For a day!

Oh, man, there’s so many.

Now if you asked me that question fifty years ago, the list would have been so much longer.

I’d always wanted to try my hand at Law Enforcement. Done

I’d always wanted to be a soldier. Done

I’d always wanted to be a good husband. Done and still in the works.

I’d always wanted to be a writer. Done, Done, Done, Done, and Done and also, still in the works.

Let’s see, looking at the old list, what would I do if I could for just one day.

Fighter pilot. Probably won’t happen, I can’t see the Air Force turning me loose with an F-16.

Astronaut. Unless someone take pity on me and gives me seat on one of their rockets, that also won’t happen.

But in a world where wishes might happen, it’s the last two I’d jump at the chance to do, even if it meant spending most of my time throwing up.

Which, of course, brings me to a story.

Don’t know if this one is true, but I heard that when Tom Cruise did the first top Gun, he kind of bullied the studio into getting him a ride on a TomCat. His thought were if he knew what it was like to actually be in one, his portrayal of Maverick would be that much better.

They bought it and he got flown out to a carrier and into the back seat of a Tom. They’re getting ready to be launched off the deck when he noticed the pilots call sign was “Bozo.”

Well, they’re catapulted off the deck and he’s sitting there feeling like his stomach is still on the deck when the pilot, who has barely cleared the deck, kicks in the afterburners and takes the plane straight up. Tom’s in the back being crushed by Gee forces, and screaming at the pilot.

The pilot tops out high enough for the sky to start turning black, rolls the plane over. Their in zero gee now, and Tom is throwing up. Vomit is drifting around the cockpit.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Tom finally screams while the pilot is laughing.

The pilot’s explanation is classic Navy.

“And now you know why my call sign is Bozo!”

Welcome to the Vomit Club.

I know if I ever got aboard a modern fighter for a ride like that, Tom and I would have something else in common besides just merely being good looking.