It's not the day before Thanksgiving, unless...

It's the day before Thanksgiving and so the "Holiday Season" has officially kicked off. The "ball" is in the air, so to speak. In my house, this means that the preparation for the "Feast" has begun.

The Turkey is in the fridge defrosting. It's early Wednesday morning and there is already a large bowl of bread dough rising in the kitchen. Today will really be the day we spend cooking. I have an assortment of disposable pans, purchased just for this occasion. We don't want to wash anything that we don't have to when the meal is over.

What do you like best in the Thanksgiving meal? I love the stuffing. Well, technically, I guess it's "dressing." I checked once. Stuffing is cooked in the bird. Dressing is cooked in a pan, outside the bird. So, we are dressing people.

There are thousands of ways to make your stuffing. (For the sake of consistency we will refer to this portion of the meal as "Stuffing" even though the purists may want to call it "Dressing"). A family's stuffing choice is almost as personal as their religious beliefs. I have been to Thanksgiving meals where the hostess has told me that her stuffing came from an old family recipe, handed down from her grandmother.  Of course, when cleaning up we found out that Grandma used "Stove Top"! That's fine with me.

I like all sorts of stuffing. Corn bread, oyster, prepackaged.  It doesn't really matter to me. The stuffing is my favorite part of the meal. We use a combination of things in ours. We use the usual assortment of breads, spices and veggies like celery , carrot and onion. Add in some herbs etc. as your taste requires and then we use Sweet Italian Sausage. Take the sausage out of the casings and add the meat directly to the bread mixture. Mix it well and bake it uncovered in the oven. Once it's cooked through, it will have a wonderful crust on top. It's great! We can't make enough stuffing in our house.

The other sides are pretty standard, except one. Okra Parmesan. Now, I know some of my friends out there will say "Ewww!" To you who do not like Okra in any form, skip over this section. I'll mark the page when I am finished talking about Okra.

I'm not asking you all to take fresh Okra and cut it up and bread it and then fry it. You've got enough work to do this Thanksgiving and after all, you really can't do this ahead of time. Fried foods are best served right away or they become soggy. I just buy regular frozen, breaded Okra. Fry it up. (It cooks fast.) Lay it in a small pan and put some mozzarella cheese on it and a few generous spoonfuls of tomato sauce. (I always have sauce in my house.) Put this in the oven so the cheese melts. Believe me, this tastes great. It goes well with the turkey. OK, for you Okra haters, I'm finished talking about Okra.

Of course, there will be the other usual side dishes, including: Green bean casserole, Mashed potatoes and anything else anyone wants.

I make my own mushroom gravy for the meal. Gravy is so easy to make and you have everything you need for wonderful gravy when you roast the turkey or any other meat. Why waste all that goodness? Maybe 15 years ago, we were invited to a friend's home for Thanksgiving. The food was pretty good and we enjoyed the company. It was nice to not have to do all the work for the holiday. But, there was one fatal flaw. Gravy. Our friend used jarred gravy. It's not like it was "doctored up." It was just out of the jar, into the microwave and on to the plate.

As I said, we appreciated the invitation and we were thankful for the meal. Jarred gravy is just not something I would use, personally. My youngest daughter was around 9 that year. She came to me and asked why the gravy tasted "funny". I told her not to worry about it and not to say anything about it either.

Home made gravy is much more flavorful than jarred and it is easy to make. You don't have to get fancy. If you don't know how to make it, email me and I will teach you! Trust me, home made gravy takes 4 minutes to make and is priceless in it's flavor.

Before the jarred gravy folks out there get angry with me and start calling me some kind of "Gravy snob," let me say this: If you like the taste of your jarred gravy, by all means, continue to use it. It's not my problem. It's not a problem at all. Eat what you like and enjoy. OK. Enough about gravy.

My daughter will be making the pies this year. Pumpkin and Apple. I prefer raisins in my apple pie but will happily eat it without. I do love my Pumpkin pie. I just love everything about it. The smell makes the whole house smell wonderful. the texture is like a custard but a little more dense and add a touch of whipped cream to this and you have one of the premier deserts of the world. The food snobs of the world may want something more fancy but for my money, you can't go wrong with a good pumping pie.

