ABOUT ME

As for my life, it has been more about gyms, working out and exercise. I was able to join the YMCA when I was nine years old. There was a physical director at that time that was like an army sergeant. He had two groups of kids; Junior Leaders and Senior Leaders. As a Junior we had to learn not only how to use, but also to teach the rings, parallel bars, low bar, high bar, mats and spring board. As a Senior, it was their job to teach the Juniors. It was an exceptionally good experience for learning about discipline and dedication (practice), something I learned at a very early age and it still has been part of my life.

I entered the Army at 17 years of age, took my basic, attended Crypto School and along with five others we were assigned to Special duty with the Navy on the Crossroads Atomic Bomb test in the Marshall Islands. From there we were sent to Oahu, Hawaii and worked in the underground signal center while waiting for further orders. They finally assigned us to Gen. Douglas McArthur´s headquarters, Dai Ichi building, in Tokyo.

The other part of my life included five years in the Watertown, N. Y. paid Fire Dept. driving the 85´ & 100´ aerial trucks, and then 40 years plus driving tractor trailer with a career completing more than 4,000,000 no accident miles. A business along with my regular job was also part of my life so that seven days a week and 2 or 3 hours sleep was an ordinary occurrence. The business, which I built and developed for eighteen years from scratch by myself, was Goose Point Campground & Marina situated on 150 acres and 2000 feet of waterfront on Lake Champlain, Vermont. After retirement from driving I invested in a driving school in New Jersey for ten years teaching more than 2000 students the finer points of driving tractor trailer. In the process it became apparent that I had to learn Spanish since more than half our students spoke Spanish. Because of this fact, I went to Mexico to study and became proficient in the language, fell in love with the country and eventually moved to Cuernavaca, México. Living in Cuernvaca México for ten years included studying computers (in Spanish) for a year and half after which I worked in a HP workshop for a year doing repairs, assembly and trouble shooting.

With the knowledge I accumulated at school and working in a repair shop I also spent a great deal of time teaching how to use the computer. It seems that my teaching in the driving school taught me that I do love teaching. Being a very analytical person I have the ability to break each step down so that it can be explained in an understandable manner for someone who knows absolutely nothing. A fact is, a teacher learns more, most of the time, than the student from constant repetition. There are people that study, get all kinds of degrees all their life and never use or share that knowledge with anyone else. I am sure you understand my feelings on the subject.

At the moment I have lived in Acapulco for two years and am in the process of returning to Cuernavaca where things are more conveniently situated around the Zocalo (center of town). The other reasons for my return are quite a few friends and the weather. Cuernavaca is called: The City of Eternal Spring and rightfully so. It has a more moderate climate and requires no air conditioning or very seldom heat.

And so it goes, now I spend most of the day trying to maintain this web page plus a minimum of three days a week working out fairly heavy, recumbent bike and weights at the gym; total time spent at the gym, between 1 ½ - 2 1½ hours. Between the gym and my diet I have energy to spare which I am thankful for. Even after having lived in México for a total of twelve years, I still find it difficult at times to do things “Mañana”. Living in the U. S. most of my life things are usually expected to be done yesterday. The truth is I kind of like the Mexican way. Because of it my blood pressure runs around 110*/- over 60*/- with a heart rate between the 50s & 60s.

BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN I COULD AFFORD SUCH LUXURIES

By
Bruce Stokes