Happy Birthday Dad

By lex, on November 9th, 2012

From Chris(SNO)-

Today is the first day I won’t be able to wish him a “Happy Birthday” over the phone via FaceTime, or the Stone-Age method of actually calling. It’s been a very strange experience. We had the standard father-son relationship with hunting trips when we could, talked about life during down times, and of course all things aviation/Navy related. We shared stories and asked what was different and how he did this or I did that. I had hoped to take him in a helicopter for one of his birthdays or as a Christmas gift to show him what flying really is! Joking of course, I just had to give him and his jet buddies a playful jab. As I continue to learn more about what goes into being an aviator, ground jobs and working with other military branches, I find myself wanting to pick up the phone to call him for guidance or just to complain about the day and hear “how it used to be in my time”. I’ll never forget the expertise and words of wisdom he imparted on me in regards to family, friends, and work. I hope to some day be half the man he was. I would like to end with my father’s favorite quote, modified slightly, from Gladiator, “If you find yourself alone, flying in CAVU skies with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead!” Happy Birthday Old Man! *Raises a pint of Guinness and a shot of Jameson*

Diana Rigg

With the news of the passing of Diana Rigg today, I thought I would tell you of a time when her world and mine intersected.

It was December, 1974 and I had a week’s leave. I hopped on a C-141 at Rhein-Main, and poodled over to Mildenhall Air Base to take a train into London.

And wandering around at night, what should I do?

A Couple of Stirling Moss Stories

With the news that Sir Stirling has passed away at 90, Motorsports lost a motor sports icon and a true gentleman.  It has been said that he was one of the greatest drivers who never won a Formula 1 championship.

Of the 528 races that he started, he won a remarkable 212.

It was said that he never won the F1 title because he was too much a gentleman.

A Carroll “Lex” LeFon Primer

Who was Carroll LeFon?

The best description of Lex that I’ve heard is “Imagine Hemingway flew fighters…and liked people.”

With John McCain’s Passing…

The WSJ had a good op-ed and another article on the effect he had in the Senate. I always thought how many could have endured what he endured in Hanoi for 7 years? Somebody today in the F/B group posted a wonderful story on him during his Presidential run and a “television journalist” who tried playing the game of “gotcha“.

You know, ask some absurd question so you can ridicule the the hapless interviewee on his lack of preparation. Who’s the President of Absurdistan? Don’t know? How are you qualified for the office?

Barbara Bush – A True Lady

My idea of a real lady is a woman who can talk with the boys, yet never lose her grace or femininity. You just know that you are in the presence of a true lady.

Barbara Bush had that quality. Below I’d like to offer a story given by a fellow Lexican yesterday on Barbara – courtesy of author and shuttle astronaut  Mike Mullane from his book “Riding Rockets,” Scribner 2006 – edited)

___________

(By Mike Mullane)

The highlight of our meager postflight PR tour was a visit to George Bush, Senior’s White House. We were shocked by the invitation. STS-36 had been virtually ignored in the press. There were no women on the crew, no minorities, no firsts of any kind that might have turned out the press to cover a presidential handshake. Whatever the reason, the invitation was sincerely appreciated.

In Remembrance

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

Requiem – Robert Louis Stevenson

To Lex

Happy Birthday Lex. We miss ya down here.

CubDriver

From a fellow Lexican comes this from his blog RUMBEAR CHRONICLES. Thank you, Charles Mellor for this.

That is an awesome picture BTW!

A Moving Tribute

Came across this post by Brigid today.

If you have not read this lady’s blog before, you need to add her to your list. She is an amazing writer.

It was dusty at Chez Sarge today.

Neptunus Lex – One Year