Yes, it's shocking confession time. On 2-28-05 Pete Klinger, a/k/a Pete Porro, posted a message on this Board announcing that he was the newest Life Member of the CC & GTCC. He is Life Member No. 104. I am also a new Life Member in the CC & GTCC, my Life Member No. is 105. As you can see, Pete is one step ahead of me yet again. For those few of you that don't know, I've been one step behind Pete my entire life. I'll share a few of the many stories I have regarding chasing Pete throughout the years. My shocking confessions...

It all started during World War II. Pete was in the Army, but recognizing his extraordinary military talent, every branch of the service was desperate to have him. The Navy finally won out, and he was stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific during 1943 and 1944. I had joined the Navy because my recruiting officer promised me a glamorous job. However, instead of being a Deck Swabby, 4th Class, like I wanted, I ended up with a different job. My job in the Navy was to pick up downed Pilots that ended up in the ocean, instead of on the ship's flight deck. This was a rather difficult job, as I had to do it by myself and was issued a row boat with no other equipment. Let me tell you, rowing a boat in the wake of an aircraft carrier is not easy. As I spent weeks at a time in my little boat, I would watch all the activity on the big carrier. I saw Pete flying mission after mission without so much as getting scratched. I must confess that at one point I was hoping he would end up in the ocean, so I could rescue him and find out what makes this big talent tick. I had no such luck, as Pete was a mighty fine flyer. The only time he ever got wet was that time when the Admiral was pouring him a Brandy, and accidentally spilt a little bit. Pete stayed in the Army after the war, putting in a total of 6 years of military service. I wanted to stay in the Military, just to continue to chase Pete, but the Military had no use for me.

To keep this post from getting too long (yes, I know, it is already), I'll jump ahead in time...

Pete took up acting in the 1960's and became quite famous. For 4 happy seasons he even had a starring role on a very popular situation comedy airing on CBS. Pete played himself, Mr. Thurston Howell III. Did you know that all that money Mr. Howell had with him on the Island was really part (a very small part) of Pete's personal wealth? Yes, indeed, he is a very wealthy man. Well, I must make another confession. Still chasing Pete, in my never ending pursuit to see what makes this guy tick, I also had a role on this same television series. I played the role of Mrs. Lovey Howell. It was a lot of work getting all that makeup on, but it was worth it. Just watching a master like Pete act left me breathless most of the time. That's why my voice sounds kind of funny on this show. I was lucky that the Howells never had any love scenes with each other, so my secret identity was safe. One drawback, however, to this day I occasionally have a strange urge to dress up like an older woman.

What am I doing these days? You ask? Well, every morning I drive from Minneapolis, way over to Wisconsin, and follow Pete to work. I'm on the road 5 hours each day doing this. Yes, I'm still chasing him, but I never seem to catch him. Once about 2 months ago I came pretty close. It was that day that Pete took the small limousine to work. I figured he'd be traveling with a minimum number of his staff, as his small limousine only seats 16 people. Perhaps he wouldn't be traveling with a body guard, I thought. So, while he was stopped at a red light, I revved up my car and plowed right into his limo. My Yugo (and it's deluxe 6 horsepower engine) did a pretty good job, putting a scratch nearly an inch long into Pete's limo. This is the closest I have ever come to meeting Pete. I did see him briefly, as he flicked some ashes from his cigar out the limo window. At that very moment, one of his body guards (darn, he was in the limo after all) punched a hole through my windshield and said something I won't repeat here. So close...but yet so far.

Today? Here I am, a very prestigious Life Member of the CC & GTCC. But even that is bittersweet. Pete beat me out again, he has LM No. 104 and I have LM No. 105. When will I ever catch up to this guy? Not even in the CC & GTCC! I guess this goal of mine is just too great to achieve.