And now for something totally off-topic...

[Michael Miller]

I don't want to sound melodramatic here, but I just want to share with you something that happened today, something that almost left this Axis Biographical Research forum without a moderator.

I am a fairly capable swimmer- had to be to complete Navy boot camp. But I'm not so great at crossing a small but swiftly flowing river. To make a long, terrifying story short, midway across, the current grabbed me and drew me inexorably toward the rapids. The only thing preventing my descent into the rocks jutting from the rushing water (and probable paraplegia) was a spiny, ragged little bush. I somehow managed to reach out to it, and though weak from the ice cold water, I struggled to pull myself to a position of safety. This was rather difficult as the water was pounding unmercifully against my chest. I genuinely believed I was going to die.

But it wasn't my time, because I still have a son to raise, a wife to provide for (and note to self: increase life insurance policy!) a book to finish, a website to complete, and questions to answer for my fellow Axis Biographical Researchers.

To my fellow American visitors here- have an enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend, but don't do anything which would result in memorial services for yourself.

~ Mike "Glad to be Alive" Miller

[thomas]

Dear Mark

I am very glad to hear that you are well. Not because you make a great work, but because you are a husband and a father. This thing shows that a lot of things are not so important than to live a life.

I congratulate you to your "second" life.

Best regards

thomas

[Richard Murphy]

I had a similar experience a few years back after swimming out to the end of Bournemouth pier. The tide turned, and, if it hadn't been for a rather observant friend of mine who, unknown to me, had decided to go to the beach, I would almost certainly drowned just meters away from safety!

Truly a VERY scary experience. I am glad you are okay and hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend with your wife and son.

Best wishes from the Park,

Rich

[Marcus]

I'm glad you're ok.

/Marcus

[Dan Feltmate]

Also glad to hear yer ok!

[GFM2000]

Good to hear that you're OK, Micheal.

Take care now,

[Peter J. Hertel]

Awfully sorry to hear about your "near to death" event and that you managed to climb out of "Davy Jones' Locker" fully recovered.

You're number ain't up yet.

You surely would have been missed by one and all, including your enemies!

All the best.

Your friend,

Peter

[Al Carter]

Mike,

May that little shrubbery live a long and green life. Glad to hear that you are still with us. I would have had to drop a book from my Christmas list otherwise. Hehe. I to had my run-in with the deep blue (swimming pool), but thanks to a small kid saving another small kid this non-swimmer is still here.


Al Carter

[Michael Miller]

Thanks very much for all of your kind words~ they mean a great deal to me.

On another note, let us today remember all the victims- military and civilian, combatant and noncombatant, Allied and Axis- of the Second World War (and all the other conflicts of recent memory).

~ Mike

[pdhinkle36ID]

Mike:: I am happy you lived to tell it.