Category Archives: Awesome People

Collector’s Edition of Britannic Book…..

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It is sometimes odd to realize how quickly years pass, but in February it was ten years ago when Mystery of the Last Olympian: Titanic’s Tragic Sister Britannic was published. If anyone new is reading the blog, co-authoring the book was a great adventure and I met an incredible number of awesome people along the way. While we didn’t have the kind of sales we hoped, they were good for the small specialty press and Richie has made many presentations based on the book. He’s been invited to everything from scuba clubs in New England to the annual dive show in Singapore and lots more.

Anyway, I may have already mentioned he was finally selected for a prestigious award that will be presented at the New Orleans dive show. Since that obviously will generate sales, it turned out they were going to have to make a new run (print more books). The new acquisitions/marketing person promoted the idea of publishing a special hardback collector’s edition with Part IV to cover the ten years since the first book was published. This is especially significant since they are now being allowed to finally bring artifacts to the surface.

My part will be fairly small this time as Richie has to write most of the text with gathering a few other segments. I have to incorporate the new part to make it flow smoothly with the previous book. The only other new item we will need is someone to write an updated Forward. Not sure who that will be yet. Richie has promised the rest of his input by next week so I can meet the end of July deadline. Another “potential surprise” connected to all this is in the works. If it does come to pass, I’ll share it with everyone.

Rest in Peace BG Foote….

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I read an older notice yesterday and had not realized Brigadier General Evelyn “Pat” Foote passed away in August at the age of 95. While I refer to myself as an “inadvertent pioneer”, it is possible when she first entered the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), she may or may not have thought of herself in the same way. Here is a short piece. “Pat was a career Army officer, serving on active duty from 1959 to 1989, and rising to the rank of Brigadier General. Her key assignments included public affairs officer in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and command at battalion, brigade and post levels. She was a graduate of Wake Forest University (BA) and Shippensburg University (MS) and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Wake Forest University. Pat is best remembered in the Army for holding many firsts and for being a fierce advocate for military women.

In 1994, Pat was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission and subsequently to the Site and Design Committee of the WWII memorial. From 2006 -2016 she met the Ely senior class at the WWII Memorial, briefing them on the history, design and construction of the memorial.”

After the transition into regular Army when women selected specific branches to serve in, she chose Military Police, which was definitely not the path most women selected at the time.

I never met her personally, but we all knew of her. At the time she was selected to be Brigadier General (one-star), that was the highest rank a woman could expect to achieve. That has to do with the limited positions women could hold; another thing that has changed considerably. A quick word about the American Battle Monuments Committee. That is one of those highly prestigious positions cherished by anyone interested in American history. Once appointed to the Committe it is usually permanent. The long time many individuals serve on it is one reason why so few positions ever open.

 

 

Full Day Two at Dive Show……

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Yesterday was a mix as Hubby and I went separate ways to tend to our different roles. He attended some professional development courses and I had a nice catch-up lunch with Richie Kohler before we went for a book-signing at the publisher who did Mystery of the Last Olympian: Titanic’s Tragic Sister Britannic. Unlike other shows, there was not a long line of people because Richie was not giving a presentation. There were of course those who did come specifically to see him and as word spread others came by. Oh, a quick aside about lunch. The Rosen where we are staying has the bar and grill as the only sit-down restaurant at lunch time. However, the lovely throw-the-doors-open to have an inside-outside option doesn’t work well when the temperature is still in the low 60s. It was sunny, but the relaxing poolside lunch I originally envisioned was inside instead. The Caribbean decor is still appropriate and their Cuban sliders are delicious. I resisted the option of french or yucca fries and had salad with a lovely dressing.

