Today, in addition to being a ‘ol college roomie’s birthday, marks the 50th anniversary of my Graduation from America’s Naval Academy.

We were sailors then, and are salty veterans now. We had 801 Graduates in our exceptional class on June 4th, 1975. Four years earlier, 1330 young men raised their right hands and made their solemn oaths to protect and defend.

Yes, that is an uncovered me at the right side of this polaroid picture, with a botttle of bubble in my right hand, and with “Ensigns’ “butter bars” on my shoulders. As a newly commissioned officer, I had a monthly pay of $666.00. Those were different days, with Vietnam just evacuated and with a Red Storm Rising in the Cold War. I was in love, yet not yet married to a saint who has tolerated me for 49 years of marriage.

Wayback then, I had just received two awards in addition to my B.S. Diploma. I was a co-recipient of the Rusty Callow Award for Navy Crew. I was one of 7 recipients in my class for “Outstanding Student Athlete” status.

Those were meaningful service recognitions that stick with me to this day.

What does the next half-century 🙂 look like for this 1975 college graduate?

Heck if I know. After all, predictions about the future are hard to make, according to Yogi Berra.

I intend to keep on truckin’ as long as I am able.

A third non-fiction book, to be released this year, is one goal that I will crack a bit more bubbly over.

Stay tuned for more sharings of my big KAHUNA effort – to Keep America’s Healthspans UNAbated. Yes, we can. There is no affordable alternative. TINA.

Stay tuned, keep using motion as your very good medicine, and commit to a thriving and striving campaign as did I.

Stay well past forty,

Dave F.