I am an "eccentric" who has quite successfully devoted his entire life to avoiding a "real job". Ever since back in 72, when I discovered I could happily earn more money in plowing gardens using my grand fathers old Ford tractor in one day, than I could earn working for some cold hearted SOB employer in 40 hours of hard, thankless labor.
Having had 3 fathers was a mixed blessing. My biological father was a very busy college professor who after 2 wars in the Navy (submarine), was remarried and had regretted having me, after all, I reminded him of his cheating, no good, slut of a wife, who gave away most of her children. On the bright side, it can be truthfully said that the 5th fleet sure did love mom! LOL
My Grandparents loveingly raised me. My fathers mom was an RN (Scrub Nurse) and her 2nd husband raised me as in his own words, "as his own pup". Poppy was a tool and die shop foreman, and having been born and raised in France, was a good father. Although I often ended up on the receiving end of a switch (I still plead innocent as all children often do on all charges. There is no evidence that I every put that M-80 in to that new 5 gallon bucket that Poppy had just purchased. LOL), and mentally terrified of the thought of ending up on a prison road gang, I still manage to turn out OK , and was instilled with old time values and a protestant work ethic.
Then for all to brief of a time, Mr. Fox came into my life. A wonderful, well traveled, well read amateur archeologist and historian. A retired Suit & Tie men's clothing store owner.
How I did enjoy being with George on digs and excavations.
I came to know that American Indians where not at all like what Hollywood had portrayed them as to be. They where NOT savages, but a kind and loving nation. A society unable to escape the terrors of European Domination and submission.
I was just 11 at the time George had past on at 81 years of age. I was to young to comprehend the meaning of a God Father. George had never fathered a son, and had considered me his God Son. I soon learned I had been given all of George's Zenith stock and his farm.
With in 30 years later, I inherited my Grandfathers house and farm. Wishing for a better life for my children, I sold the family farms and moved to Florida. There I bought a new home on a canal 2 blocks from the Beach and Gulf of Mexico. I lived there for 25 years, raising my children, sheltering runaways girls and losing my wife of 35 years, which is to painful to talk about.
While an active boater, I donated a 32' Marionette, 26' Chris Craft with a fly bridge, a 20' speed boat, a 14' skiff and a 18' wet sub that I built out of an old drop tank. We use to take turns pulling each other along the bottom at 4 knots. It had a release handle so you could stop.
William R Miller
1989 with a 125 lb. Cabara snapper
Boat "Top Gun"
Up and down planes just like a real sub. A Plexiglas wind shield as at 4 knots, the water pressure would rip the mask from your face. A digital depth gage, room for two divers and spear guns, air tanks to surfacing and a compass.
Over time, I donated all the above boats to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
After loosing my wife and waiting for my house to sell, I volunteered 20 hours a week at my local hospital just to get me out of the house and around people and for the exercise. 2 years later and 2 of the worst hurricane season's known to man, I finally dropped the price to the point of giving my house away just to make like a sheep herder and get the Flock out of Florida.
In over two years had worked for food some 2,000 hours at my hospital as a volunteer. I also gained 40 lbs! ;-( Hey, it was one free meal per shift. And darn good food too!
Yahooo, I finally passed the 2,000 hours.
It was during that long 2 year wait that confirmed my love for the Philippines. Once an American Colony.
It is an English speaking society with over 250,000 foreigners already retired there with there Pinoy wives according to government facts. With the help of my best friend who lives there, I soon started investing all my earnings for my web sites to send needy students to college, for which the Phil's are well known for having. FYI, some 5 million Pinoy's work abroad. I very much enjoyed working with those at the hospital. I remember 2 beautiful young nurses who always stopped by the chapel to prey, before starting their long 12 hour shift.
Just as my fathers instilled their value's in me, I knew my destiny was in the Philippines where I could do the most good. Not by giving fish so much to the poor, but by helping those who desired to learn to fish for them selves, bringing much wealth into their families.
As soon as I get there, my buddy has promised to take me to the school near the slum's (where he volunteers too) so that I may provide badly needed school supplies to the children there. There is no better feeling to hear the children proclaim with big smiles that your generosity means so much in a country where poverty is so wide spread.
If there is one thing I hate in life. It is some con artist who clams to be something he is not. I hope these documents are proof enough that I can walk the walk and talk the talk..... My kids tell me that it means I speak the truth. LOL
And PLEASE, volunteer somewhere, a pet shelter, hospice, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, a food kitchen. If your like me, you will never be sorry. Never!
