Great story. When I look back on the stupid things I did (and my brothers and sons did), I sometimes wonder how most boys survive puberty. Your example of surviving one ill considered rocket launch and building an even bigger rocket reminds me of my brother Steve. He was critically injured in a motorcycle accident when he was 14 (it wasn't his fault - a truck driver turned in front of him). When he got the insurance settlement, he went out and bought a bigger motorcycle.*

There are so many ways you could've been hurt or killed in your rocket experiments. You were indeed lucky, and I can only wonder what kept you from actually firing the Beta.

*Steve still rides motorcycles some 40 years after the accident that nearly killed him. He drag raced them professionally for many years before retiring a few years ago. He was in a pro-stock class and could easily top 160 MPH in a quarter mile. That had to be a rush.