EPILOGUE

I personally do not like aircraft as a means to travel. In my mind I took all the risks I should during WWII and did not enter an airplane between 1945 and 1965. I remember the life stories of several members of the Lafayette Escadrille who in WWI survived incredible risks only to die ignominiously in peacetime.
But, my work began to take me to many places. In 1965 I closed my engineering office and took a job that required weekly airline travel to San Francisco. I then accepted a short assignment in Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico. This required a helicopter flight that I did not enjoy. I soon took a job as an engineer for a company that required a secret clearance.
Between the years 1965 and 1995 I traveled 500,000 miles by air. On one job I made 16 trips to Boston, Massachusetts in 16 weeks. I have been in responsible charge of projects in every corner of the U.S. In 1975 I represented my employer’s company in Vienna, Austria. I traveled to many states in the U.S. on projects and to represent my employers’ companies. I consulted with clients on projects in Israel, France, South Africa and Hawaii. I worked on and helped to market projects in many countries where I had not visited; for example, South Korea and the Philippine Islands. I supervised the engineered construction drawings for Katmandu, Nepal’s sewer and water system. I engineered missile system sites and structures.
In 1967 a diagnosis of lymph cancer changed my outlook on life dramatically. Betty and I quit smoking cigarettes that day. In the 1960’s I began to go to golf courses (I hesitate to use the term play golf). In 1978 we bought a Winnebago Motor Home and in 1979 a boat. I began to fish almost every week. We traveled about 35,000 miles in it, including a trip to Maine and back. I took it on hunting trips. I carried a motorcycle on its back end and hauled a 14-foot boat and trailer with it. I ceased motorcycling in 1988 (hey, it was about time at age 65 and I had bought a bigger boat). The Minnie Winnie could not tow the boat. We tired of Minnie Winnie and sold it in 1987. (Betty said, “If it is not first class, we are roughing it.”)
We went to some great places. See “Been There, Done That” in the Appendix.
I enjoy open spaces and traveled to hunt, including the Palomar Mountains, Camp Pendleton and Santa Catalina Island in California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern California. I drew into Whittington Center twice and Camp Pendleton twice, so far. The second time I drew into Camp Pendleton in was 2001. Betty and I have enjoyed the meat from the doves, quail, deer, elk, rabbit, and Javelina, which we were privileged to eat. I hunted for bears for several years, but to no avail. I did not hunt for the meat which is reportedly greasy.
My Dad died in 1981. He drank, smoked and manifested his scrappy personality til almost the very end. I could write more than a book about him. I still dream about him and they are all good dreams.
In 1988 I became involved again as an entrepreneur using my contractors and engineers licenses and started evolving into retirement, working four days a week and later even less. We moved to Oceanside where we found a safe harbor for my boat and a house, which Betty and I like a lot. I did a project in Bangkok, Thailand in 1995. I spent 3 weeks there and 6 months part time here. I got very lonely during the 3 weeks there and vowed to eschew that kind of project, in spite of the plethora of opportunities.
In 1989 Harry Slonaker died and in 1997 Aunt Besse died. She had appointed me executor of her will. In accordance with his wishes and her instructions I distributed more than one million dollars to their favorite charities, about 30 in all, including the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. As a lifetime member of the Elk’s I often contributed to help kids walk again or for the first time. Betty and I have a few charities to which we donate which include Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Red Cross, and Cancer Society of America. There are a few others but do not recall them as of now. I also send a few bucks to the University of Southern California occasionally. When I worked for a large engineering company I donated that company’s money by joining special circles for which the company received recognition. In 1991 I worked on the 40 year Alumni Committee to help raise money for U. S. C. We raised about $70,000.
During 1991, 1992 and 1993 I chaired a committee of Life Members of the American Society of Engineers in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. In 1993 I formed a committee of Life Members of the American Society of Engineers in San Diego County. Our goals and procedure were stated to give, pro-bono, the benefits of our combined years of experience to decision makers of local public agencies and districts policy makers. We found very few takers. I made some friends among the engineers.
As a Life Member of the Benevolent and Paternal Order of Elks I had opportunities to socialize and played poker, for modest stakes, regularly until most of the players died. I also played 3-par golf with neighbors and Michael and Jeffrey. I played a full size course off and on over the years. Betty and I played in Glendora. In Oceanside I joined the Oceanside Seniors Golf Association and played frequently until 1997. The Jack Daniels Distillery anointed me a Tennessee Squire (courtesy of a client in 1963) and deeded me a small plot of land (about 625 square centimeters) near Lynchburg, Tennessee. They continue to send me numerous whimsical souvenirs of my membership.
Betty and I have visited many places in this country as well as in other parts of the world, see Appendix, Been There, Done That. We have many photo albums and scrapbooks as well as personal memories for souvenirs. In 1994 we had our picture taken and celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska and cruise home.
I drink a lot of water and a little Remy Martin cognac, (courtesy of Betty) Jack Daniels whiskey (courtesy of Michael), Chivas Regal Scotch (courtesy of Michael) and Piper Hiedsick Champagne or Mumms (thanks to me). I also drink about one six pack of beer a summer.
I sold my (third and last) boat in 1998 in favor of going to sea on sport fishing boats out of Oceanside Harbor. I have had my “druthers”; do an occasional engineering project, go deep-sea fishing (I go fishing about once a week out of Oceanside Harbor) and play some bridge at one of 2 local Senior Centers. Betty gave up bridge. One of my partners is an engineer with whom I have socialized and worked with since 1951.
In March 2000 I signed a one-year contract to consult as a Civil Engineer to a contractor, which installs fiber optic cable in many states in this country. Its office is 8 miles from our home. My client paid for my Errors and Omissions Insurance and fully compensates me. (Our government needs the money.) In 2001 we extended the contract; I like the work and the client likes my style. The assignment keeps me busy 20 hours a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. But, I get home for 4 o’clock tea and a card game with Betty almost every day.
It is now July 2001. Betty and I take one day at a time and never go to bed without at least a goodnight kiss. Allowing me my space she takes and holds her own. We have taken some great business and vacation trips together. Although we disagree occasionally, we hold no grudges. Each of us can exercise veto power. Betty has never vetoed a career move, business decision, or a hunting or fishing trip. My “tail light” turned to love light and is still lit.

Betty is a successful artist. Betty developed her artistic talent into homemaking and producing paintings; she earned a wall full of ribbons and in the period between 1970 and 2000 sold over 170 paintings. She is involved with 2 art groups and produces artwork each week. During January 2001 six of her paintings were featured on KOCT, Oceanside.Check out in the rest of this tome. My resume is in the Appendix: Curriculum Vitae (CV). I include a few of my most interesting pre-1990’s project descriptions there. A major part of this CV was prepared in 1993 by a client to whom I consulted. The client needed it for a proposal to do work in which I would participate. I keep the CV current.
My web site is currently http://maxpages.com/menosanov