My youngest son also thinks that the pumpkin pie is the best part of the meal. He also loves sandwiches. He said that if he could figure a way to make a Pumpkin pie sandwich, he would. A couple of years ago, he achieved his goal. He took two slices of Pumpkin pie turned them so the crust was on the outside, and put them together; filling on the inside. A pumpkin pie sandwich! He was so proud of himself. We all laughed. Marines will eat anything.

There will be no Sweet Potato pie made. I don't care what anyone says. Sweet Potato pie doesn't taste like Pumpkin pie to me.

There will not be any Pecan pie either. My oldest daughter is the only one who enjoys Pecan pie and the last time it was baked for her, she didn't have any. So, it's bye bye to the Pecan.

All the preparations will be done today. All the desserts will be made, as well as the side dishes and breads. Tomorrow's work will be only what has to be done at the last minute and the Turkey itself.

It's just the 5 of us this Thanksgiving. My daughter and her little family will come visit today or tomorrow. I'm not sure which. They usually stop by for dessert at some point. I know what it's like to be pulled in 5 directions at once by friends and family on holidays. I don't want to be one of the "Pullers", so I don't make a fuss.

Well, I'm starting to feel a little "sappy" now with all this talk of family so I will close with this: Enjoy the preparations for tomorrow's feast. Continue to be safe and remember that a good humor is the best food to eat when gearing up for the holiday celebration.

As always...

What exactly are "American Values"?

We hear a lot today about "American Values" and "Family Values". Our National leaders spout the platitudes daily and expect us to live some sort of 1950's life style as they go out and abuse drugs or misbehave in some other way. So, why do we accept them?

I'm not just speaking of The President. I'm speaking of all levels of Government and all sorts of leaders. Dare I use the term "Role Models." Do we even have role models in the public any more? It seems to me that the idea of a role model is becoming a memory in our country.

I remember, many years ago; the professional basketball player: Charles Barkley was publicly misbehaving. During an interview, the host called him to account for his misdeeds.  During the interviewer's challenge of this "Hero's" conduct, he was referred to as a "Role Model." Barkley balked at this notion. He said that he is "just" a basketball player and never asked to be any type of role model. Well, at least Charles was honest.

Politicians and clergy make great speeches about following an example and expect us to listen. How can we? They don't live by their own words. As a matter of fact, they don't even know what their own words are. They have staffs who write their speeches for them and "Spin Doctors" to perform damage control when they do go "off script"and speak what they really think.

While I was watching the history of November 1963 unfold this past weekend, there was one program that talked about each President since JFK and how one life and death affected the future Presidents. I was intrigued by the comparisons of Richard M. Nixon.

Mr. Nixon was a good friend of John Kennedy's when they served together in the U. S. Senate. Political animosity grew during the 1960 Presidential campaign. As we all know, Mr. Nixon's Administration ended in resignation on August 9, 1974. The great Watergate scandal had felled a President. The interesting thing is this. Historians agree that Mr. Nixon did just the same thing that his predecessors in the oval office had done. He was not the first President to "abuse" his power.

Now, through the glass of history, we can look back and forgive Mr. Nixon and state as many historians have that he was a good President especially in the area of foreign policy. But, we can also agree that he was not what you might call a man of "Character." He did what was good for him and advanced his position. I guess that's politics.

But, if we agree that politics is a dirty business and these "dirty tricks" happen, why do we hold our politicians as role models?

President Clinton was unfaithful to his spouse. Is that the kind of role model we want for your children? Probably not. So, we have to ask the question again: Where do we find our role models?

Here's an idea! Let's look for our role models in our homes. If the politicians want us to live by some 1950's model of American life, let's give them what they ask for. Get your values from home.  You learned good value systems when you were growing up and your primary role models were probably your mother and father. If one or both of those people are missing as role models, there are certainly ways you, yourself can set an example for others to follow. You can become a role model for others.

Just imagine that! You, yourself, becoming a role model for others. You don't have to vote for "Hope and Change" any more. You don't have to wait for a politician or some other phony to tell you how you should act. You already know and you become a role model for others around you. Suddenly, your children can come to you with problems because they know you will do the right thing. You will gain the respect of your co-workers and friends. All you have to do is think outside yourself.

