'Blast' From The Past

Here's a 'Blast From the Past' so to speak. So five (5) years ago, in August of 2000 Kathy and I went to dinner with some guys I work with. There were a total of six of us - us and two other couples. We were working a project and my co-workers were in town to do some work. Anyhow this particular evening we decided to go to a beach front restaurant called Schooners. If any of you have ever visited here then we've probably taken you to Schooner's. It's a pretty neat place, the food is decent, the beer is cold but the view is spectacular.

Well on this night back in 2000 it was a windy night and had been raining. We sat on the deck so we could look at the beach and the water. Schooners has a tradition that they stole from Key West where they shoot off a signal cannon at sunset to celebrate the end of another day. A signal cannon is a fully functional, miniature brass cannon except they don't shoot a cannon ball. At the time, the would choose someone from the restaurant to shoot the cannon. On this particular night they choose this guy who was a Marine Corp helicopter pilot to do the honors. When normally lighting the cannon they use a long lighter, like the kind you use to light a BBQ grill. But since it was so windy this particular evening they passed. Instead they had the guy use a lit cigarette/cigar to light the fuse. Well, the guy bent down and lit the fuse the first time and nothing happened. Upon seeing it wasn't lit the guy bent over a second time to light the fuse. When he did, the cannon went off in his face. Unbeknownst to him, the fuse was lit from the first time he had bent down and lit it. Anyhow, he caught the full back blast from this cannon directly in his face. He was in bad shape and they had to call an ambulance and take him to the hospital. Found out he was burnt pretty bad on his face and lost the use of an eye. Because of that he lost his flight status and could no longer fly helicopters.

A few months later Kathy saw an add in the paper looking for anyone who may of witnessed this. We called and gave a phone interview to what we saw. About eight months later we were asked to give depositions. We gave the depositions four years ago next Monday. As you probably figured, the guy has decided to sue Schooners for what happened. Since so much time had passed and we hadn't heard anything we thought that they had settled out of court. Nope. Last Friday Kathy is at work and a guy shows up asking for her. He ask her to step outside cause he wants to speak with her which scares the crap out of her. He tells her that the case is on and that both her and I have been subpoenaed to appear before the judge and testify in this case. We go to court next Monday, October 10th to testify - which is four years to the day from when we gave our depositions.

It looks like we are considered to be defense witness's. Which is kind of hard for me to believe, since I think the guy was a moron for lighting an explosive device with a lit object hanging out of his face. Actually I think both sides are culpable and bear some negligence - but hey that's not my call. I'm just there to tell them what I saw. Anyhow, since we have to go to court, if not we would be in contempt of court. Kathy and I were each given checks for $25 to cover some minimal expenses. They didn't over do it did they? To me it only seems appropriate that we cash the two $25 checks and take our $50 and get appetizers and a couple of drinks at...where else....Schooners....at sunset….....but without the cannon. Whatdaya think?