5 Interesting Things About Michael Anderson

In July 1971 I attended the 13th Boy Scout World Jamboree in Japan. Prior to leaving for Japan we were told 5 members of each troop would be selected to climb Mt Fuji while attending the Jamboree. I packed my climbing boots just in case I got chosen. Well, I got chosen as one of the 5 from my troop.

The morning of the climb the sun was shining bright as we unloaded from the bus. We began our climb from station 5 (about half way up the mountain). We each bought a climbing stick which could be branded at each station as we climbed, a memento to commemorate our achievement. We began to climb.

Mt Fuji may look like an easy climb from a distance. It is not. Even starting half way up the mountain it takes between 6 and 8 hours to get to the top on a good climbing day. With the switch backs and volcanic soil it is not an easy climb.

Some time around my 6th hour of climbing the rain started. That added to the fact I was not properly clothed for cold at that altitude, it began to get a bit chilly. I pressed on. By the time I reached the temple on top (about 3 hours later) the typhoon was hammering us pretty hard and we still had to climb down.

Climbing down was a bit easier. It became a combination of step and slide. Cold and wet I found my bus and was happy to get back to camp. The experience is something I will never forget.

I was/am a Boy Scout. When I was about 4 or 5 when I saw my first Boy Scout. After that I always wanted to be one.

At the age of 8 I joined the Cub Scouts. I was in. I did every thing because I believed it would help me become a Boy Scout quicker. Alas, I still had to wait until I was 11.

Ah, the glorious day came and I officially became a Boy Scout. I became obsessed with everything Boy Scout. If there was a badge to be earned, I earned it. A rank to attain, I attained it. I did it all and it was an amazing experience.

With two uncles in the US Air Force, I always figured if I joined the military it would be the Air Force and I would fly as my uncles did. But, I inherited color blindness from my grandfather and flying was out of the question.

The US Marine Corp was the last thing on my mind when it came to the military. The recruiter told me there was nothing I could do in the Marine Corps with my Forestry degree. My color blindness was not an issue. I accepted the challenge of becoming a Marine Officer.

I accepted and became One of the Few, The Proud, A Marine Officer.

I have been a locksmith for the last 16 years. I got into the business by accident. Yet I look back on the experience with little regret.

I began my locksmithing career as the accountant to a locksmith. I was curious one day and asked how he made keys for locks. He showed me how to make a key from scratch. From that day on I was hooked.

From picking locks to let people into their homes to extracting broken keys from car ignitions. It can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. But the satisfaction of helping someone in need is part of the reward.

I have been writing for years. But, at an impressionable time early in my time of putting pen to paper, I listened to someone I trusted. They did not have encouraging words for me. And so I continued to write in silence.

About 25 years ago I wrote a pamphlet about investing. It was for a class I was taking. I wrote it because my investment instructor at the time said "Unless you have a minimum of $10,000 to invest, forget it. You will never be wealthy." I wrote the pamphlet to show him mistaken. It was basically about common sense and discipline with your finances. I got an A.

Since then I have written 4 more ebooks, one of which is in 3 parts as lenses on Squidoo. Having discovered Squidoo I am writing now almost everyday. I enjoy doing the research for my lenses. I have fun reading the lenses of other lensmasters. Through Squidoo I have found support for my writing and assistance helping me to become a better writer.

Well there you have it. Five interesting (I think they are interesting) things about Michael/BuddyBink. Of course, I have accomplished other things but time and space will not allow.

Now as promised, this is an image of me last year on my birthday. I must admit I have lost some weight since then (a better diet via Squidoo).