When President Kennedy said "Ask not what  your Country can do for you..." his words still have a powerful meaning today. He was talking about setting an example for the entire world. Imagine being a role model for the entire world. It's not as hard as you may think.

If you are unsure how to achieve this, here is a tip. Think back to your early schooling. Remember when you were told to do the right thing. Stand up, do the right thing. Don't worry about if anyone sees you. You are not doing the right thing for recognition or fame. Do it because it is the right thing to do. It's not always easy. In fact, it's very difficult at times, but in the end you will find that it is worth the effort.

I know many people who did not live their lives by the idea of doing the right thing. Instead, they did what was best for themselves. For sure, many of these people had some sort of wealth in material things but they were destitute in a much more important way. Decades after they had become dust, no one who knew them had anything good to say. These people, who lived just for themselves and took from everyone around them left no legacy at all, except one. Shame.

Yet the materially poor man lived an honest life and was modest in his means. He never failed to do the right thing. He thought of others in everything that he did. Thousands paid their respects at his passing and decades later, the mere thought of him would bring a smile to those who knew him or even those who had just heard of him. You see, if you think of others, you have riches beyond those you can hold in your hand. That legacy can not even be purchased and is something the selfish can not understand. Look in the mirror. That humble person who tries to do the right thing is within each of us.

But, you all have heard this before.  In the service, we call this  "Core Values". That's for another day. I will tell you this.  If you look in that mirror and think hard (not to hard, it's dangerous) you will realize that you too, have a set of core values. You don't need a politician to tell you what they are.

As always...

You can't Fake Class.

Last Friday was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. By now, even those generations removed from the horrible events of November 22nd in Dallas, Texas are familiar with the pictures as the events unfolded in front of the world in 1963.

There are few things that I remember of the Kennedy era. But, I do remember Mrs. Kennedy. From the perspective of a 7 year old, she reminded me of my mother. Certainly, I thought my mother was just as pretty as Jackie. (I remember my mother and all her friends called Mrs. Kennedy "Jackie.") The picture I've chosen for this post clearly shows that Mrs. Kennedy was a strikingly beautiful woman.

Growing up, I would see documentaries about the Kennedy family and Mrs. Kennedy was shown to have a soft voice. It was almost lilting. It seemed to fit her delicate frame well.  She was an icon of style. I remember in the late 1960's and '70's that newspapers would cover what she wore to this place or that. The length of her skirt seemed to be of great import to someone. It was in the paper a lot.

Watching the news coverage over this past weekend, I learned more of Mrs. Kennedy from the perspective of an adult. After all, I could understand the impact of the events I was watching and since I was observing at my lea sure, I was able to take in what I saw as I pleased.

Most of us are familiar with the image of Jacqueline Kennedy wearing the famous pink suit, somberly looking on as Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as President of the United States. She refused to change the blood stained cloths for the rest of the day. The story goes that she wanted the public to see what "they" had done to her husband.

I can only imagine the grief and heartbreak she must have felt during those 4 days. First her husband was brutally murdered as he sat next to her. He died in her lap. Then, she endured the public events of the state funeral, held with great ceremony at her behest. Yet, through it all she endured with dignity and grace.

It's that dignity and grace that I admire. Publicly she remained a rock. She calmly belt her children's hands as she guided them through the mourning process that they did not, could not understand. Much like the American people who too, could not understand.

She allowed her little boy, John, Jr. to be a little boy. He was just mimicking what he saw all the other men doing when he saluted as his father went by. How could he understand on that day? It was his 3rd birthday. His mother promised him a birthday party back at the White House when everything was done.

So, here we have Jacqueline Kennedy, steadfastly and with great dignity attending to the needs of her children as her husband is publicly laid to rest. She continued to Shepard her children. But, you see, there's more.

In two smaller cemeteries in Dallas, there were two other funerals going on that 25th of November 1963. One was attended by almost no one. Just a young wife and an elderly mother and a small contingent of press. The funeral of Lee Harvey Oswald slipped into history nearly unnoticed, a fitting tribute to a nondescript life, save one senseless act. The body of the Presidential Assassin had to be carried to the grave by some of the attending press. There were no pallbearers. An ignominious life comes to rest in a final irony.

