Air Force Buddies...still...after 45 Years!

Wayne, Bill, Vonn, Steve, Arnie

This was THEN....way way back...1968..."We get our wings"...at Mather AF Base, Sacramento

Steve, Arnie, Wayne, Vonn

This is NOW....2013...in front of old dorm building at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.

And so it happens that four of the five above meet up in San Antonio...and find they are still buddies, after all these years! 45 years to be exact since the shared experience of Officer Training School here at Lackland AFB.

We find each other at the Hayatt Resort in San Antonio...and the words start falling out and never stop for three days!  Steve (aka The Dog), Arnie (aka Chicken Neck), Wayne (aka Hiram), and Vonn (aka The Gen)...all present and accounted for.  Missing for the gathering is Bill (aka Little Bill) and his wife Dee (aka Big Dee).  Everyone misses these last two terribly, but sick leave kept them at home this time.

Wayne, Tammy, Arnie, Vonn, Marie, Steve, Nan, Jean

If you read above you know almost everyone has nicknames and they stuck like glue.  These clever and meaningful (no one can really remember why some of the names are the names) names were developed during OTS and the only two married guys at the time were Little Bill (to Big Dee) and The Gen...to Jean (aka Crumpy).  These names float through the air as if they are never known by any other name...then or now.

We report and are ready for action Thursday morning in the lobby and we are off to explore Lackland AFB.  There must be SOMETHING still there the guys remember?

Steve and his plane: B-52

Imagine the sound.....

B is for BIG

The Dog points out his cozy quarters as navigator

Big and Bigger

Memories...

We all wander the planes, talking and pointing out things...and just remembering what it was all like.  There are stories.  Many many stories about flights, situations, people and incidents.

Then it's off to find the dorm (Steve refers to the look of it as more like a prison) and the classroom (called The Master Bedroom because they were so tired from studying that they would fall asleep in the auditorium chairs and pencils would hit the floor and roll away) and the building where they made runs for late night snacks.  Yes, all still there!

The Dog, Chicken Neck, Hirem, The Gen in front of the dorm

Memory lane works up an appetite so it's off to the River Walk and the Lonestar Restaurant for...what else, bar-b-que and beer...oh and margaritas!

Ready for trouble

Next, a walk on the River Walk, a barge ride on the river AND the Alamo.  Whew.  How to keep up with my six new friends?

Yet another toast!  Note to self: Gold Margarita = GREAT!

Riding on the river

Spring 

Barred owl in River Walk tree!  Surprise

Now for the Alamo!  How can you visit Texas without a visit to The Alamo?  You can't obviously.

So where's His hat?  It's Texas for goodness sake...ya gotta have a HAT!

Remember the Alamo...and Remember the GAF Buddies!

I think we are all asleep as we crawl into bed...but, set the alarm...because tomorrow is another day of FUN.  I feel so fortunate to slip into this wonderful band of men and their wives.  Lucky me!

Nan, Tammy, Marie and Crumpy!  Note our matching flower headbands....shoppers all!

Next post: Day #3 GAF Reunion and San Antonio