September 16, 2011 "The Good Stuff!"

One of my favorite movies is "Wild Hogs", a story about 4 friends who are in their mid-life (sound familiar) and are "Weekend Warriors" (suburban biker wanna be's) who dream of a road trip and finally set out on one only to meet with danger and intrigue but finally come to terms with their restlessness in life!

I guess the reason I like this movie so much is that I can identify with those characters. I believe I am the most restless soul who ever walked the planet. I am never content, never satisfied, always seeking and never truly finding my place in this complicated planet we live on.

Oh I have had my share of excitement and adventure and live it everyday! Growing up in a family driven by a "Command Sergeant" (Billy Locke, God bless his soul I miss you Dad!) I was reared to be adventurous because he surely was!

Eleven years in the Air Force, 11 years in the United States Secret Service, 4 years in the Department of the Treasury, and now a Guide and Naturalist in Southwest Florida as a Coast Guard Master Boat Captain, Certified Kayak Instructor, Certified Coastal Naturalist, and working for a company that gives me the best job a man could ever have!

I'm married to "Mrs Wonderful" in every way, my bride of 35 years, who has been so patient with me in all of my discontent stages and has encouraged me through the low times. I have 4 perfect kids (yes you other three don't know about my son "Ortega"!) who have wonderful successful lives and are changing the world as we speak for the better!

I live on an island, on the beach, with some of the best friends a man can have, watching the sunrise and sunsets in this beautiful place full of palm trees and balmy breezes every day.

I'm in a biker club called "The Naughty Riders" go figure! (Oh, kids, by the way I'm kidding about Ortega!) I have been bitten by alligators, snakes, birds and turtles this year.

So, my life is filled with motorcycles, boats, kayaks, dolphins, eagles, alligators (hence the nickname "Gator D") manatees, birds, turtles, snakes and beautiful people!

So, why am I so discontent? Well, the only thing I can think of is that I know one day I will leave this life in which I cherish so much and I want to squeeze as much into it as I possible can. I can never get enough of life! I can never learn enough, touch enough, see enough, explore enough, or get bit enough! I am hungry for life. I am a Wild Hog by birth. I want to know whats out there. I want to experience it. I want to be consumed by it!

So for all of you who know me and at times you look into my eyes and I seem to be looking through you, don't take it personally! I'm sometimes in my own world, seeking the next adventure, wondering what my next safari will bring me, and wondering if I will every make my goal of an adventure filled life!

Thank you all for being a part of my life and for being my friends, family and encourager's.

As for today! Well, I'm taking my mother-in-law Eleanor to the Casino!

Gator D is outta here! SEE YOU LATER ALLIGATOR!