The other funeral in Dallas on that day was for Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit. To be sure, this funeral was attended by hundreds. The press did not have to act as pallbearers. Here's the thing that struck me headrest about Mrs. Kennedy. On that most horrible of days for Mrs. Tippit and Mrs Kennedy, Jackie wrote a personal note expressing her sympathy. She told Mrs. Tippit that when she lit the flame at her husband's grave that day, it was just as much for Officer Tippit as for the fallen President. That's class!

In her grief, Jacqueline Kennedy had the grace to think of someone else and their loss and performed that simple gesture of a hand written note. It's the little things in life that count.

As always...

Are we positive role models?

It's funny how inspiration for this blog comes to me. It is also very interesting how an idea evolves until I get it down on this "virtual paper".

While at physical therapy today, the corpsman and I were talking about President Kennedy. It seemed appropriate in view of the date. But, as he manipulated my arm and exercised my shoulder, the conversation shifted to being a positive force in life. You see, in the Navy being positive is really very important. You have to put aside petty differences and work as a team, all the time. The reason is simple. On a ship, there's no place to hide. You can't go home. You are already there. If you are a negative person, you don't survive very long.

The Corpsman said something very complimentary to me. He said that since he has known me (something like 9 months) he has noticed that I am usually very positive in my outlook. I perform my exercises with good humor and work hard to improve myself. But, I don't just pay attention to me. He told me that he noticed that I make an effort to encourage other patients. 

Well, I was sort of flattered. We began talking about how we try to live our lives. President Kennedy challenged all of us to "Ask not what our country can do ..." for us. He was talking about us all being a part of society's solutions rather than the problems. 

When I say that we must be positive, I am not talking of the "Politically Correct" vision of only being exposed to positive images and themes. I am talking of real action. I also not talking about "moving the world." I am speaking of the fact that small changes in how we do things can bring big rewards in the future.

What are we doing with our lives? Are we enriching those around us or are we poisoning the well?

When my daughter was up in New Jersey this past summer, she stayed with my sister. My sister and her spouse insisted that only positive images be brought into their home. As a consequence, most of the television stations were blocked on cable. Watching the evening news was not permitted because it contained negative images. I'm sorry. Censorship is never positive.

I think a better way to deal with the negative images and influences is to let children come across them and then discuss them. As parents, we have an obligation to prepare our children for life. One of our primary responsibilities is to teach them how to deal with the less pleasant issues in life. Eventually we will not be there to cover their eyes and ears and they will have to deal with them on their own.

I've said it before, we have to experience life. It's to short to squander. 

I used to go to career days when my children were in elementary school. I would arrive with a friend, both of us in uniform and show pictures of Navy ships as they fired their weapons. The children would be impressed. I would then ask if this image was what they thought the Navy was all about.

After all the children would say yes, we would change the pictures to  those of Sailors and Marines doing civic works in underdeveloped countries. We would be handing out school books in the Philippines or rebuilding an orphanage in Thailand. 

There would be all sorts of pictures. Their favorites were of small children being helped by the Hospital Corpsmen and Doctors. Children, after all, love other children.

I showed these pictures to the children in the class and told them and the teacher that this is what the Navy is all about.  It's called Service for a reason. We serve all the people.

I try to continue being a positive role model today. Even many years after retirement has begun, I try and contribute in some small way. Whether it's helping one of my children or answering a question from a Mom who's child has just left for Recruit training, I try and help.

I hope that I am not a pain to anyone but I will always try and be Positive, not by my words alone but rather by my actions. In the end, it's the example you set that counts. 

As Always...

Let's just keep those decorations up all year long.

I love the holiday season. Particularly, I love Christmas. I don't say "Happy Holidays." I say "Merry Christmas." Christmas is the best time of year, in my opinion.

The above being said, I must add that there are some aspects of Christmas that I absolutely abhor. My number 1 pet peeve is the early, way too early display of Christmas decorations in retail stores. This year, some stores started with their "Holiday" displays at the end of  August! You've got to be kidding me. August! Really? There are no other decorations the retailers can use besides Christmas?

In my family, there has been a long standing rule that you can not even mention Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. You will not find Christmas cheer in my home until the turkey from Thanksgiving has been dispatched to it's fate. Do not even speak of Christmas until then.

