Your interesting life!

[boatme99]

Come on down!

We've all done one or two interesting things in our lives.
Here's a chance to crow a little.

What unusual, interesting something have you done?
Whom have you met? Worked for? Married? Annoyed? Anything.

You don't have to name names if you don't want to. Just a few good hints, maybe.

I'll lead off with something I posted in another thread yesterday.
I worked for Lt. Gen. Tom H. Miller, USMC, for a few years.

I also worked for one of the original Mercury astronauts. He and Gen. Miller were partners.

How about it? Let's hear some stories.

 

[shouldazagged]

The most interesting parts of my life are, for the most part, things I'm not proud of, but there are some I talk about.

In 1962, for a week I was the chauffeur for the legendary singer and actress Ethel Waters. A great lady.

In 1964 I came perilously close to being apprehended if not shot by Lyndon Johnson's Secret Service protection detail. Johnson was running for election in his own right and came here to make a speech. I was at the airport as a favor to my brother, a news writer and on-air news reader for a local radio station. He was tied up with a breaking story and asked me to record LBJ's remarks at the airport. He gave me a reel-to-reel tape recorder in an aluminum case.

I set up on the press line and tried to start the recorder. It had been threaded backward, and the free end of the tape started to unspool noisily.

I was hunkered down wondering what the hell to do when I saw two highly-polished pairs of shoes below knife-creased pants, which were emerging from two light raincoats. I looked higher and saw two pairs of the coldest eyes I have seen to this day. It wasn't long after the Kennedy assassination. The Secret Service was very edgy. The two icy-eyed young men had their right hands inside the raincoats and I knew pretty well what was under there.

Their expressions--they never uttered a word--said, "Record something, ********!"

I mumbled something lame and beat feet, shaking like a leaf.

Then there was that unfortunate situation with the Somali pirates, but it really was nothing. I didn't really deserve all the acclaim.

 

[P&R Fan]

As a Private Investigstor I have had many " interesting" experiences, as well as a lot of pretty boring ones. The best ones were the undercover assignments where I pretended to be somebody else and shoveled hooey at the target, all on tape.. But my favorite assignments have been armed Bodyguard experiences. Have been called, often late at night, by terrified Women. They were sure somebody was going to kill them. I actually moved in with them, heavily armed. Did a lot of stuff with them. Went out to eat many times, went to a movie, to church and once to her workplace. That one was a gynecologist. Just sat and talked to them for hours, trying tocalm them down. Always worked. Missus Fan is always aware of these assignments, and once made a rather astute statement. She said " you know what you are? You're a Gigolo". I thought I knew what that was, but looked it up in the dictionary. It says " A man who Women pay to spend time with them".
Yep, prettymuch has me pegged.
Jim

 

[zzzippper]

I've met George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, Gen. Schwartzkoff, Gen. Barney Frank several four star Army and Navy officers, several ambassadors, and seen but not met the emperor of Japan.

I was "in the house" when Bob Gibson got his 3,000 strikeout and when Roger (juicer) Clemmons got his 300th win and 4,000th strikeout on the same night.

 

[Jaysq]

I worked as a corporate accountant most of my life but my last job at a mountain resort opened up new opportunities for me. I have always been interested in landscape photography and I took a lot of photos at the resort. Right after our resort was sold to a new developer, the new owners came for a visit. One of the partners took photos all day on his cell phone. At the end of the day he was going to show his wife a couple while she was in the hot tub. You guessed it....he dropped his phone in the tub. Later I slipped her a flash drive with a couple hundred of my photos on it to give to him. A couple days later I got an email from the senior partner wanting to know if they could use them commercially. They used them on calendars, brochures and billboards. Later, my work was published in Nashville Lifestyles, Southern Tour Magazine, WNC Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and TV Land, to name a few. I have been pretty lucky.

Here is a cover shot for NC Mountains

[/url]What Could Be Better Than Getting Two Of Your Photos Published In NC Mountains....Getting The Cover Too! by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr[/IMG]

This photo of The Shadow of the Bear was on WLOS TV in Asheville, NC and picked up be the Associated Press. It went viral and was seen from Key West to Canada. ABC, NBC and even the military's Stars and Stripes picked it up. It is now on Getty Images

The Shadow Of The Bear - Published WLOS-TV & Associated Press by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr

 

[Wingmaster]

After being a really big fan of Ted Nugent since about 1976, I finally got the chance to meet him.

Wingmaster

 

[sheepdawg]

I rode out a tornado warning in the basement of the old Colonial Country Club in Memphis Tn around the mid 60s. Jack Nicklaus was right next to me.

Sat down in the clubhouse bar in Memphis' Triple A Minor League Autozone Park next to an older gentleman who said he was from Panama City Beach down in Florida. I'd played a lot of golf down near there in the 80s and started rattling off golf course after golf course. Guy had played most of them. Very friendly guy, must have talked for 15 minutes before some guy walked up to him and said, "May I have your autograph Mr. Mazeroski." I'd been talking to Pirates HOF 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski and didn't know it. Ran into him about a year later in Tunica, MS and he remembered me. Very friendly guy.

 

[shouldazagged]

I deleted this one. It might have been morbidly fascinating, but it was a nightmarish memory for me.

 

[arjay]

One of my classmates from my little working class high school is now my congressman [emoji33]
I didn't vote for him....I've seen him in a dress..
Not that there's anything wrong with that..[emoji10]

 

[carpriver]

I haven't done anything special, I retired form the U.S. Air Force in 1986. I attend college, worked in mental health as a counselor, spent some time as a addiction counselor. I am married to the same women for 47 years. I have had some pucker factor evens in my life but I survived them. I like to think of my life as blessed

 

[Dan Christopher]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

 

[Fat Frank]

Almost got run over by Jimmy Carter...

