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Yes and no.
I spent most of high school skipping class and partying. I managed to graduate with the minimum number of required attendance days and a 3.80 GPA. I used to be able to read something once, often just skim it and I'd remember it. I'd stay out all night and go into class the next day with little or not sleep and pass exams. Used to really piss off my girlfriend.
After high school I worked at fast food and restaurant jobs until I couldn't look in the mirror anymore. So I joined the Navy. Once again doing well in class helped out. Getting out of "A" school in the top 5% of the class allowed me to pick my first duty station. I originally picked the USS Constitution, which is basically a tourist attraction in Boston. Sadly I was informed that since I was married at the time the Navy wouldn't station me there due to off base housing costs. So a Senior Chief pulled me aside and told me I should pick the USS Cape Cod. Brand new ship, just out of dry dock and headed on what they were calling a "diplomatic tour." So I took it. Went to 17 different countries the first year. Asia, Africa, Australia and all over the south Pacific. I went to all these places and being young and dumb I, like most of my buddy's, didn't really take advantage of opportunities very well. Every time we'd hit a new port the first thing we'd all do is head to the local bar and start drinking, then try to find a hamburger or a pizza. You know when you're in China you really should at least try some Chinese food. Any hamburger or pizza you find is going to suck anyway. When you're in Sydney you might want to at least go see the Opera House. Nope- inside of a lot of bars, that's my main sight seeing experience. I have pictures of me on some beaches of small islands in the south pacific. I have no memory of being there. More bars and bad hamburgers I'm sure.
Did I waste it, sort of but I'm sure I had a good time. And I'm currently trying to get back to as many of these places as I can. One thing I gained from it was a love of travel. I'll drop every and hop a flight to Hong Kong if the price is right. This habit has been known to put my dogs in foul moods for weeks.
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I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo
Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club
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