Bryan Loop:  

Relocated from Canastota, NY to southwestern Virginia two days after finishing 7th grade (Canastota Jr. High) in June '72 (talk about CULTURE SHOCK...but in retrospect, have met some of the most down-to-earth, non-pretentious people of my life here). Once resided at 306 Tuttle Ave. in a sea-foam green 2-story house; I remember all those impromptu neighborhood ball games, playing with Matchbox cars around the trees and curbside in front of our house, sledding (down here it's called "sleigh riding") down that long hill running parallel to Tuttle Ave. in the winter time, and the occasional vegetable war with freshly pulled produce (beets, corn, and carrots all make for great projectiles) from my parents' garden (got my butt tore up for that, too...). Joined the Navy after high school graduation; have visited Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, Germany, England and spent more time than I care to remember in the Persian Gulf while stationed aboard the USS ...Expand for more