At 18, 2 weeks after high school graduation I enlisted in the Army. This was in 1974. Very brave thing for a somewhat naive young girl. First time I had been away from home for any appreciable time. Getting to South Carolina for basic training involved my first plane and city bus ride ever and I was surrounded by strangers. Getting off the bus at Ft. Jackson, immediately this man in a wierd lookin hat (drill sergeant) started screaming at us. I remember thinking, why is this man so angry and WTH have I done!!

Basic was 2 months, July and August, in sometimes unbearable heat and humidity...needless to say the longest 2 months of my life and no doubt the same for many of the young girls there with me. That drill sergeant was still yelling when we all graduated!!

I think of that girl who was so brave back then. Now, I don't think I could muster up that much courage.

So...what have you done in your life that you look back on and think....I can't believe I did that?!

i used to work 16 - 21 hour nights when in my 20's, hard work too...I don't think I could pull that off anymore...

Hi, well when i had finished my training as a firefighter in the uk i was so excited when i got my first shout, or fire call. I remember the carnage i walked into as i stood in the road trying to comfort a truck driver who has just drove his truck over his father by accident. My job that day was to pick up the body parts of the father who was decapitated by the truck, i had to lie under the truck and retreive what i could, i came back to the firehouse in a terrible state. I often ask myself how i did that, but over my carrere much worse came, now, i dont think i could do it.

In retrospect I can not believe that I use to jump out of perfectly good airplanes.But as I look back upon it I would not change a single experience from my past for it is what makes us who we are today.I am very proud to say that I served w/ 101st Airborne.I also had 2 near death experiences while serving but it's part of the training & we voluntarily accept these risks during enrollment.
Godspeed!Cy"Steven"

I know that exact feeling Stingray...I got drafted to salvage what I could from a crashed Cessna where a woman was decapitated and the co-pilot was cut in half at the waist. It was in a hangar where it dripped blood for three days and the woman's poor fiancee came to cry beside it...it was wrenching.....

the really tough part aside from my wretching and dry heaving as I worked...was finding blood crusted personal items....glasses....a watch...things like that....worst thing I ever had to do...when I remember it...I can still remember the smell......

I think I need a hug.

My gosh, tough first call for a young man to say the least. Bless your heart. This might have been a career ending event for some.

Usually my "I can't believe I did that" moments were not nearly so worthy and none turned out to be "rthe best thing I could have done. And most of them I can't even talk about for another....10 years or so. lol

But I laughed at you wondering what the DI was pissed at. Funny.

Lord have mercy! (((((Krupa)))))

Kudos, big props, Robin ...

I seriously considered the Coast Guard at that age ...

I fled home and put myself through high school at 15 ...

One of THE most intelligent, if tremendouly difficult moves that I ever made ...

I've started many businesses, NO bosses since about age 21.

In my late 20's, I boarded a jet to Europe w/ a one~way ticket, a backpack and NO itinerary ...

I did not return for almost a decade ...

I've been a huge adventurer, risk taker all my life ...

Having a child has curtailed that impulse almost a decade now ...

I feel that mojo instinct returning presently ...

Excited to see what this new adventure brewin' under the surface is bringin' ...

What dreams may come? ... ...

Yeah...think that must have been my first, What The F&ck moments ever!

Kudos to my friend. At 15 I will still tryin' to figure out which end is up, no way I would have been brave enough or had the knowledge to leave home.



Indeed...

I was told I couldn't have children

Had 4

Go figure!

I used to own a computer company in the early 80s. Back in those days, it was near impossible to find anyone qualifed t help..ao I did it all myself. Sales, service, scheduling, inventory, billing, taxes, etc. Stressed out one day and decided to take a ride on my motorcycle. I just never stopped. I came home 4 years later and a little over 80 grand poorer.

But I can believe I did that. Considering it right now.

Wow! How 'bout just start with a 2-week vacation this time and see how that goes Are you still in that line of work...hope you've hired help!

sorry about that still trying to work this site, that bike ride reminds me of a spingstine song, hungry hart

I'm still in that line of work and still doing it alone, but have learned to relax and that I can only help so many people at once. I'm a different person..entirely. And it (computer repairs/programming) gets a lot easier as time goes on.

I raised 2 daughters mostly on my own. I didnt have a car at first with the oldest and I walked to my job and back. I dont think I could go through all that again. But Im very proud of my girls. They are fine, young adults now!!!!!!

I enlisted on my 30th birthday

I was older than all my drill instructors in bootcamp

Lot to be said for being on the open road. Lots more for "a place to rest" (home and people that love you). I mean...I assume. lol Got the home anyway. The only people that have known me long enough to love me are long dead. I'm making new friends though. In another 20 years or so, we'll be good to go.