corridor of I-95; the small-town 'feel,' slower-pace, and other 'quality-of-life' issues; it hasn't been a 'bad' place to be.

Over the years, I have managed to eke out a decent living here.

When times are bad other places; they always seem to be 'less bad' here.
We still have 'new' residential construction going on here. I suppose a 'benefit' of the local culture's conservatism; we don't seem to have 'bubbles;' hence, less of a 'crash.' Things are always pretty steady here; even now. I've joked that it's due to the fact the local Mennonites would NEVER lend money they weren't sure they would get back; with their interest.

Now is the time that is a very good thing.

I hope all's well with everyone.
More later.

'night

Chris