Dec. 28, 1991.

I remember it distinctly, because it was the first bit of “civilian food” I ate as a fully-fledged member of the United States Navy. Our graduation from boot camp was held the day before, and as a member of the Recruit Petty Officer First Class, I got second choice of which two days I could have liberty (choices were Friday — half of which was consumed by our pass-in-review ceremony — as well as full days on Saturday and Sunday).

So, I picked Saturday, Dec. 28, 1991, as my first day of “uncontrolled liberty.” And, seeing as how my boot camp experience took place in the “Happiest Place On Earth” (Orlando, Fla.), there was plenty of cheap entertainment to be had. Immediately across the street from Naval Training Center-Orlando was a shopping mall.