When I was a new one-striper, fresh out of tech school, I was stationed at Robins AFB, south of Macon Ga. This was 1979. Jimmy Carter would fly into Robins, and transfer to Marine-One anytime he was heading to Plains, Ga. I was "volunteered" to help out as "Security Police Augmentee", which meant they needed some warm bodies to line the tarmac while he was on the ground.
So here I am, about 3am, standing in pitch black out on the edge of the tarmac a ways off from everything, watching the plane taxi up to the hangar. I could see the Pres. and his hangers-on moving over to shake some hands before boarding the big chopper. Then they fire it up and start taxiing out away from the buildings, and slowly start coming in my general direction. Hey, I was told to stay right there. I wouldn't have known where to go if I did feel like moving anyway. Well, the chopper slowly started getting closer and closer, and slowly lifting off the ground. Just as it got about 20' or so away from me it was just over head high, I think they finally noticed that there was somebody there. The pilot hit the spotlight and I can't help but think they got a good laugh at the skinny airman doing his best to not lose his hat and stay on his feet in the strong propwash. If not for the strong winds, I could have jumped up and touched the wheels of the chopper.
After we were all picked up and on the bus, everyone was laughing and wondering who that was out there getting battered around in the dust. I just laughed and kept it to myself. Yeah, who was that?
I wonder if Jimmy saw me and still remembers that.

 

[DWFAN]

During my tour in Nam got a kiss and a big hug from Ann Margaret. I think I was in shock for a month. Even in high heels I don't think shes over five foot two.

DW

 

[Old TexMex]

Sitting on the dock behind one of the houses my employer owns, his 12 year old daughter and I were fishing. She said " my dad says you're one of his favorite employees." Suprised, I said " and why would he say that?" She replied :" that's what I asked him....and he said Because he trusts you, and you can fix things."


That's pretty interesting...

 

[Mike McLellan]

Before my life was dedicated to law and order, I was a pie-eyed, dope-smokin' trumpet player. Of the many bands I played with, two of the more well-known are pictured. Being a cheapskate, I wore the same worn-out overcoat while others were decked out in fine leather. Oh yeah, I think Ted Nugent got to meet me once.





That's me in the back.

 

[whitestang]

I got to bowl with Dick Weber a few times at a Senior PBA regional. Super nice guy,very down to earth. I worked with the Rookie of the Year for the Senior PBA of 1999 Mike Pullin. I met Leon Ashely,Margie Singleton at a Country Western event I worked as security for when I was Deputy Sheriff.

 

[cowboy45]

Sitting on the dock behind one of the houses my employer owns, his 12 year old daughter and I were fishing. She said " my dad says you're one of his favorite employees." Suprised, I said " and why would he say that?" She replied :" that's what I asked him....and he said Because he trusts you, and you can fix things."


That's pretty interesting...

From the mouths of babes.
I would be wiping my eyes.

 

[Rock185]

I've led a pretty unremarkble life;-)

 

[Trooperdan]

I was stationed in Germany with the 3rd Armored Div in 1976. There is a 100 mile march held every year near Nijmegan Holland called the "four days", the Vierdaagse. Something like 300,000 people attend and there is a catagory for Military teams and units from all over the world attend. Here is a link about it: International Four Days Marches Nijmegen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As 1976 was America's Bicentennial, someone decided to enter 50 American teams, one for each state of the Union. A competition was held within all divisions in Europe and even back in the states to select the final 50 teams chosen to represent America.
For three months April through June, it was my duty to speed march 15-25 miles a day, 5 days a week. We could march, in step and singing jody cadence, 25 miles in 5.5 to 6 hours daily. My team was chosen as one of the 50 to go.
The event is like Fasching and Marti Gras all rolled into one! There is celebration and dancing all over Nijmegan during the entire time. We would do the days march then head to town to dance and party until bed check!
We filled our ammo pouches with jump wings, unit insignia, qualification badges, etc to hand out to the kids that would run out and hold our hand and run to keep up for 100 years or so. Every village we passed was lined with cheering crowds.
On the final day, at mile 95, we returned to base camp to change into clean khaki uniforms and bloused boots (even if not Airborne). Each team carried the National Colours as well as a state flag.
I was 34 at the time and had met a young Dutch girl at one of the evening events. I was NCOIC of my team. There were 6 or 7 flag rank officers in the reviewing stand and we had been told it wouldn't be proper to be loaded with flowers when we went past! The entire final 5 miles packed with people, it was like marching through the RedSea of people! Somehow, out of all the units there, the young girl recognised me, ran out to give me a bunch of flowers. I carried them until it was near time to do "Eyes Right" when I dropped them in the street. As we cleared the reviewing stand, a middle-aged Dutch woman followed me and returned the flowers to me!
The appreciation of the Dutch people cannot be overstated! It was a very memorable event for me, one that I'll never forget. I still have my medal and I'd like to go back and do it again some day... as a civilian, at route step and wandering speed!

 

[WuzzFuzz]

I got up and out of bed this morning. Does that count?


WuzzFuzz

Actually, back in the good ole days, Vice President Agnew came to town to give one of those rha rha rha fund raisers. Secret service every where of course.

Me???? I got to be the one to "Guard" the kitchen...Steak and lobster by the tray full for everyone!!!!

Well since I got to guard the kitchen...Freebie steak and lobster, And I didn't even have to vote!!!!!..

What really ticked me off though, was the firemen...They had one truck there, and maybe 10 men...Ok they got steak and lobster for being there, but when they took tray after tray of steaks and lobster back to the fire barn, for their buddies to have some...Grrrrr. Those guys at the fire barn didn't do anything to deserve the goodies....If I had known that, I would have scarfed up several trays myself to take back to the precinct station for my fellow buddies in blue.


WuzzFuzz