What have you been up to since `89?
After barely graduating, I joined the U.S. Navy. Then, I went to boot camp in Illinois, welding school in Philadelphia, and Quality Assurance school in San Diego. Because I was here already, I was stationed aboard a repair vessel that was about to leave for a 6 month cruise - aka a "Westpac".
This trip took me to several really cool places such as Hawaii and Thailand; and then to some not so cool places like Guam and Bahrain. But, I have to add that I do not regret going, they are just some places that I would chose to not visit again.
After returning, I married and spent another 3 years in the Navy. In 1997 I got out and began my civilian career as a Quality Manager for a local company. That lasted until 2000 when my wife was transferred to Maryland. At first I loved the East Coast and all of the history and colorful seasons but that was short-lived. 9/11 happened and that caused a chain of events that brought me back to Illinois. Because of her training, my wife was brought to the Navy boot camp to be a Drill Instructor.
By now, I had enough with everything - one divorce and a long ride later, I was back in San Diego. Literally on the day I arrived, I was introduced/re-acquainted with the woman that would become my wife and the mother to our son.
