Mickey's World....on the road

Twenty five years ago I stepped out to the center of the alter next to Rev. Sid Locke and peered down the center aisle of the Fort Walton Methodist Church. With the bright sunlight pouring through the back stained glass window I saw the outline of an angel walking towards me. As the angel moved closer, I saw the face and figure of my beautiful bride come into focus. She moved to my side, reached out and took my hand. We said our “I Dos”, turned around and we started our lives together.

I could go on for pages and pages what the last 25 years have meant to me, to our lives together and our family. But there is just no way to fully express in words the happiness, joy, ecstasy and love Nancy has brought to my life.

I do know one thing. The last twenty five years has not been enough time to share all I want to share with my best friend. So today as family and friends help Nancy and I celebrate the first twenty five years of marriage, I want to celebrate the next twenty five years. Just like the first twenty five I want to reach out and take my brides hand. I want to turn around and head off to another twenty five years of loving, laughing and sharing all that life has to offer…..together. Even though we are a little older, I know it will be just as exciting because I still get that same feeling when Nancy’s hand touches mine!

Happy July 4th!! What’s more fun than a pack of sparklers and your Mom for an audience while you perform the dangerous dance of fire!! Follow this by a dazzling display of fireworks. This little boy was having a ball the entire evening.

I hope all my friends have just as much fun this holiday!!

For Father’s Day I wanted to find a picture which really depicted what my Dad was all about. I must have gone through dozens of photos. Some young….some old (ahhh…I mean errr…more recent), I finally came upon this one.

For as long as I can remember Dad has always been one of the hardest working men I have ever known. Even with all the hard work Dad always kept the family in the center of his life. Whether we were building a new home to move into or traveling cross country, he always found a way to include everyone.

When he and Mom moved to southern Alabama and started building the home they would retire to, he always had help. There was always someone showing up. One of us kids, Dad’s brother, Mom’s brothers or sisters….someone was there to lend a hand. Not that Dad had to ask but we showed up because we were family. And if there was one thing Dad taught us….family helps out and sticks together. It’s the one lesson I always try to keep in my life. Through good times and bad…family will see you through ( and help with manual labor when needed).

This picture is of Dad and Uncle Duane. Even though Uncle Duane lived hours away, he didn’t hesitate to show up and help Dad. As you can see….the Pullen boys were even having fun doing a little carpentry. That’s how it has always been with Dad. When you think you might have a long days of work ahead of you, Dad always had a way of making you smile and feel like you were working for a greater cause.

So on this Father’s Day I want to thank my Dad not just for all the houses he built for us, but for the home he always made it. A safe, loving and happy place which filled my heart with the happiest of memories.

Happy Fathers Day….we love you Dad!

Happy Birthday Tyler!!

On June 1st, just a short 21 years ago Nancy and I were blessed with a little boy we named Tyler. He came into this world kicking and screaming….and not much has changed since. Well…maybe not as much screaming.

Even at a very young age we knew he was going to be a handful. At about 2 years old he would stand in his crib, shaking his bottle and yell “More Juice Bob!”. Since he had trouble pronouncing “Mom”, Nancy was given the name of ‘Bob” by Ty. Once out of the crib he was always running, swinging bats, clubs, swords…what ever he could grab while tearing around the house.

Tyler has grown into a fine young man. Attending UT- Chattanooga, playing on the tennis team. But….as you can see not a lot has changed over the years. He gets ups every morning…goes running, then picks up a racquet and starts swinging at things.

We love you Tyler….Have a Happy 21st Birthday!

Love….. Bob and Dad

I thought about writing more about my thoughts on Memorial Day, but in my readings found two short quotes which summed it all up for me. I just didn’t feel I could improve on what these two persons had to say.

“As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died. Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on.”
-Ali M., 3rd grader

“We are descendants of a common creed — one nation, under God. Partners with a common purpose; to keep our nation free and strong; a force for peace and progress; a place where people who work hard and take responsibility have the chance to make the most of their own lives, build good, strong families, and live out their dreams in dignity and peace.

May God bless the souls of our departed and always bless the country they gave everything to serve.”
-President Bill Clinton

Tilt-Shift-Shoot
I love trying new things with my camera. Lately I have been experimenting with a photography technique called tilt:shift focus. It uses a very specific focus technique. Only a very specific portion of the photo is in focus while the rest of the frame is out of focus. With the right subject matter and technique it gives the appearance you are taking a picture of a model.

As you can tell I love photography…..all the more reason I am so excited that I just signed a 12 month contract with National Geographic. I love the photography captured by National Geographic and the organization is the epitome of any aspiring photographer. I wasn’t sure I wanted to sign on for that length of time….but I thought what the heck. But what’s so exciting about the whole deal is that I am getting 12 months of the magazine for only $15.00. That’s easily 75% off the cover price. Now that’s something to get excited about !?!?

This past week we celebrated National Police Week where we honor the officers who have given their lives for the public they protect. This week I especially want to remember a fallen friend, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the loss of a good friend and fine Alaska State Trooper.

On May 19th, 1984, Trooper Troy Duncan was killed while trying to capture a serial killer who had mercilessly murdered seven men, women and children in central Alaska. I found it hard to believe anything or anyone could have taken Troy down that day. He truly was one of those persons bigger than life.

I met Troy in August of 1981 when we both attended the Alaska State Trooper Academy in Sitka, Alaska. On the first day we arrived, I introduced myself to this big lug of a guy and in just a few moments he was a friend for life. Troy was just that type of a man.

Troy was a former Marine (Not ‘Ex” Marine as he repeatedly reminded me) and a bonified Texan. If he wasn’t giving you a big Texas yeee-haw, he was shouting the standard Marine call….hoooo-rah! More than once on our daily O dark thirty romps through the rain soaked trails of the Sitka forests, I found my way back to the academy following the Marine Corps barks of Troy.

It was on one of those runs Troy gained my full respect and admiration. We were being visited at the academy by a certain Captain. Let’s just call him Capt. Gilmore for the sake of the story. Well…this certain Capt. thought he would get up and run with the recruits one morning….you know…show these young bucks how it’s ‘really’ done. About half way through the run this Captain pulled to the side of the trail and started to heave up his breakfast. Unfortunately for Capt. G, he was being followed closely by Troy. Troy was in the zone that morning. He was running….eyes straight ahead, back arched, legs kicking high. Troy was leading his squad with a hooo-rah and a one, two , three, four. Troy was so into his run he never saw the Captain doubled over on the side of the trail. Troy ran smack into the Captain knocking him head first into his freshly delivered breakfast. Troy didn’t miss a step. He gave another hoo-rah and just picked up the pace. To this day I don’t know why Troy didn’t stop. Whether not wanting to break his stride or risk the wrath of the sullied Capt. But that was classic Troy…..full speed ahead.

And that’s how it was that May day back in 1984. Troy volunteering and loading up into a chopper attempting to bring in a suspect held up in a tactically dangerous location. A precarious situation which Troy never gave a second thought about his duty to perform. Later, when I was talking with friends who had been with Troy that day, Troy had been overheard saying he felt he was where he was meant to be. He finished his tour of duty that day with friends, doing what he was meant and wanted to do.

So, on this 25th anniversary of Trooper Troy Duncan giving it his all, I want to thank him for his friendship, his service and send him a big hoo-rah!!