One of those goofy Facebook things from five years ago. My answers, along with a few updates and explanations:
- Tattoos – Nope.
I can sort of understand why someone would get one inobtrusive one. In his saxophone years, my son got one of a treble clef on his upper right arm. But covering a body with them? Not this kid.
2. Broken Bones – Left hand only.
Seventh grade. Punched a kid in the worst place possible. The top of the head.
3. Shot a gun – Nope.
Unless we count cap pistols.
4. Quit a job – Yes
Not only quit, but been fired as well. Not the same job.
5. Flown on a plane – Yes.
Flown in planes with cabins as small as a VW Beetle and as large as a 747, flights as short as one Hawaiian island to another and long as Los Angeles to Korea.
6. Driven 100mph – Yes
On I-10 in West Texas, 2010.
7. Rode in a helicopter – No
And at this point probably never will.
8. Watched someone give birth – Nope.
Although much to my shock I turned the page in one of my friend Mick’s photo albums and saw an extremely explicit picture of the birth of his first child.
9. Watched someone dying – Not yet.
My siblings were present at my dad’s death in 2008. I was attending Mass in California.
10. Been to an NFL game – Yes
More than a few. Home games of the Redskins, Giants, Falcons, Cardinals, Broncos, 49ers, Raiders, Rams and Chargers. More than 50 games in total. Oh, and one more — Super Bowl XXVII.
11. Been to Canada – Yes.
But not all that much. Montreal and Quebec City in 1967, Montreal again in 1979.
12. Ridden in an ambulance – Not yet.
Followed a few, though, with someone I loved riding inside.
13. Visited Washington D.C – A time or two.
Seriously, lived in the D.C. suburbs from age 13 to 32.
14. Visited Florida – Yes.
Not all that much, though. Spring Break 1980, a NASA Launch in 1997 and a Brian Wilson concert in 2015.
15. Visited Colorado – Lived there.
1986-88.
16. Visited Mexico – Nope.
I’ve been as close as a couple of hundred yards from the border in 2010 in Laredo.
17. Visited Vegas – A time or two.
Several very pleasant weekends, including winning a $4,000 jackpot in video poker that bought my son a new saxophone.
18. Eaten alone at a restaurant – Yes.
Many times, and it’s not as sad as some people say.
19. Sang karaoke – Nope.
Some things should not be inflicted on other people, and my singing voice is one of them.
20. Been downhill skiing- Once.
And I was fortunate to escape with all bones intact.
21. Ability to read music – Nope.
I usedtacould, as Jeff Foxworthy would say, but it’s one of the many skills I no longer have.
22. Rode a motorcycle – No.
A scooter once, in French Polynesia, and my wife got a broken wrist out of it.
23. Rode a horse- yes.
And since I weighed 255 pounds at the time,. I felt sorry for the horse.
24. Stayed in a hospital – yes
Actually spent nearly a week in the hospital in 1976 for surgery to correct a deviated septum. These days that would probably be outpatient surgery.
25. Donated blood- Yes, in my younger days.
Can’t do it anymore with Type 2 diabetes.
26. Slept outside – Yes.
Well, in a tent.
27. Driven a stick shift – Yes
But not in the last 20 years. I kind of miss it.
28. Rode in a Police Car – yes.
Not as a perp, but as a reporter on a ride-along.
29. Grandkids – You bet
One of the great joys of my life.
30. Driven a Boat – No.
Only ridden in one a couple of times.
31. Eaten Escargot – yes.
In 1977 in Paris. Not bad at all.
32. Seen a UFO – maybe
Well … I have seen objects I couldn’t identify.
33. Been on a cruise- no
Probably never will, unless I’ve made it through three more states and I only need to add Alaska ton finish the 50.
34. Ran out of gas- Yes
Back in the energy crisis days in 1974.
35. Eat Sushi – yes
And I would do it again.
36. Seen a Ghost – Nope.
A good place to stop.