Today is my daughter's 20th birthday. She is and always will be my best girl. When I divorced in 2001 I also divorced most of corporate America and me and my best girl ate lots of baloney and sweated more than a few hot checks. Cait enlisted in the Air Force in April 2006 and she is currently stationed at Lajes Field, Azores and right now that seems just way too damned far away.

In most ways, Cait and her brother are responsible for my racing addiction. Way back when, I bought this old clapped out B4C from the Ft Worth PD and for some reason it evolved into THE family project. In 2005, She ran the Roadrunner ORR with her brother and they finished SECOND!!! on our first outing!










The plan was for Ole Dad to be the Crew Chief and let the kids drive fast. Oh Well! Cait joined up and then Michael *re-enlisted*. So now I either drive the car or it sits and gathers dust. I do believe Cait has turned into a lifelong F Body addict -- this is HER car that is under wraps in my garage right now.



Gotta say the girl has good taste, huh?

Right now, I talk to her most every day via the wonders of the internet and we are making plans for her to take leave and join me as navi at the Fall Roadrunner ORR. It will be the best of times and all you young bucks need to indulge me when I get maudlin' like this. One day, when your kids are grown, you will understand just how hard it is to watch them walk out the door into the Big World. It will be easy to spot my RV at Nashville. There is a flagpole on the rear with a Texas flag on top and an Air Force flag underneath it. Those flags fly every single day and when I put them up each morning I feel closer some way or another to my kids.

Nice post Andy.

Happy Birthday Cait ...

You would like her Mitch. She is a hard core racer and has that Texas state of mind.



We (collectively) lightly discount the sacrifice these kids in Military Service are making. Without going politically postal, I am much more aware of the debt we owe each and every one of them. The fact that they are the pawns of government and big oil is just F'ing criminal. If I ask them whether or not what they are doing is the right thing..... they (both of them, and Michael has been to the Desert 2x) say they serve at the discretion of their Commander in Chief. End of story.



God love them and protect them --one and all.

If you all would like to send her a birthday greeting, I KNOW she would dig that:

caitlin.jones@lajes.af.mil

Hmmm, we've got several beer smileys and a wine smiley, but no cake. Happy birthday, Cait, and good job!

20.... makes me feel like I'm getting old. Good thing I have the rest of you guys to make me feel like a youngster.

A big HBD to Cait, sounds like you've done a hell of a good job raisin' em Andy.

Happy birthday Cait!



Andy, you never mentioned that you had a 20 year old blonde with her own M16 before.....

Done!

Sent and already got a response.

Andy the Glowing Dad, you got some good kids there. Have fun.

John

Done as well.

Talked to her a bit ago and she was thrilled by all the emails. Sure does help alleviate some of the homesickness.


Thanks everybody.

Done!

My friend you did a GREAT JOB raising your kid's, and I thank not only them, but you and the rest of your friends and family for your sacrifice's!

CPL John "firehawkclone" Wheeler

congrats on raising your girl.
I know that base... i have family that live close-by and was there a few years back.
It's on the Terceira island... there is a great Pizza place she must go to... I'll see if i can get the the exact location so you can send her there.
The owners of the pizza place used to live in US awhile back... All I know is that it's close to the airport... anyways... everything is close by there... lol

Eugenio,

She says the people there are GREAT and she enjoys the island. She goes to Aviano, Italy January 2008.

Definitely!


My 3 are grown now, and they still have issues from time to time that are tough to watch them go through...


I'll be sure to look for you there.


I was USAF from 80-86.

Thanks John

Nashville is shaping up to be a good time.