What do old men do???
That was the subject line for an e-mail received today (3/26/10) from Billy Carter. Intriguing?!?!?!
Here's the answer to his question:
His message added the following information: "Attached is a picture of what old men do after they are retired. The empty bike belongs to the guy with the camera (me)."
So, here's Billy astride his "old man's ride".
Billy continued his message, "This depicts today's great weather at one of Texas' State Parks, "Brazos Bend". Pic #3 is a '5 ft. gator' at a lake inside the park. YES, Texas does have alligators." (Click smaller photos to enlarge)************************************************
Billy's original Bio for the Milby 1960 Blog:
In August of 1960, I became an employee of Southwestern Bell Telephone as a “mail boy”. SWBT paid for tuition and books for employees to attend college. Therefore, I started taking night classes at the University of Houston. As I moved up the ladder, my work schedule became more demanding. I finally gave up trying to attend night school to work the longer hours. Over time, my decision to spend the required hours at work has proven to be correct path.
I married when I was nineteen. After a couple of years my first wife and I decided to take different paths. We used one attorney for the divorce in 1963. We did not have children.
To keep from getting drafted and sent to “Nam”, I served six years in the Texas Airforce National Guard. My “telephone” background allowed me to be accepted by this Communication Squad.
I sold our home in Westbury and moved into the singles apartment scene on the west side of Houston. As the apartment rental fees went through the roof in the early 70’s, I bought a “Town House” in northwest Houston. I drove Corvettes to all of the popular bars, living the singles life.
I met my wife, Barbara, at a neighbor’s birthday party. We were married in April. 1992. Amanda arrived in June, 1993. Yes, even old people have sex.
I took SWBT’s enhanced offer to retire early when Amanda was five months old. This was Oct. 31, 1993. I stayed home as Mr. Mom while Barb went off to work as an office manager for Ryder Trucking. Just me and Amanda at home, learning from each other. While we were shopping for groceries, etc., people assumed I was the grandfather.
Enough of Mr. Mom. I told Barb in 1994, that I had to go back to work, even if it was as a volunteer. The very next week, SWBT called and asked me to return to work in their Training District. I accepted without even asking if a salary was included. I was in the company of adults again. I continued teaching until 2002.
Today Barb and I are retired. She has friends who join her weekly to create greeting cards and picture albums, via a “stamping” process. They meet weekly in each other’s homes.
I attend monthly “BS” breakfast with a bunch of old retired farts. Three are Buffaloes; David Thompson and twins, Bill and Pat Adams. Six graduated from UH. The others attended UH.
Weekly, I make a “day trip” to the country with two friends on our motorcycles. We visit the National Forest, the Bay area and the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham. Fresh air and little traffic. Barb, Amanda and I keep a 26ft sail boat at Seven Coves Marina on Lake Conroe. It is “sorta” like a floating camper, sleeping four on an overnighter. We attend the Lakewood Church.
And life is good!
Billy sent the following message to our class on July 4th, 2008
An Encouraging Message ! ! !
While a lot of you old folks were off spending your “IRAs”, us younger folk were busy preparing for the celebration of our Declaration of Independence.
Our fifteen year old daughter participates in a “fund raiser” at Klein Collins High School.Their Band sells the use of “the Stars and Stripes” mounted on eight foot poles. These 3ft X 4ft flags are placed in the front yards of the donors’ homes on the third of July and removed on the fifth.
On 07-03-08, the entire team placed over 3,000 flags. We spent one and a half hours doing our part. Driving through a neighborhood that has our Flags blowing in the breeze gave me great pride in being an American. Seeing that the majority of the kids at “our” high school are smarter than we were at that age, caring and believing in God, also gives me a great sense of pride.
This current generation is gonna do OK.
Billy, Barb and Amanda Carter
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In August of 1960, I became an employee of Southwestern Bell Telephone as a “mail boy”. SWBT paid for tuition and books for employees to attend college. Therefore, I started taking night classes at the University of Houston.
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