Buzz's Bedtime Stories

Tonight’s episode of “Buzz’s Bedtime Stories,” a personal favorite, is about the night I met my wife. @nicholepat75. I was a C-141 squadron operations officer and my squadron deployed to Yokota Air Base just south of Tokyo for 6 weeks. We flew every day to places like Singapore, India,Thailand, South Korea, Guam, and Australia. I was there to administer pilot check rides and have fun so I put my deputy in charge so I could fly as much as possible. One day, we were tasked with picking up deployed Marines from Korea and returning them to Iwakuni Marine Base, Japan. When we picked up our first plane full of Marines, who were sleeping on hard floors, we realized that half of them were going to have to spend the night in the terminal until we came back the next day. I talked with their commander and told him we’d drop off the first group and come back ASAP to get the rest. They were ecstatic. Ended up being among the best decisions I ever made in the Air Force, otherwise I would’ve spent the night in southern Japan and never met my now wife. Instead of laying over in Iwakuni, we returned back to Yokota after our second Korea run. It was a long day but very satisfying. I was whipped and I took my crew to the O’Club for drinks. We were having a great time when one of my fellow pilots came to the club and said he was having an aircrew party in his room across the street and he wanted me to meet somebody. We reluctantly agreed and walked to the party. A bunch of sweaty dudes in flight suits. As soon as we walked into his BOQ room, I locked eyes with a beautiful blonde who is now my wife. That’s who Todd wanted me to meet! 30 years ago! Not only was she beautiful, she was a Rush Limbaugh fan! We immediately hit it off and the next night had our first date in Tokyo. She was there on an internship with her college, Chico State. God works in amazing ways! Three children later, here we are. I definitely outkicked my coverage! Being proactive paid off! ❤️