I didn’t spend time in the Exhibit Hall after the book signing as that is my primary focus for today as well as attending a couple of sessions. The big event was the Gala last night where five awardees are recognized for their amazing contributions to the dive and marine world. From the 95-year who has been a major figure in hyperbaric chambers and treatments as well as other things to a photographer who fell in love with the idea at age ten, became certified to dive at age twelve and has won five Emmy awards for her breath-taking work, all have remarkable stories. Although we have avoided attending this event in the past, we were invited due to a project we are somewhat involved in. I can’t really explain it yet, but it’s a highly technical, new approach to introducing potentially millions of people to the underwater world. Hubby did look good in his rented tuxedo and I even managed to put on a little make-up.

About Those Britannic Artifacts…..

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Followers of the blog are very familiar with my role as co-author with Richie Kohler in writing Mystery of the Last Olympian: Titanic’s Tragic Sister Britannic  https://charliehudson.net/books/last-olympian.html

Articles in a surprising number of papers and on-line news carried the story last month about artifacts being recovered from HMS Britannic that lies 400 feet below the surface in the Aegean Sea off the island of Kea. The saga of the ship itself is in Part I of the book. The saga of discovering her and pioneering diving on it is in Part II. Part III is largely the day-by-day recounting the 2015 expedition led by Richie Kohler which was the first expedition of that type since the tragedy of the 2009 expedition when Carl Spencer died. The actual owner to the rights of Britannic is Simon Mills and the Greek government has authority as well. Notwithstanding the pain of the dive team over losing one of their own, they and other divers spent years trying to explain that returning to the interior of the ship was important. That was not to minimize the danger; rather to acknowledge why divers are willing to take the risks. The artifacts within the ship have, and will continue to be, subject to deterioration and retrieval is how history is preserved.

Permission was finally granted and a priority list was developed as to which artifacts were to be retrieved in what sequence. Multiple factors affect how much each expedition can accomplish. The 2025 team, once again led by Richie, was composed of most of the members from previous expeditions, with some new additions. They were incredibly successful, but the news was not made public until September. I was kept up-to-date with progress, although I had to keep quiet as well.

https://nauticalvoice.com/historic-artifacts-retrieved-from-britannic-wreck/58600/

 

REEF Ocean Exploration Center….

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There are special moments in writing for the local paper. I’ve mentioned before about how at times, I am reluctant to cover certain stories, yet 90% of those turn out to be uplifting or informative. On many other occasions though, I routinely cover events in organizations I am familiar with. One of those is R.E.E.F., Reef Education Environmental Foundation in Key Largo (https://www.reef.org/). We have been members for years and watched the “campus” grow from the single relocated wooden old Florida house to what it now is. Several years back, they built a second structure where they can have lectures, workshops, etc., and have a number of wonderful floor-to-ceiling underwater photographs to allow you to “be in the water” without getting wet. Next, they created a small park on the grounds with lovely landscaping, overhead fabric shades, a few picnic tables, and information boards about reefs and marine life. All of that has been good and the latest addition is definitely a “knock it out of the park home run”.

I was invited as part of the “sneak preview” two days before the grand opening of the Ocean Exploration Center. It is a two-story building adjoining the little park. In keeping with the concept of enjoying a reef without getting wet, rather than a big aquarium, the downstairs features three “patch reefs” with 51 different species. Everything is scientifically accurate and created by specialist fabricators. There is a card guide to take to check off the species as you find them. Some of course are quite easy to spot and others require a bit of looking. Behind this is the lab where classes and workshops will be held. Upstairs are multiple interactive areas and other exhibits plus a pleasant spot to just sit, and a small conference room. There are more huge photographs covering the walls and more fabrications. In all, a little over 100 species are displayed.

It was a great experience and will most assuredly be on the list for when the kids visit during the holidays.

REEF Ocean Exploration Center Key Largo 2025

 

You’ll Be Missed, Jimmy……

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I have posted before about the experience of a Jimmy Buffet concert and our long time as Parrotheads. I don’t tear up when I hear about celebrities passing away and this morning was the exception. I was surprised to hear he had been battling an as yet undisclosed illness for the past two years. According to the statement released, he died peacefully, surrounded by family and those closest to him; passing away in the same way he lived.

