This is nuts.
I joined CAP in January 1987 when a neighbor friend I had known since 1980 recruited me. Later that year the two of us attended one of Florida Wing's three encampments, this one at Tyndall AFB in August. We earned our Mitchell Awards and have remained lifelong friends, seeing each other every few years. In fact, in 2003 I was a CAP Squadron Commander and he was a CW3 Kiowa Warrior Pilot at Bragg and hosted my squadron for a visit from Virginia. We also linked up at our 10 and 20 year high school reunions.
Fast forward to December 2018.
Saturday I dropped my cadet at Florida Wing's winter encampment at Camp Blanding. Unknowingly, my old friend from my cadet days was dropping his cadet off, too. We were visiting Jacksonville over Christmas and decided to take advantage of this encampment opportunity. Meanwhile, my buddy was thinking and doing the same thing. We came from Ohio and they came from Alabama, and CAP brought us all to Camp Blanding, albeit unknowingly.
Ironically, it wasn't until I posted a pic of my cadet headed to check-in to Facebook that he saw it and said "hey, we were there too!" So we missed each other and our cadets have no idea about this, so at graduation we'll meet up and introduce them.
Bottom line:
1987: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
2018: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
Why is there no "LIKE" button on this.
I mean, seriously: this is awesome.
Serendipity at its finest.
Quote from: Stonewall on December 31, 2018, 03:32:37 PM
Bottom line:
1987: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
2018: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
This... Is... AWESOME!!!
Quote from: NIN on December 31, 2018, 03:55:48 PM
Why is there no "LIKE" button on this.
I mean, seriously: this is awesome.
What he said. Really. Awesome. Hope to see a repeat in another 40 years!
Quote from: Stonewall on December 31, 2018, 03:32:37 PM1987: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
2018: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
Oh god, Bowden AND Grimes? Those kids were both a hoot. I think I may have a picture of Grimes at O-Flights.
Quote from: Okayish Aviator on November 21, 2020, 12:02:39 AMQuote from: Stonewall on December 31, 2018, 03:32:37 PM1987: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
2018: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
Oh god, Bowden AND Grimes? Those kids were both a hoot. I think I may have a picture of Grimes at O-Flights.
Which Bowden and Grimes? Old or young?
Quote from: Stonewall on November 22, 2020, 12:31:37 AMQuote from: Okayish Aviator on November 21, 2020, 12:02:39 AMQuote from: Stonewall on December 31, 2018, 03:32:37 PM1987: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
2018: Cadets Bowden and Grimes attend their first encampment together in Florida.
Oh god, Bowden AND Grimes? Those kids were both a hoot. I think I may have a picture of Grimes at O-Flights.
Which Bowden and Grimes? Old or young?
From 2018. I managed the O-Flights for ENC that year and it was pretty interesting.