Special Forces train at Hurlburt Field.
One year they had an interservice parachute meet out there and the base was open
to the public. Jumpfest '76. Old Folks took Owen to see the meet.
Owen was
almost three.
They walked around in the pit area, watching the men folding
their chutes and answering questions about their gear.
Old Folks felt like
they didn't look at him like he was a fat, out-of-shape civilian, which by this time
he was.
He felt like they looked at him as if he were (1) working at the
leading edge of what he did, and (2) absolutely fearless, resolute, and prepared
to write for 19 or 20 more years with almost no recognition, if that's what it took.
That's what it took.
Old Folks is no closer to being recognized today than
he was then.
Unless he has been recognized by all the people who count, his
coterie of steadfast readers.
That is, he has been recognized. It was just
by a smaller group than he expected 19 or 20 years ago.