To say he was a phenomenon is no exaggeration. Many years ago, he was simply one more singer/songwriter struggling to be heard, dreaming some day of making it big. I doubt his definition of “big” actually included the extent to which his empire grew; music of course, a few acting roles, merchandising, then restaurants as in not uncommon. Resorts and casinos don’t usually follow nor do 55-and-better active adult communities. The number of his “Latitude Margaritaville” communities were supposed to expand and perhaps his heirs will keep with that plan.

Although certain of his songs were iconic and as he always said, “a must play” at his concerts, his body of work was such that he had fans of them all. In fact, his song, “Bama Breeze”, inspired me to write my short story, “Closing Time, Closing Day” (https://charliehudson.net/stories/story200701.html)

I can only imagine the kind of partying that will be going on in Key West and Mobile, where he was originally from, this weekend. If we had a Margaritaville Cafe close by, we’d go around for at least a couple of drinks ourselves.

Speaking of Amazing Women….

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100 women in almost 40 airplanes making a 2,684 mile race from Grand Forks, North Dakota to Homestead, Florida. Now that isn’t something you see everyday. The small planes, each with a pilot and co-pilot, left ND Tuesday, Jun 20, 2023 and had until Friday, Jun 23 at 5:00 p.m., to make the trip to be qualified to win. Programmed stops were Mankato, MN, Ottumwa, IA, Hastings, NE, Ponca City, OK, Sulphur Springs, TX, Jonesboro, AR, Pell City, AL, and Cross City, FL before arriving in Homestead. This was also the first time in the 46-year history they came as far south as Homestead. The race changes each year to different parts of the country. This is from the initial Press Release we were provided:

“he oldest race of its kind in the nation, the Air Race Classic traces its roots to the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, aka the Powder Puff Derby, in which Amelia Earhart and 19 other daring female pilots raced from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. This year’s ARC celebrates the 94th anniversary of that historic competition, which marked the beginning of women’s air racing in the United States. Today, the ARC is the epicenter of women’s air racing, the ultimate test of piloting skill and aviation decision[1]making for female pilots of all ages and from all walks of life.”

There were of course weather issues and a couple of mechanical failures, but most arrived, tired, sweaty, yet successful. Since they all had different airplanes (quite a few Cessna 172s), there was a formula used in a controlled course prior to the start of the race to provide a “handicap” that was applied to the final flight information to determine the winner. Ages were mixed with college teams all they way into women in their seventies. Hubby was taking the article because it was definitely one that needed great photographs. There was one team in particular the paper was interested in as the pilot is a member of Rotary. Hubby began following her using the tracking system and with the delays, he had to finish teaching a class when the team was scheduled to land. I went out to snap an easy photo, get a few details and set up a time for Hubby to interview them that evening.

I spoke with several volunteers, mostly women, again in a mix of ages. It takes

One of the all women teams in the 2023 Air Race Classic

quite an effort to put something like this on and to have that many accomplished women in one place at one time is incredibly inspiring.

“ABOUT THE AIR RACE CLASSIC

Air Race Classic Inc. is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a mission of encouraging and educating current and future female pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women’s roles in aviation, and preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation. For more information, go to airraceclassic.org. Follow Air Race Classic on Facebook. On Twitter: @AuthenticARC”

 

 

A Powerhouse of Women…..

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There have been extra events this year for Women’s History Month and today was the annual Ladies of Legacy Luncheon with the Chamber of Commerce. The format is the same; five or six women across the spectrum of business, politics, and non-profit on a panel with a moderator. We were fortunate this year to have Holly Raschein serve as Moderator again. She is that rare individual who as a business owner, wife, and mom entered politics with the true ability to put principle above party. I won’t say more except she is what a politician should be. Anyway, today’s lineup was impressive as always.

