Have you seen my marbles?

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I taught myself to quickly recite the alphabet backwards while proctoring exams as an Air Force technical instructor teaching electronic principles at Keesler. It was a mindless activity that helped keep me from going completely nuts as I walked the room and waited for trainees to finish their tests. The block test periods were usually 100 minutes long, although most students didn't use the full allotment of time, and we had to monitor them until the last trainee was finished.

I guess I've always been easily amused.

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. . .
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Over and over again, as I walked around the room and watched my trainees take their tests. If it seems like a waste of time, it was, but we weren't allowed to do anything - like study our own off-duty coursework, prepare lessons, etc. - that would distract us and thereby provide trainees an opportunity to cheat on their test.

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I may be able to recite the alphabet faster backward than forward. I can say it in under four seconds.

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(I know that I could have copied and pasted that over and over again, but my brain insisted on typing it every time.)

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. . .