Spent most of yesterday dodging traffic. Depending on the location, it was either Virginia Tech fans (what exactly is a Hokie?), or University of Tennessee fans. Both had home games, and the traffic volume was extra heavy for both. I imagine that it is the same way for most college towns. Mental note, avoid college towns on game day.
I am sure that others don't understand my casual interest in football anymore than I understand the rabid passion that they display. I would rather read a book. Interestingly, I enjoy books about sports. I guess it is more about reading the history of things than being excited about the emotion of the moment.
The emotion of the moment is much better when thinking about being around family and friends. Focusing on relationships just seems much more satisfying than focusing on an event. My opinion, but it even goes back to when I was in the Navy. I remember the people much more than the events.
I suppose that is why I am excited about having Emily and the grandchildren come up to our house while Gary is overseas on deployment. I realize that our house will be much louder, will have more messes to clean up, and it will take us much longer to get out of the house on our way to wherever we are headed for that excursion. It also will have the added perspective of children telling me "the most important thing ever", and reading stories, and fishing, and playing catch.
I think that there will be a shock for them living with 2 old people too. We don't watch very much TV, couldn't tell you when the latest popular show comes on, and in reality can't even tell you what they are. Pretty bland life compared to what the world seems to think is important.
To piggy-back off my last post: It was quite the transition of seeing all of the flags in New England on 9/11 to seeing cars decorated with symbols for a favorite football team. I sure wish that the attention span of my fellow citizens wasn't so fleeting and temporary.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Have you forgotten?
An emotional day. I think about where I was 8 years ago. I was delivering freight in Gilroy CA. Waiting at the dock, I turned on my TV just as the 2nd plane flew into the towers. At first, I thought it was a trailer for a movie that was coming out. It horrified me, and I woke up several people with phone calls that morning.
The drive back to WA was surreal. It was also very difficult. I don't remember why I didn't use I-5, but as I drove through the small towns of Northern CA, and up highway 97 in OR, one of the memories I have is of all the flags that were being flown. I wonder where all of the flags are now?
In fairness, I have spent the past day in NJ and MA. There is no shortage of flags here. I see them on the fences that are on the highway overpasses. I see them on businesses. I see them on construction equipment. Most importantly, I see them on houses. They have been there for awhile, not just pulled out because today is the 11th of September.
When my daughter and grandchildren arrive in WA, I know that one of the projects that we will do together is to install a flagpole in front of the house we just moved into. The house we moved out of in 2007 had a flagpole I installed, and we flew the flag 24/7, lit it at night, and I hope that it was noted by my neighbors. It has been difficult to not have a flag flying since we moved, but that will change in the very near future.
One of the greatest pictures that I have is of the Marines in Iraq where they have spelled out WE REMEMBER. It is especially important to me, because my son is standing at the bottom of the first E in REMEMBER.
Take a moment today to remember. Thank you to all of the service members and especially the members of their families who serve and have served our country. If we forget, if we let down our vigilance, then many will have sacrificed their lives in vain.
The drive back to WA was surreal. It was also very difficult. I don't remember why I didn't use I-5, but as I drove through the small towns of Northern CA, and up highway 97 in OR, one of the memories I have is of all the flags that were being flown. I wonder where all of the flags are now?
In fairness, I have spent the past day in NJ and MA. There is no shortage of flags here. I see them on the fences that are on the highway overpasses. I see them on businesses. I see them on construction equipment. Most importantly, I see them on houses. They have been there for awhile, not just pulled out because today is the 11th of September.
When my daughter and grandchildren arrive in WA, I know that one of the projects that we will do together is to install a flagpole in front of the house we just moved into. The house we moved out of in 2007 had a flagpole I installed, and we flew the flag 24/7, lit it at night, and I hope that it was noted by my neighbors. It has been difficult to not have a flag flying since we moved, but that will change in the very near future.
One of the greatest pictures that I have is of the Marines in Iraq where they have spelled out WE REMEMBER. It is especially important to me, because my son is standing at the bottom of the first E in REMEMBER.
Take a moment today to remember. Thank you to all of the service members and especially the members of their families who serve and have served our country. If we forget, if we let down our vigilance, then many will have sacrificed their lives in vain.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
You lie!!!