The five women held high level positions in County government, the medical field, corporations, and a civilian who works with family support in the military organization, Special Operations Command, South. None came from privileged families and some had overcome very austere upbringings. The seven questions this year will be familiar to anyone who has prevailed in a career that required hard work and often times balancing family and career. How to develop as a leader, making your way in a  non-traditional field, etc.,. One especially intriguing one was, “If you could go back to your thirteen-year-old-self, what would you tell you?” In remembering those years, most recognized that the uncertainties at that age fluctuated between doubts and lofty ambitions. The theme though was, “Don’t be so hard on yourself; understand things will work out even if they don’t go the way you expect.” A few individuals had their daughters with them and they were probably inspired to at least some degree.

This was one of those occasions when I was “triple-hatted”. I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce that puts the event on; I was covering the article for the paper, and I was promoting the upcoming Art and Artisan Show for Homestead Center for the Arts. Oh yes, and of course I did hand out a few bookmarks to showcase my writing. That’s an “always thing” if appropriate no matter what the setting.

 

 

STEM and STEAM……

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Musing ahead alert. There is an awesome principal at one of our charter schools which is a grades 6-12 academy and we have covered them a few times for the paper. We deal with a lot of the schools and when the principal reached out to the paper a few years ago, I wasn’t impressed with the location for reasons I’m not going to detail here. However, it was another one of those situations where I was so glad I went because the principal has made it her mission to provide what is in essence an educational opportunity oasis to students. We have some of the widest school choices in the country and charter schools are a major part of that. (I’m not going to get into the pros and cons of charter schools here)

The particular charter school company this school belongs too seems to be especially good and this principal is determined she will bring in every advantage she can for the students no matter what path they choose. Here is the link to the article we did last week, bottom of the page:  https://www.southdadenewsleader.com/eedition/page-a01/page_8d945f10-d1bf-54c3-b23d-e21492e285ed.html

Going back to STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math curriculum which is all the rage (I mean that in a good way). STEAM is one of two things where A is either for Aviation or Art. As I have posted numerous times, trying to make a living in any of the arts is usually difficult, yet when the passion for art in whatever form exists in an individual, it is equally difficult to balance the need for a “practical” choice and fulfill the passion. Deriding or trying to suppress the passion is not something I recommend based on our experience. If I could go back and change one thing when son was in college, I wish I had accepted his request to swap to theater major with dance minor (major wasn’t offered). Insisting he do something more “practical” did not work for any of us.

Days Slipped By Again…..

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I would ask how almost a week passed since my last post, but barring computer or internet issues, it’s the usual answer of extra tasks thrown in to get me off-schedule. Nothing bad although a couple of genuinely annoying things to deal with. They aren’t worth getting into. I had vague hopes of being able to dive this week and that isn’t happening.

Speaking of diving, a friend who has found and/or identified numerous shipwrecks has done it again. Michael Barnette (met him while working on Mystery of the Last Olympian) has done exploration in many places and apparently, a famous yacht sunk in 1931 is his most recent success. Here’s part of a Facebook post from earlier today. “The wreck of INGOMAR has eluded divers until just recently. A survey conducted by William Hoffman, Joseph Hoyt, and William Sassorossi documented the unidentified yacht in 2017. Imagery collected by John McCord revealed the graceful lines of an elegant yacht. Using their baseline data and looking through archival information, I suspected the wreck was INGOMAR. The dimensions, machinery, and position largely match the attributes of INGOMAR. The wreck rests on her starboard side in deep sand. While not a conclusive identification, the available evidence coupled with the lack of other suspect sites strongly suggest this shipwreck site is indeed the historic yacht INGOMAR.”

The process for officially identifying a wreck after it’s located can easily take years and when I wrote Idyllic Islands, I did a few chapters about how it works. (https://charliehudson.net/books/idyllic-islands.html) That part of the book served two purposes. I needed to introduce a character who would become important much later and the reason I chose that way to do so is because it is such an intricate process. In this case, I made it fairly easy to better match the rhythm of the story.