Do the retailers really believe we need a reminder of Christmas in August? Why don't we act like Aunty Mame and do up a little Christmas in July? My sister and I sang in our school choirs as kids. As it turns out, although we went to different schools, we sang a lot of the same traditional Christmas Carols (in latin). You may be surprised but, when I was pre-teen, I had a soprano singing voice. My sister sang alto. We would practice singing together in the summer. It would drive our mother crazy that the two of us were singing "Adeste Fideles" (Oh Come all ye Faithful), in latin in August when it was 105 degrees outside. Ah...Memories.

But, singing with my sister was not designed to sell anything. The two of us singing together was our "Play." It was just something Older sister and little brother did together. We also went to voice lessons together.

My point, as far as retailers is concerned is simple. Please refrain from putting up "Holiday" decorations until after at least the second week of November. Give the poor public a break. I realize that I can't expect the retailers to wait until after Thanksgiving, but the second week of November would be reasonable.

Another thing that is kind of a peeve of mine is the "Happy Holidays" greeting everyone seems to use now. Not being one for political correctness, I pay no attention to it. If I know someone is Christian, I wish them a  Merry or Happy Christmas. My jewish friends get a heartfelt "Happy Hanukkah." I am not familiar with the holidays of the Muslim faith however, if I had a friend whom I knew to be Muslim, I would find out what and when the holidays are and give the appropriate salutation. You see, that's what friends do. They go out of their way to make other friends feel welcome and included. I just think that a Generic "Happy Holidays" is a watered down greeting as most politically correct statements are. 

Sure, I agree that if you are sending out a ton of Cards and you don't want to separate the various greetings for each person, "Happy Holidays" is just fine. I don't mind that at all. But when you are dealing with someone face to face, take the time to know that person and give them the appropriate salutation. I think most people would appreciate the effort. If they don't, you may want to reevaluate the relationship.

Well, I think I've said my peace on the subject of "Christmas Decorations" in stores and greetings too. Just a warning, I may attack other issues of political correctness again. So, stand by, buckle your seat belt and wrap yourself in a warm blanket. You might just need to stay warm and cozy because, I can be cold in the face of dumb.

As Always...

Nothing in Particular

I was spending the day after physical therapy trying to decide what to write about today. I realize that this is a personal blog and I shouldn't worry about whether anyone else reads it but, I do. I try to make the blog entertaining. Maybe I need to stop trying.

So, as I was pondering the subject of today's blog (I love the word "Ponder". It reminds me of Winnie the Pooh.) Oops, I digress. As I was pondering the subject of today's missive, I was reminded that we needed to go to the Commissary. We have a very nice, brand new Commissary. Just weeks after it opened, we experienced a government shutdown and couldn't use it, so now, I use it as often as possible.

You can meet some interesting people in the commissary. Today was a good day to meet someone. As it turned out, I did and in a very dramatic way.

So, here I am with my daughter, minding my own business, rolling down the isle (condiments, I believe) when from my left, I am jostled and a very attractive woman nearly winds up in my lap! Well, she jumped up and in an embarrassed tone apologized for giving me an unsolicited hug. Being a gentleman, I took the blame and used my left eye blindness as an excuse. We both laughed and I told her that this would make a good subject for my blog.

We chatted for a minute or two as her husband just stood there, at the end of the isle and laughed at his wife. My daughter and I continued on our way but every time we encountered the nice lady from the condiment isle, she kind of blushed and giggled for a second. My daughter wondered where her old Papa got such prowess with women. I told her that I am just me and when you nice to people, they respond for the most part, in kind.

It was a nice little interlude in an otherwise very routine day.

PT went well at the Naval Hospital. The Corpsman was very pleased with my progress. We had a routine session and I gave them the leftovers of my son's birthday cake. After all, Sailors love cake! It pays to be nice to the people that have the power to create a lot of pain in one's life.

My son is really enjoying his birthday present. His mother and I got him an "RC" Helicopter. There's a good story behind this.

Several years ago, while my oldest daughter's bulldog was still living with us, my son had a radio controlled helicopter. One day, he was playing with it, kind of near the bulldog. Any time the toy would get to close to the dog, she would start to bark kind of quietly. You know those little barks dogs can make, sort of as a warning.