I have been listening to all the news reports about Congressman Wilson from SC who had the "You Lie!!!!" outburst during the speech by President Obama.
Most of the commentary appears to be criticism about the 'lack of decorum' shown by Rep. Wilson. My response is at odds with most of the intellectuals that I have been hearing.
My mother was a great fan of education and reading. She was of German stock, and was a 1st generation American. Interestingly, she never graduated from high school. I will say that she was the hardest working woman I have ever known. When we were growing up, before we went to school, we learned to read, and do multiplication, all of the things that the schools don't seem able to get done today. Thanks Mom.
We read classics. Robin Hood, Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Tennyson, and yes....even the Bible. We read stories like Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, 3 Little Pigs. We learned that these were not Disney movies, the stories all had teaching in them.
One of the stories was "The Emperors New Clothes". It is well known. Everyone fawned over the Emperor, and echoed the things they heard (it was what the polls said was true). Then during a parade, the boy hollers out "HE'S NAKED". People woke up. The Emperor was embarassed. The tailors (advisors) were exposed for the dishonesty they had shown.
THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN WILSON!!! Even though you may have embarassed the rest of the crowd, you spoke up. I hope that this is a precursor to more people waking up.
Most of the commentary appears to be criticism about the 'lack of decorum' shown by Rep. Wilson. My response is at odds with most of the intellectuals that I have been hearing.
My mother was a great fan of education and reading. She was of German stock, and was a 1st generation American. Interestingly, she never graduated from high school. I will say that she was the hardest working woman I have ever known. When we were growing up, before we went to school, we learned to read, and do multiplication, all of the things that the schools don't seem able to get done today. Thanks Mom.
We read classics. Robin Hood, Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Tennyson, and yes....even the Bible. We read stories like Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, 3 Little Pigs. We learned that these were not Disney movies, the stories all had teaching in them.
One of the stories was "The Emperors New Clothes". It is well known. Everyone fawned over the Emperor, and echoed the things they heard (it was what the polls said was true). Then during a parade, the boy hollers out "HE'S NAKED". People woke up. The Emperor was embarassed. The tailors (advisors) were exposed for the dishonesty they had shown.
THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN WILSON!!! Even though you may have embarassed the rest of the crowd, you spoke up. I hope that this is a precursor to more people waking up.
It's time to speak up
I have been thinking about starting a blog for several weeks now, and it is time to act on it. I am a retired Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy, and now I drive truck for a living. I have 2 great adult children. When I say adult, I mean more than just age. My daughter is married to a career Navy man, and they are expecting child number 9. The great part is that they have learned how to stand on their own 2 feet, and don't come running home to Mom and Dad when the going gets tough. My son is a former Marine, and he takes care of himself and family without complaint. I have the greatest wife, married to her for 34 years, since we were both 18. Family is very important to me.
The biggest reason for starting this blog is that I don't want to have to face my grandchildren and have them ask "Why didn't you do anything when our country was being taken over by liberals and special interests?
I have to do what I can. So here we go.
First of all, groundrules: If this blog is read by anyone, and they choose to respond or comment, do not use profanity or vulgarity. This includes cutesy ways to try and hide words by clever use of symbols etc. It will result in immediate blocking of your posts. I spent 24 years in the Navy, worked with people in substance abuse treatment, and have driven truck for 15 years. Additionally, my father was a veteran of WWII. I have heard enough foul language for 10 lifetimes. It will not happen here.
That is it for this post. More later
The biggest reason for starting this blog is that I don't want to have to face my grandchildren and have them ask "Why didn't you do anything when our country was being taken over by liberals and special interests?
I have to do what I can. So here we go.
First of all, groundrules: If this blog is read by anyone, and they choose to respond or comment, do not use profanity or vulgarity. This includes cutesy ways to try and hide words by clever use of symbols etc. It will result in immediate blocking of your posts. I spent 24 years in the Navy, worked with people in substance abuse treatment, and have driven truck for 15 years. Additionally, my father was a veteran of WWII. I have heard enough foul language for 10 lifetimes. It will not happen here.
That is it for this post. More later
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