November is an important month on the calendar: Thanksgiving Day, Veteran’s Day, elections, and, of course, my birthday. Just for fun, here is a list of how I have spent the Novembers in years gone by.

1959-An annual event growing up, Thanksgiving at my Grandpa and Grandma Ritters home.

  • Surrounded by little ones, Grandpa Ritter Thanksgiving 19t59



1971-I had just started my naval career and was attending Radioman “A” school in San Diego, California. I turned 18 that November with no celebration.


1974-I was with Comphibron 5 aboard the USS OKINAWA in Subic Bay, Philippines. Had duty on Thanksgiving Day, and Dale Wyckoff and I were assigned the burn run. Covered in ash and sweat, we couldn’t go on the mess decks for a Thanksgiving Day meal, so we ended up eating hotdogs down on the pier.

1981-Marched in a Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day in the USA) parade in Thurso, Scotland; love marching to bagpipes.

1985-I was aboard the USNS NEPTUNE on the way back from the Aleutian Islands when we pulled into Port Angeles, Washington just before Thanksgiving Day. A few of us went to a local pub that evening and I ended up winning a dart tournament. First prize: a frozen turkey. I was living on a ship, what was I going to do with a turkey?

  • On the way to Port Angeles



1988-Thanksgiving Day found me aboard the USS CIMARRON off the coast of Hawaii refueling some passing ships. Our captain loved being at sea, even on holidays.

1989-This year found me marching in a Veteran’s Day parade in El Paso, Texas.

1992-My navy retirement ceremony was held on my 39th birthday in the gym at RAF Edzell, Scotland.

  • Master Chief Knutson, departing



1993-Turned 40 in Christchurch, New Zealand, with great friends.

2003-50th birthday saw Mrs Bohemian and I witnessing lunar eclipse.

2008-Thanksgiving with Mrs Bohemian’s family.

  • Thanksgiving at the Bohemians



2012- The Bohemians in Tahiti for birthday number 59.

  • Bohemians in Moorea



2014-Ziplining in the rain forest of Costa Rica with Mrs Bohemian on my birthday. How good is that?

  • Ziplining

2018-Las Vegas, Nevada, for my birthday; memories of Bouchon, The Secret Garden, and Absinthe.

  • Las Vegas

2019-More celebrations!! My birthday was on the same day one of the little Bohemians graduated from high school in Queensland, Australia. Then Thanksgiving Day for the Bohemians was in Hawaii on the last stop of a holiday that included the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Australian Bohemians