I had just told my son that he needs to stop with the toy because it was bothering the dog when he allowed the copter to get a little to close to the animal. Sarah (Bulldog's name) jumped up and in one motion she clamped the offending aircraft in her mighty jaws and pinned it to the ground as she ripped it apart. The only thing left was the green blinking running light from the bottom of the toy. It looked like a scene from "Godzilla". Stephen Spielberg could not have directed a better scene if he had wanted to. It's a shame I didn't have a video camera handy. This would have gone viral if I could have posted it on "YouTube".

Anyway, my son had always wanted to replace the Helicopter that the dog destroyed and since she now lives in my daughter's home and not with us, it seemed like a good time to replace it.

Of course, there is a moral to this story. Don't make a bulldog angry. We all still laugh at the thought of this sweet dog tearing the toy apart.

Well, that's all for today. Leftover birthday lasagna for dinner tonight. I hope you all have a great evening.

As Always...

Time for Kids

Today is my oldest son's birthday. He is 30. I thought it would be appropriate to talk about a subject that has been bothering me for some time. I'm sure it bothers other parents too. Well, I'm sure it bothers most other parents. I say most because it is parents who perpetrate the crime in question.

I am speaking of the willful abuse and neglect of children. I occasionally tune the television to such programs as Steve Wilcos and am just sickened by the acts of abuse some of these "adult" parents are accused of.

Just the other day, a "man" was accused of shoving a baby wipe down a child's throat. It was only through the quick action of medical personnel that the poor child survived. The male adult in this case swore repeatedly that he  had nothing to do with the injury to the child. The polygraph showed that the individual did indeed try and murder the child in question.

In another case, a "boyfriend" was accused of hurting a child. The mother of the child did not believe that he would have done such a thing and accused the 3 year old of lying. It was only after a second incident that the couple came on television and the boyfriend was exposed. Oh, the girlfriend stayed with him. How does that happen?

I don't care who you are. Touch one of my children or now, my Granddaughter and you had better run for your life. I will hunt you down and kill you in the most painful way imaginable. Believe me, I have a good imagination.

I don't understand any parent who doesn't have the same attitude about the protection of their children. Is the "pleasure" of having a boyfriend so important that you would give up your child's welfare?

No one forces you to have children. you can give your children up for adoption if you can't raise them. There is always someone who will raise a child. To abuse a child is an affront to nature. I don't get religious in my blogs. I believe that my beliefs are personal and private but I will publish this belief. Children are gifts from God himself! It is our responsibility to love them and protect them.

When it comes to child abuse: once the accusation is made, the accused is guilty until proven innocent as far as I am concerned. You get the accused abuser away from the child and make sure there is no contact with anyone in the family until a full investigation has shown that the accusation is false.

I realize that in this country we believe that you are innocent until proven guilty but, in the case of children, I do not believe in taking chances.

1 or 2 generations ago, attitudes were different. Problems of abuse were taken care of privately. There was some kind of shame associated with the problem. Fortunately, our society has evolved and we no longer hide this sort of crime. The only way to stop an abuser is to expose him/her to the full light of day.

Oh, by the way, once a child abuser is exposed, I believe that there should be no mercy shown. That abuser did not show any mercy to the defenseless baby, why should we?

I'm glad my son has his birthday today. I'm glad he is with us 30 years today. I'm thankful for him being in my life. I will take care of him until the day I die. I've always felt that way and always will.

One of my favorite things.

Any list of my favorite things would have to have Peanuts near the top. Not the peanuts  sold by the gent in the top hat with the monocle. I'm speaking of "Peanuts" featuring Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and all the rest.

Of course, they are the product of the creative mind of the late Charles M. Shultz. What a creative force Mr. Shultz was. He turned his "Little" comic strip into a world wide sensation. When the Charlie Brown Christmas special aired in 1965 it was the first time a prime time animated special had been aired about the Peanuts "gang". It has aired every year since.

Snoopy, Charlie Brown's beagle is without a doubt, the most recognizable dog in the world. In one form or another, Snoopy has been all over the world and beyond. Snoopy has even been to the moon. Apollo 10's call signs utilized the names "Snoopy and Charlie Brown".

Snoopy has a long history of service to the Nation's Space program. After the fire that destroyed Apollo 1, NASA got permission to use Snoopy as a sort of safety mascot within the agency.

