I was hooked on speed on the water from that first solo ride in Mr. Valentine's john boat. I was down on the corner of Main & Texas Boulevard at the Ice Box, an early version of a conveniece store, when I spotted my first "Boating News" magazine. I had been riding my bicycle the two miles to that store for a couple of years to buy comics. My favorite was "Sgt. Rock". I flipped through the pages of "Boating News" and immediately bought it and headed home. I read and reread it throughout, then took it to school to show my friends. The next and following months, I would drive down to the "Ice Box" when I thought the next edition would be in. In the meantime, we would be practicing shooting and I was newly into my flying lessons.