I think it's time to tell you what I've been doing for the last 45 years so here goes.

When we last saw each other in 1961, I was working at a delicatessen until I went into the Army in 1966. The Army was kind enough to send me to a number of schools and then directly over to Viet Nam. I was there from 1966 - 1969. A lot has happened since then

Shortly after my homecoming (1969) I was able to secure a job with Grumman Corp. and worked my way up in the company from an input/output analyst (mail clerk) to a Computer Systems analyst. I worked at the company for 26 years and then retired in 1994.

During that time I attended years of IBM computer classes for the company and worked on the LEM, design of the Space shuttle and the design and upgrade of the F-14.

I always liked flying from the time I was a kid back in Levittown and did some flying in the war soooo, I decided to go into pilot training in 1970. I have logged a lot of flight time in the last 34 years. I was in the process of getting my commercial pilot license when I retired and ran out of money just 20 hours short ($30,000.00) of completing my goal. Now I'm too old to finish. During that time I also picked up a Glider (air plane with no engine) rating and had a lot fun doing that sport too.

After my retirement I did a few things around the house, went flying, skiing and camping but everyone was at work and there was no one to play with. So, I went to work for a computer consulting company in New York City for 4 years and traveled around New England until after Y2K when I was RIFED. (reduction in force)

Out of work again for a year, I got a job working for the Mayor's office at City of New York and have been here for just about 6 years.

I was married for 30 years when my ex-wife decided that she wasn't happy and wanted a divorce. She is a hi-powered vice president of the Bank of New York and didn't know when to stop partying. I have one adopted daughter that is the apple of my eye and lives with me. She is now in her 3rd year of college with a major in business. I currently live in St. James ( North shore next to Smithtown). I do the commute everyday to the city (4 hrs round trip on the L.I.R.R.) and I only have one more year to go until I can collect another pension.

While I was in the middle of my friendly divorce about 2 plus years I was diagnosed with cancer. The flavor is called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is not an aggressive form of cancer. The Doctors think it was the result of being exposed to agent orange in Viet Nam. After getting the news I started chemo that lasted about 6 months. The treatment just about cleaned up the cancer but it came back about 2 years ago. The Doctor's were watching my progress closely since then and it spread into my right leg. About 2 years ago my Doctor said there was another treatment out there, so I had nothing to lose. Well, I started this special treatment (not experimental) and within 3 weeks it started working. I went to the doctor about a year ago after having a number of scans and a bone marrow test and the doctor said that he can't find any cancer in me anywhere. GOOD STUFF !! 2 treatments $42,000.00 a pop.

When I got the bad new about my cancer I decided that I was going out in style and I always wanted an old collectable car so I went out and got one. Now that I'm cancer free I take the car to local shows and have fun with it. My out look on life has changed and I live each day as it comes.

Well, that's my life (so far) in a nutshell. What have the rest of you been up to for the last forty five years?