The drawing on the left is the original sent to NASA by Charles M. Shultz when he was originally approached for permission to use Snoopy by the space agency. The silver pin on the right is the silver safety award which is still used by NASA.

But, beyond Snoopy and his fame are the rest of the characters in the Peanuts world. They all have purpose and they all accomplish something wonderful. They work together in all sorts of situations and in the end they succeed. They don't always succeed in the way that they may like or that we may anticipate but, they do succeed. They exhibit all the character traits that many in the real adult world fall short with.

One of the most important character traits that we learn from reading Peanuts is loyalty. Everyone in the Peanuts world is loyal to everyone else. Sure, there are different personalities, just like in real life but, they would never abandon any of their friends for the sake of ego. There is something to be said about that.

Loyalty is difficult enough to find in today's world. It's nice that we can find it by reading Peanuts.

The simple wisdom of Charles M. Shultz has certainly outlived the 13 years since his passing. I'm sure that it will continue to be enjoyed by young and old alike for many years to come. Just look up Snoopy on Facebook. He does have his own page. Of course, he shares it with his friends.

As Always...

Life is short...Duh!

When I get up in the morning, I like to cruise the news sites. Yahoo is my "home page" on my computer so, that's usually where I start. The other day I found a story that talked about someone who always says goodbye to her children like it's the last time she will see them.

Is this news? I have always done this. If you don't already know this, here's a clue. Life is unpredictable and all to short. 

Maybe it is because of my military background. I'm not sure. I have a deep appreciation of how fleeting this life we lead is. Every moment is special and we need to live our lives to their fullest.

As I think of it, my first exposure to death was very early in my life. I was very young. I remember my mother and father coming home with a new baby. They came in the house with this little one from the garage, through the basement (There was kind of a playroom for us kids there.). I have a very clear memory of this. But, that's all. I have no other memories of this child. As it turns out, I was not dreaming this experience. My mother told me years later that I in fact had a younger sister, born between myself and my younger brother. Her name was Cathy. I remember going to her grave with my mother once, as a teenager.

My mother had been pregnant many times. She lost all but the 4 of us. I can only imagine the difficulty and unbearable pain the loss of those children caused in my mother. Knowing that she experienced these great losses gave me good reason to respect her even more.

I don't know how my mother dealt with me being in the Navy for so many years. Having two children who were in the service gave me some experience in dealing with the problem of a child in uniform. When my oldest child was in the Marine Corps, I was not to worried. Of course, she was just down the road in North Carolina. I missed her but, we spoke often.

When my son was in Okinawa, I was really terrified. I had this horrible feeling that I was never going to see him again. Now, some may say that this was unreasonable of me but, I don't think so. Just the other day, 4 Marines were killed in a training accident in California.

Let's not worry about military service for the moment. Let's take a look at every day life, shall we?  On average there are over 2,000 vehicle fatalities a month in the United States.

I think every parent knows the nervousness of sending their brand new, teenage driver out for the evening. We stay up because sleep is impossible when we know our new driver is on the road. It's not that we don't trust our kid. We don't trust the other drivers out there!

My mother died 10 years ago. That was the last time I was in New Jersey. I don't drive because of poor eyesight so my wife drove. I was never so glad to leave someplace in my life. The New Jersey Turnpike was like driving the demolition derby! I'm glad I don't drive. It's dangerous.

Life is short. 2 years ago, I got a phone call at 10:30 at night. My older brother had died! He was in his home, and he was dead. Yes, he had health problems. That's what happens when you drink all the time. But, it was still sudden. I had spoken to him that very morning.

If you search your memory, you can think of many people that you know who died suddenly. Each death, weather expected or not underscores the point that life is fleeting.

So, my advice is simple. Don't pass an opportunity to tell your family that you love them. Seize the day! Don't regret. Most important of all: Take care of yourself. Every day is a gift. Don't waste it.

As Always...

Who died and put you in charge?

Ok folks. Things have gotten ridiculous again. First we have a Secretary of the Navy who wants all Sailors to wear the same uniform regardless of gender (I'm sorry, women are built differently than men). He says he wants to see "Sailors" not "Male and Female" Sailors. It doesn't matter that the surveys shows most of the women hated having to wear the "Unisex", "Male Looking" uniform.
Political Correctness run amok!

