Catch that sophisticated use of alliteration in today’s title? I will now spoil the alliteration to clarify what I plan to talk about.
I’m only talking about spontaneous, short, unique memorable moments in my younger life; not major life affecting moments like a wedding, birth of a child, or loss of a loved one; but rather those once- in-a lifetime moments you recall frequently over many years.
These moments are best explained by examples. Here are two from similar situations, but totally different in their effect.
I was very tired, but the adrenaline was pumping cause I was in the middle of my “ escape and evasion” survival training exercise at Stead AFB, Nevada in 1962. I had, so far, managed to successfully evade my pursuers in this exercise. According to my map interpretation, I was close to a successful completion. I was racing through some heavy brush and literally clawing my way through it.
At one point I swept aside a large piece of brush and found myself face to face or eye to eye with a beautiful small deer. For a moment, we were both transfixed. I vividly recall her very wide, dark brown eyes and the frightened expression on her face. I could have reached out and touched her and wanted to let her know I was a “ good person” and would not harm her.
After a brief, totally enchanting moment, the deer bounded away and I was left alone with the scary thought of being captured by my human pursuers. By the way, I successfully evaded my pursuers and was rewarded by being marched into a 3-day mock POW camp where I was gonna learn first hand what a POW goes through every day. That kinda sucked.

My next example was also from a training exercise in escape and evasion. It was about three years earlier than my first example. I was a senior cadet from Brooklyn College AFROTC. In other words, I didn’t know s—t yet. We were at an Air Force Survival Training Center in Nelsonville, Ohio
It was a night exercise and dark as pitch. Again I brushed aside a large bush. Instead of a beautiful deer, I came face to barrel with a machine gun, manned by my instructor/pursuers.
Luckily it was loaded with blanks. They opened up on me and I think I soiled myself. Yes, I was that scared. I still vividly recall the loud noise and bright light flashes associated with facing a machine gun at point blank range. Lesson learned. Don’t rush into an area, night or day, without checking out what or who may be awaiting.

The next example was what I recall as my coming of age moment. As I said before, my mom was an attractive widow lady who had several gentlemen friends who visited.
One such gentleman had a bit too much to drink before he arrived. It was Christmas time and he had been celebrating. I was at home in a different room. But remember, this is New York. Apartments are small.
I couldn’t help but notice their conversation was a bit loud and they weren’t happy with each other. I also noted his language was quite abusive in my rather young judgment. I entered the room they were in and stated, “ Frank, I think you’d better leave. You’ve had too much to drink and should go home. “. Let’s see. He was about 6’2” and 250 lbs. I was about 5’7” and 150. In other woids ( New York lingo). He coulda killed me.
Instead, he looked at my mom and asked,” What do you say?” She said,”You heard him. “. And made my buttons pop. He was not a murderer, so he left. I’ve remembered that moment for 69 years.
My last example for this writing was when I turned 18. That’s when young men got their draft cards and were considered adults, even though our heads were still full of mush. We knew very little.
But, with a draft card, you could buy booze. I was working part time at the Post Office, so I had a little money. I gingerly entered a liquor store and bought a pint of Imperial whiskey, so my mom could fix herself a “ high ball”. That was an occasional splurge for her and I was proud to be able to do that.
I think it’s a bit unique for a young son to see that as a memorable life moment. It just sort of explains the unique mother/son relationship we had as survivors in the Big Bad City. Enuf for now.