I started caving just before going to college (in 1981) and caved with the Holston Valley Grotto and VPI Grotto during the 80's. During the early 90's, I was in Oklahoma City and caved a bit with the Central Oklahoma Grotto. I'm fairly certain that I was NSS 22794, but if someone else is the real owner of that number, please let me know and accept my apologies. I haven't been in a wild cave since about 1993 or 1994. I live in Louisiana now, and getting to a cave would be a bit of a trip. I know of one lady down here who drives to Alabama occasionally to go caving, but I'm a long way from getting back into caving. Some bad airplane flights around 2000 left me with claustrophobia problems, and I'm not sure that I could do tight stuff again. The fact that I've gone from my caving weight of 160 pounds to 275 pounds only makes things worse.
These days, my primary fun comes from taking care of pet reptiles, primarily ball pythons and kingsnakes. They are a great joy to me. I also do a bit of photography and bird watching.
I remember waiting for a rescue once, and the recent tragedy in Utah grabbed my heart and mind as caving incidents always do. I was searching for more information, and I found this site in that search. As I looked at the site, I decided to join as a slight reconnect to a community that I still remember fondly. My condolences to the entire caving community.
Someday, I hope to find a job that will take me closer to East Tennessee where my family lives. If that happens and I lose some weight, maybe I'll even think of going underground again (but not in tight spaces). Every so often, I find myself in a place that has limestone, and I see a cave. I still look at the entrance and wonder where the cave goes.
I've scanned a few old cave slides, and they are at
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r275/wftright/caves/
Bill Kelly