Craig Moore
Procrastination.....I think I was lectured on this subject by Mr. Lainge at some point, "Now c'mon Moore, I mean Jeez, just do the work".. or something like that. Anyhow, I am unfortunately unable to attend the reunion, but to catch you all up on what's been up with me:
Right after graduation, well actually before graduation, I left for boot camp. I enlisted in the Marines and had to leave 2 weeks before our graduation. Fast forward a few months, and I arrive in Hawaii, and spent the next 4.5 years in “paradise”. The highlight of my time in Hawaii would have to be that I was selected out of a handful of jarheads to be the driver for CINCPAC, which stands for Commander-In-Chief, Pacific Command. This was a pretty cool job, and it was actually a lot of fun. So, my days consisted of driving the Admiral to work, and home every day, and to numerous functions/dinners, etc. I met then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Colin Powell, and then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney to name a few. In 1993 after my separation from the Marines, I returned home to Los Alamos. I had applied at PTLA thinking that was what I wanted to do, and while I was waiting for my clearance paperwork to go through, I met the love of my life, Aimee Martinez. She is from the class of ‘92. We were married in ’94 and had our first son in May of ’94, Brandon. I was working at the Lab, not with PTLA, but in S-Division. So, life was good. I had a good job, a loving family, and then events happened that would affect the rest of my life.
I woke up one morning and thought I had pulled a muscle in my, well, my butt. More specifically, the right cheek. Anyhow, it shoots all the way down to my foot via my sciatic nerve. Ouch! I went for about a year before I finally had an MRI and it showed a herniated disc. So, after physical therapy, cortisone injections and a bunch of other stuff, I had my first surgery. By all accounts, it was a success. I was not in pain anymore, and I felt like I did before all this happened. Then, about 18 months later, it came back, except this time it was my left cheek and leg. This goes on and on for the next 7 years, and after 4 back surgeries, including a spinal fusion, I was put on disability. Let me backup a little… there was some really good stuff happening in my life during that time, like the birth of our second son Alec in 1997, and then Nicolas in 2001.
So we packed up and left Los Alamos in August of 2002, and moved to Crossville, Tennessee. Fast forward to the present…Nicolas is going into 2nd grade and is an avid soccer star. Alec will be in 5th grade and is totally into 4-H and video games, and Brandon is getting ready for High School Football! Yes, unbelievably, my son will be starting High School in August. This kid wears a size 15 shoe, is 6 feet tall, about 185 and is only 14 years old. It is humbling to look up at him and tell him to clean his room and do his homework! It’s all good, I can still take him…… The other two are following in his footsteps as well. With football, soccer, chess club, softball, and everything else, they keep us very busy. They are awesome; I just love being a Dad! As for my sweetie; Aimee just graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tennessee Tech University with a BS in Elementary Education and will start teaching this fall. And me, I am the legendary Mr. Mom – havin’ fun and keepin’ it real! Our roles have totally reversed. I cook, clean, help with homework, taxi kids around town, and even do laundry. Granted, it took some getting used to, but I would not trade it for anything; I am truly blessed! I am also venturing into a new passion in my life – photography. It also gave me an excuse to go out and spend lots of money on a cool camera and all the bells and whistles that go with it! Feel free to check out some of my work and let me know what you think! http://www.redbubble.com/people/cmooreprints
I have definitely enjoyed catching up with you all on the web. It has been great to see everyone and their families. Well I do wish you all the best, have a great time at the reunion, and maybe we’ll catch up in person at the next one!
Craig
riomoore@frontiernet.net
Craig, Aimee, Brandon, Alec, and Nicolas Moore - Easter 2008
Black Mountain, Crab Orchard, TN – October 2007
The Moore’s - Christmas 2007
Brandon’s 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony - May 2008
Craig, well, just being goofy Craig at youth night at our church.
