November is World Series time and the Yankees finally retook the championship title. My son Adam is thrilled. On Thursday, Les came with me while I spoke to six classes at John Carroll Catholic High in Fort Pierce for Karen Vercillo. That Saturday two miles up the road about six thousand people showed up to see the Muster at the Navy Seal Museum. Guns were blaring, jets were flying, choppers were landing and the guest speaker was Captain Phillips commander of the Maersk ship that was kidnapped by the Somali pirates. The Navy seals that killed the pirates and saved the Captain's life were also there. It was a very patriotic and explosive event. Wed the 11th we attended the Treasure Coast Lost Cord Club picnic in Stuart. Russ and Wendy Buhl, Charlie Nail, Bud Smith and others had a great cook out. On Tuesday Nov 17th I drove four hours round trip to interview a potential BOD member who I feel will be a great asset to the IAL if and when the BOD votes him in.
On November 21st Tina Long, the IAL president resigned her position and per the bylaws found myself as the new IAL President. That same day we drove to the center of Florida to a place called the villages. Glenn Beck came into town and gave a great talk about Democracy, Capitalism and the Consitution. The audience was extremely receptive, and no one was arrested. The following Monday four of us from the Treasure Coast club spoke at Westwood High School for over 5 hours. Thursday was Thanksgiving and Les and I had two other couples in for turkey and all the fixings and my mother's German sauerbraten. Les had a roast beef marinating in a vinegar and vegetable brine for five days prior to cooking. It was delicious!!!!!
Saturday, November 28th I put in a counter offer on a three bedroom condo in my building. We presently have a much smaller two bedroom unit. The offer was accepted and the closing will be February 1st. The next day a local bar/restaurant owner and good friend asked me if I wanted to go flying in his plane over our area. I said sure and we proceeded down a long dirt road to the Indian River, then we walked another 500 feet through a jungle like path, palm trees, oaks, spanish moss, etc. down to a tiny beach. Around the corner sat a two seater seaplane that looked like a nine foot long, five foot high dragonfly. No windows, no doors, no ceiling, no floor. It had a 50 horse power home made motor criss crossed with plastic two cycle gasoline filled hoses, and about 20 pounds of erector set parts and clamps holding it all together. He did a full inspection and pointed to a seat where I would be flying from. I started to climb on, and Buzz said "hey, hold it!" Take off your shoes, socks, belt, wallet and anything in your pockets. He said we might not be able to lift off with the extra weight. We pushed off, cranked up the one prop and started out on the river. After several unsuccessful attempts he stopped the plane (flying lawn mower). Then, a big boat was heading our way and leaving a good sized wake. He cranked up the engine and headed for the back of the wake. As soon as we hit that wake the plane jumped up and left the river. We gradually got up to 600 or 700 feet and flew over my condo. Lesley was on our balcony waving like crazy. Just over the condo units lies the Atlantic Ocean. Buzz pointed straight down and we cruised at 5 or 6 feet above the waves along the shore for about eight miles. We saw fishing boats, dolphin, two sharks and waved back to hundreds of people along the beach. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. The next day November 30th three of us from Stuart spent another day in a different school the Dan McCarty Middle school, again talking to 5 classes. November is now history.
Bob
