LOL!!!!!

ooohhh. . that hurts. . you must be tough. -- j
.

as with my wife -- if I looked that young, I might be carded!!! -- j
.

The P-39 had its issues. It was called the Iron Dog by many. The engine was behind the pilot with a crankshaft all the way to the propeller. Chuck Yeager got his start training in P-39's at the Tonopah, Nevada Army Air Force Base. The AAF found a good use for it as a low level attack fighter over Guadalcanal. You did not want to dogfight a zero in one of these.

Glad I'm not that "through" yet ;)

Broke curfew in a big way on Tuesday. Took my team our for sushi. Way too much sake. Poor decision making. Head to locals scooter-driver bar with live music (recommended by nice waitress). More beer. Out till 2 am... very rough Wednesday!

Anniversary celebrations are much less stressful!

Hi Herb; For those of us old enough to remember the days when there was not the instant gratifications provided by the supposed "marketplace", our memories recall something fuller than what is apparent today. I remember just taking the basketball out and perfecting sight, motion, and timing reflexes in sinking baskets, or getting on the ten speed and cruising miles just exploring the reality of the world. If weather was inclement, then I would build models or read books. Those are the memories of a kid back then.

But, I also remember at times, spending quiet evenings with my grandfather poring over his coin collection when I was a lad of 8 years old. This was in rural southwest New Hampshire, where the living room had a large painting of a four masted sailing ship plying rough seas.

No TV, no need for radio, forget the telephone party lines, the family goes their quiet ways of sitting in living rooms or in dining rooms such as I did with my granddad. The coins represented history, which he would elaborate upon year by year in his memory and upbringing. He was born in the 19th century, was slightly younger than Hitler and had been a gunnery instructor in WWI.

It is from my Dad, my granddad, and also my great granddad who was born in the Civil War that I have a deep appreciation of history and the passage of time. I also have the cherished memories of sitting and conversing with my great granddad born in the Civil War when I was reaching 12 years old. I was beginning to read and appreciate works like Ayn Rand, and speak to him of his memories. Here conversing with me was a man who was 12 years old when Custer was massacred, had seen the invention of the automobile, the airplane, radio, and a man in space - two world wars, depressions, umpteen presidents come and go. He was 100 years old and sitting with me under the shade of a tree in rural Pepperell, Massachusetts in 1964.

The history, the direct memories of people as they age are so precious and critical to humanity as it progresses - I get to a loss of words of how to appreciate the old folks. Partly, because I am one of them and have so much to say.

Good point. Good memories. +1