Lessons in Life

In sixth grade, every child was musically tested to try to grow the marching bands in high school. I wanted to play a saxophone. The band directors wanted me to carry a tuba (since I was one of the bigger children). I compromised (to myself) and got a friend in junior high to teach me to play drums whereupon my parents fretted that I would do drugs. I surprised them by playing in rock and roll bands for about seven years. My first big project as a structural engineer was the inner dome to Space Mountain for the Buena Vista Corporation in a place called Kissimmee, Florida. As a project engineer, I learned to coordinate designs for constructors to build. My dad thought I would be an architect since I liked to draw. (In my hometown's phone directory, there were two pages of architects but only a third of a page of civil-structural engineers. Easy decision.) I have enjoyed stories from firemen I have associated with. They can be very humorous. I have enjoyed Justin Wilson's stories and Jerry Clower's funny wit. God bless them. I wish they were still alive so I could autograph my book for them like they did for me. Not that this is on their level, but I try to present my life stories to entertain and just make the reader feel good, have some memories, and smile.