MY STORY - AND I'M STICKING TO IT

I was born in a small log cabin. I often read by the light of the fireplace. I taught myself how to become a lawyer and from there moved on to politics. I remember, with pride, my inauguration as 16th President of the United States of America. Wait a minute...that's not me, that's Abraham Lincoln. If I'm not Abraham Lincoln, then why am I afraid to attend the theatre?

In reality, I was born in Greeley, Colorado on a balmy August 27th, in the Fabulous Fifties. At least, that is what I was told. I don't remember being born (I was very young at the time), so I'm taking my Mom's word on that. Other than the whole Santa Claus thing, I don't think she ever lied to me, so I am reasonably sure that this is true. She says she was an eye witness.

I graduated from Greeley West High School (Go Spartans) in 1972 and two weeks later reported for Basic Training at Ft Leonard Wood, Mo. I volunteered to join the Army because Canada seemed too cold and they talked funny, and jail didn't seem all that attractive either. Because I volunteered I was told that I could go to Germany and work as a "Personnel Specialist." And so I did - volunteer, go to Germany, and become a Personnel Specialist.

Germany was like a whole different country. Everyone spoke German. In order to defend myself I learned German. I visted France. Everyone spoke French. I learned German.

I spent four and one half years in Germany and loved it. I was assigned to Ft Hood, Tx when I returned to the States. Everyone spoke Spanish. This was good since I already knew how to speak Spanish (I took it for 9 years in school in Colorado). Some of the locals spoke "Texan" English, which I also quickly mastered - ya'll.

I quit the Army when my enlistment was up and moved to Luckenbach, Texas in the Hill Country. I also lived in Fredericksburg, Corpus Christi, and Houston at various times. Texas was like a whole different country too, and I loved it, but after being away from home for 17 years, I decided to move back to Colorado to be with the family for a while.

Four years back home in Colorado, an Associate of Arts, and my 20 year reunion behind me, I ended up In Waikiki - where I've been for the last four years. I started visiting Hawaii in 1991, during my homesick phase, because my Mom lived on Maui at the time. I fell in love with Hawaii and decided to move here. Mom moved back to Colorado in June of '93 and I moved over here in August that same year. It has fallen to me to maintain the family presence here in Paradise, and though it is a heavy cross to bear, I do my best.

I have a small oceanview studio apartment, in the middle of Waikiki, just 2 short blocks from the beach. I am currently employed as a night auditor at the Aston Waikiki Beachside a very upscale hotel located on Kalakaua Ave, right across from Waikiki Beach. I love my job, I love living and working in Waikiki, and as Jimmy Buffett said, "the weather is here, I wish you were beautiful."

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