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Nice to get together every 47 years or so

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Basil

Basil

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Just finished a nice visit with an old friend from another time in my life. Alan was a 19 year old kid I first met in AF Basic Training back in 72. We were in the same flight. Then, as it turned out, we both had the same AFSC (specialty code), Computer maintenance, so we ended up going to Tech School together at Keesler AFB, Biloxi MS. We were room mates there, coincidentally. After we both finished 32 weeks of tech school, we both ended up getting the same first duty assignment (Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, MT) - and we were once again room mates. We stayed room mates for a couple of years until I had to go and spoil it by getting married.

Whereas I made the Air Force a career, Alan punched out after his first enlistment (actually he got an early out so was not in the full 4 years).

He went off to pursue higher eduction at Purdue University while I continued in the Air Force. I think we may have talked on the phone once somewhere along the way, but we basically lost tabs on each other. Then, a couple weeks ago, I got an email from him saying he and his wife were doing a road trip from San Jose to Chicago and they would be passing though. So, we arranged for them to come to the house and then we all went out for Mexican in Albuquerque.

It was a lot of fun catching up on old times and learning what each has been doing over the past 47 years! Wow, it's hard to believe its been that long since I saw him last. If we even hope to meet up again I don't think we can wait another 47 years!

Alan and his wife on the left, me and mine on the right.

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Nice. I connected with a roommate from college about two years ago. HIS daughter made contact with MY son via Facebook asking my son if his dad attended college with her dad. Basically our two kids got us connected again.
Glad you had a chance to catch up again.
 
Good stuff!

Funny how friends are friends, whether 47 days or 47 years go by. 👍
 
Forget to mention, he came bearing a gift. He brought me a book that details the history and development of the computer we both worked on, from the initial MIT project, "Whirllwind," to the SAGE Air Defense Computer.

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Very cool though next time don't start your post with "Just said goodbye to an old friend," My brain went somewhere else competely.
 
JPSmit said:
Very cool though next time don't start your post with "Just said goodbye to an old friend," My brain went somewhere else competely.
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LOL, I didn't think if that! I guess in your line of work I can understand where your mind went.
 
My mind "went the same way" and I am not in that "line of work."
 
Basil said:
LOL, I didn't think if that! I guess in your line of work I can understand where your mind went.
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And that is part of it, but, TBH, said 'goodbye' to a colleaugue this week (68 - older than me but was a student of mine) and at the funeral heard of another colleaugue and family friend (more like 78 who had died the day before.) So, yes, professional predisposition but, sadly, increasingly, that season of life.... :rolleyes2:
 
JPSmit said:
And that is part of it, but, TBH, said 'goodbye' to a colleaugue this week (68 - older than me but was a student of mine) and at the funeral heard of another colleaugue and family friend (more like 78 who had died the day before.) So, yes, professional predisposition but, sadly, increasingly, that season of life.... :rolleyes2:
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Ok, ok, I changed it to something hopefully a little more clear.
 
Basil said:
Ok, ok, I changed it to something hopefully a little more clear.
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Appreciated, now to the next clause.

You have friends? :ROFLMAO:
 
WOW! Let's pile on Basil!

OK - I'll play. Looks like you enjoyed your meal, Boss! (This coming from one who REALLY needs to hit the gym!) :devilgrin:
 
Mickey Richaud said:
WOW! Let's pile on Basil!

OK - I'll play. Looks like you enjoyed your meal, Boss! (This coming from one who REALLY needs to hit the gym!) :devilgrin:
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Considering I was skinny as a rail most of my life, I'll take that as a compliment!
 
Rowin' that same boat here.

What gets ingested seems to be pushed up by centrifugal force and down by gravity, somehow meeting in th' middle!
 
During our visit Alan reminded me of something I had forgotten - the time we went to the local Red Barn bar to see some little band no one ever heard of. Heart. This was 1975 before they really started to hit it big.
 
That's one of the good things with social media, the ability to find and reconnect with those online. Was able to do that with my college roommate who lived on the other side of the country after we'd lost each other back in the 80s. Corresponded and talked for years till cancer took him the start of the pandemic. I'll always be grateful for that time when we could catch up and keep up.
 
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