The People You Meet

I’m sure many of us are reflecting on 2021 and saying where did the year go? Often times we sit in the doldrums between Christmas and New Years and say ok this year is going to be different, yep this year I’m gonna plan, I’m gonna take care of my body, I’m gonna, I’m gonna, I’m Gonna.

So here I was this morning doing just that, writing in my journal and reading a book, a very easy read by the way “A Fortune to Share: by Paul J. Myer.?Paul speaks in very plain easy to grasp terms. In chapter 14 he writes "if you can learn, if you can find good in what you find in front of you, and if you can keep your direction clear, it's just a matter of time before you break through and reach your dreams". What else could I do after reading that? Off I went to the gym after my morning ritual to renew my spirit, an early start on 2022, or so I told myself, I had been doing some things at the gym nearby to promote preventive health, so I was kind of taking my own advice.

As fate would have it, I struck up a conversation with a retired air force officer who then introduced me to a retired Navy Chief. I had so much respect for these guys even though they seemed more impressed that I was Marine. It was a great conversation, and it lifted my spirits. John, the retired air force officer said “hey there is an ole marine pilot that works out here I gotta introduce you guys. I said that would be great and we all kind of disbanded wishing everyone a happy new year.

About ten minutes later here comes John with a loud shout heard across the gym, “Hey Gerry, here’s Terry, Terry, Terry this is the guy.” Terry and I hit it off right away. The first thing I asked him is what he flew, and he immediately told me, with an abundance of pride, ‘the A4 Skyhawk”. The A4 was just still being flown by the marines in 1981 when I was stationed at El Toro in Southern California. Being a pilot, I was always drawn to that single seat fighter and hearing the stories from someone who experienced combat in the aircraft firsthand was an unexpected treat. What I learned in the next fifteen minutes was a glimpse into an amazing life. He flew two hundred and ninety-two combat missions over Vietnam at twenty years of age, trained pilots in Yuma Arizona after he got back, and got out shortly after. He then taught school for a couple years and then became an engineer for the railroad in a career that spanned thirty-four years. He said I traded going fast in the air to going fast on the ground, although much slower than the five hundred knots in the Skyhawk.

Terry will tell you he did nothing special but I beg to differ. This humble man flew almost three hundred missions over enemy territory and lived to talk about it and train other pilots who were to come after him. This is the type of true Marine and true American who walks humbly among us, who knows what it is like to lead in times of crisis, and who has faith to endure. I was left this morning with an amazing amount of gratitude and inspiration, and a thought that we really don't have it so bad after all.

The rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say, is even better. You see, Terry is seventy-eight years young, and I do mean young. He has worked out without fail every week since he was eighteen years old. I had to ask, what's your secret? He just smiled and said "don't ever stop." I watched in awe as he did three sets of ten dips after his other exercises, as I sat there, I thought, I cannot complain about any ache I have in this sixty-year-old version of me.??

Shortly after we departed with a Semper Fi to each other and a see ya soon!

So now you ask, so what did I really learn? Don’t just write stuff down and make yourself feel good about what you’re gonna do in 2022, go out and do something and make one of those things meeting new people. Take a genuine interest in them and they will tell you things that may just inspire you. I believe hearing someone's story first hand can do a lot to inspire you. If one thing ignites the spark in you, the fire may burn for a lifetime.

“Charlie Tremendous Jones once said,” you will be the same person you are now five years from now except for the people you meet and the books you read.”

Never lose sight of those two things and you are bound to be the best version of you in 2022.

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