BigRalphN’s Ramblings (Formally Ralphies)

The 80’s Continued The Reenlistment Period I’m finally back at the keyboard. I concluded one entry with the “Animal House” in Dale City, Virginia, and my move. I then took a detour to Santa Barbara. Now, I’ll try to refocus after my relocation. It was an intriguing, albeit somewhat perplexing, period for me. So, let’s delve in. Before I venture too far, I’d like to briefly acknowledge the best man from my wedding and his family. I met them quite early on my arrival in the DC area. We had been on a bowling team together. When I first moved to Dale City, we would occasionally visit each other for barbecues or just to catch up. After I moved out of “Animal House,” I became a more frequent visitor. We even went fishing together. I would help him with his side jobs. I spent a lot of time with his wife and kids at picnics and even short trips around Virginia. I would be at their house almost every Sunday I didn’t travel and some Saturdays. It would be a disservice not to mention them. Now...

  The 80’s Side Trip to Santa Barbara It took me a bit longer than planned, but here I am again at the keyboard. I have my 80’s playlist going and I guess I am ready. I decided to take a little side trip. I was going to continue where I left off, but I decided no story about my life in the 80’s would be complete without mentioning Santa Barbara California.  I mentioned Santa Barbara a few times in the past. From the very first time I visited, I knew I wanted to go as often as possible. While working at the White House we could select our hometown trip preference.  I initially selected Utica/Rome New York.  After my first visit to Santa Barbara I quickly had them change my hometown to Santa Barbara. This did not mean I would go on every trip there as it was a favorite for a number of people. Rancho Del Cielo, the Reagan Ranch, was not far from there and it was his frequent vacation spot. As it turned out, from 1985 on I made all but one or two trips. I would go with t...

    The 80’s Part 3 The Midpoint Continued One interesting aspect of writing is that I often take unexpected turns. Initially, I planned to simply discuss my fondness for the 80s culture. However, I’ve veered off into an introspective journey, exploring how the 80s shaped me into the person I am today. There’s no need to change course now. I concluded the last entry in Santa Barbara, California, and realized I had transformed from the timid teenager with numerous college issues. At the end of the 1984 Presidential Campaign, Ronald Reagan sought solace at his ranch, Rancho Del Cielo, for an extended vacation. I volunteered to stay for the entire duration, providing a respite for those who had spent a significant portion of the year away from their families. For me, it felt like a vacation. I worked about an hour daily and had the rest of my time to myself. Something profound had changed within me. Firstly, I was older. My appearance had changed, and my attire had evolve...

The 80’s Part 3 Continued One thing that I find interesting when I write is that quite often I go in a different direction than what I initially intended.  I originally intended on just saying why I liked the ’80s culture.  Instead, I have gone down an introspective path, talking more about how the 80’s made me the person I am today.  There is no reason to change at this point.  I ended the last entry in Santa Barbara California and then realized that I was no longer the scared teenager that had so many issues in college. At the end of the 1984 Presidential Campaign, Ronald Reagan went to his ranch, Rancho Del Cielo, to spend an extended vacation.  I volunteered to stay for the entire period. That allowed those who had spent a big part of the year away from their family to return home after a couple of weeks.  For me, it was like a vacation.  I worked about an hour each day and had the rest of the time to myself. Something had changed in me.  Firs...

The 80’s Part 2 A Lifetime In 7 Years It is back to writing again.  I left off at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins Georgia.  As I stated it was my new family. Despite not caring for the area itself I seemed to have found a place where I made friends and a place to slowly grow and mature.  Little did I know that early in 1983 my life was going to make a sudden turn. I believe it was around the first week of February 1983 that I started mobility training, more commonly called Mob School.  I had just finished a day of first-aid training when I got notice that I was to report for a mandatory briefing from The White House Communications Agency (from here on out referred to as WHCA for brevity).  Well, to bypass the complexities of the process, I was on my way to the Washington DC area as the newest Audio Visual Tech in WHCA, by the end of May. The training was fast and furious. Within a week I was pinning a microphone on President Ronal Reagan for a tapin...

The 80’s A decade to remember. I started ready to tell you that the 80’s was the best decade of my life.  With further internalizing, I decided that it wasn’t necessarily fair to friends and family to make that statement. The fact remains that the 80’s were the years of my greatest growth. They also contained some of the most interesting and fun times of my life.  For those of you that were part of my life then I hope this reminds you of good times or, at the very least, will bring you a wry smile.  The decade was not all roses.  1980 started wonderfully. My senior prom, a wonderful girlfriend who worked much harder on our relationship than I, my senior trip, and preparation for graduation highlighted the first few months. Unfortunately, graduation put an end to the good times.  I stated in a previous blog that I was lost. I graduated and had no clue what to do with my life. I was angry and confused and started treating friends and family poorly. It culminated i...

It was time to write again and I guess this will continue my current trend of introspective posts. This time I will dive into music and how it has had an impact on my life. It has been entertainment, a friend, an escape, and more.  The only way for someone to fully understand is for me to start from the beginning. So sit back and learn a little about what has made me tick through the years.  I should start with a bit of history. At a very young age music was always on.  My grandmother would babysit for me and she always had music on.  At that time it was a variety of old music.  Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Hank Locklin, Hank Williams, and polkas by Frankie Yankovic and Myron Floren. Sometimes she would allow me to pick out albums.  I tended to gravitate toward Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, and the collections of 50's and 60's rock and roll beginning collections she brought for us to listen to.  When at my aunt's house I always grabbed her Beatles albums. ...