I did post in the "Why do I love this hobby?" thread. But it was geared along the lines of "WHY" I love this hobby. "HOW"?? did I get started in this hobby? Hmm, Way back...really not that long ago, twenty and a half years ago to be exact, I was completely "BORED" outta my mind. You see, Was married, (Now divorced 17 years) adopted my son, (who is my best friend and partner in crime, Hence Team Epley) and a beautiful little girl. To that, a brand new baby on the way due in July of that year. The kids' mother worked really weird hours at a factory which left me at home alone every night. Now being with your children is not so bad in itself...but when they go to bed again, you're left to sit in front of the tube until you your self go to bed. I just couldn't see myself drinking myself to death then crashing until the next morning. Only to arise with a hangover and go to work half stupid. I couldn't see myself chasing around and since the internet really did not exist then, no outlets. Sooo, one day I told the kids' mother of my dismay and she promptly said, "You need a hobby"! "Do you know what you would like to do with your spare time?" Well yes, yes I do. I have always loved planes. Ever since I was little. I used to lay on our front lawn and watch the jets go over head. (that was before there was so many restrictions) I would listen to the sound barrier being broken and watch the vapor from the engines leave a white tail across a perfectly crisp and blue sky. Oh yes indeed, I knew what I wanted to do. Next morning I went to the local hobby shop to see what they had to offer. I came home with a Midwest Cherokee kit and an O.S. SF46 glow (shudder) motor. Man I was as excited as a school boy getting his first kiss from the little babe he was always dreamin' of. Well, ok.... maybe a little less excited. Hee hee. Anyway, I was aching to build and cover and install and...FLY. Oh the story goes far beyond this and with much more depth and of course... much more grief in the beginning than what I was aware of. LOL...but this was my start. This was the beginning to the madness that I share with the biggest bunch of most awesome guys, (and gals) I've ever had the chance to meet. It truly was the beginning of my total passion that I always remembered as a child on that front lawn every afternoon. A person might take away my planes. They may melt my motors into smoldering pools of molten metal. But they will never take away from me the memories of all the accomplishments, and all of the failures I've had over the years. They will never take away the challenges I've overcome and all the very special people that have come to mean so much to me. Last thought and comment here is this. I take no responsibility in the progression of my decease. It was all her fault. LOL....