The other day I saw a story on line that a group of citizens wants A & E to drop the popular "Duck Dynasty" because they pray and use guns while on the air! Oh NO! Imagine the horror! Using a weapon to kill ducks and praying to their God afterwards. I have no idea what they might be thinking. All this is going on, on television! What should we do?

Well, if I don't like something, I stop using it, watching it, reading, listening or eating it! I don't punish the rest of our society by trying to have it banned.  Look; I don't watch the program in question. I never have. But, I do understand that it is wildly popular. Fine. I don't care what they do. But, if you would like to watch it, check your local listings. I'll find something else to do while you watch.

What exactly is the objection to using guns and praying while on television? Do the people who object not like the taste of duck? Wild duck is some yummy stuff.  Do they only eat "farm raised" duck? Maybe they don't eat meat?

Oh wait. I know! They believe that their food comes from the food fairy. It magically appears in the grocery store, shrink wrapped and ready for sale. There is no ugly killing of the animal involved. So, if the source of the food is not an issue because food is magically produced; the objection must be to prayer on television. Hmmm, let's look at this, shall we?

1. Is prayer against the law? I don't think so. Prayer has not been outlawed in the United States, yet. I think I would have heard about it. If it has been outlawed, someone please let me know. I pray all the time. I'd like to know if I am breaking the law.

2. Is prayer on TV objectionable? Well, I imagine that would depend on who you are. For me, I don't care what's on TV. My televisions  come with this really neat device. You may have heard of it. It's something new. It's called a "remote control". Modern remotes have batteries but the originals have been around for something like 60 years and they did not require batteries. The devices do an amazing thing. They give you, the viewer the ability to change the channel without leaving your seat. If you don't want to change the channel, modern remote controls allow you to turn off your television.

When did the Constitution become so perverted in it's meaning that the prohibition of establishment of a religion came to mean: do not acknowledge that any religion exists?

The idea, in this country is that all Religions and beliefs may coexist. One Religion is not better than another. You may go about your business and practice your faith as you please. If you have a television program and you want to pray, go ahead. If someone is offended by that, let them change the channel or at least pull up their panties and suck it up!

This reminds me of the "Moral Majority." They were neither yet, they expected everyone to bow to their will and injected themselves into politics. So, we get to the point.

Politics and religion do not go together. This is exactly why the Constitution is written as it is.  My beliefs may be different than yours. Fine. We both have an equal right to exercise our beliefs, as we choose; as long as we do not infringe upon someone else's liberty. 

We all have the right to change the channel or turn off the television if we don't like a particular program. That's the good thing about life in these United States. We have choices. The idea that a television network would take a particular program off the air because it offends some group of "do gooder" nut bags is silly. If you don't like it, change the channel.

As always...

My Country tis of thee...

This post started out much different. It started as a rile against the way things are done today. I don't want to be that person who just finds fault with our Country and how we do things. I want to be a leader of another kind. I want to find what is good. So, I am symbolically balling up the started sheet of paper and starting again. Here we go:

Yesterday, the building at 1 World Trade Center was declared the tallest building in the United States. Think of it. On September 11, 2001, there was a pile of rubble. Now stands a new building' the tallest on a continent. 1776 feet tall is no accident. So, with that  in mind, I though it would be appropriate to write about an experience I had just the other day.

I like the TV Show "The West Wing". I was watching it on Netflix the other night and the President was having a conversation with his Chief of Staff. There was music playing in the background. It was David Crosby and Graham Nash (Crosby & Nash) performing "My Country Tis of Thee." It was a hauntingly beautiful arrangement. I went on the internet looking for that particular piece and arrangement. I don't know why but, it took me some time to find.  But I did find it. .99 cents buys it on iTunes and I am happy.

The music is wonderful. We all know the words. It's an ode to the idea of America. It speaks of what we are or at least the idea of what we should be.

"Sweet land of liberty" We do indeed take our liberty for granted. But people around the world do not. They come here seeking that which they do not have and which they never have had. Liberty. The idea of freedom. As Americans, can we imagine not having the liberty that we have today?

The holidays are approaching. Many of us will be traveling to visit friends and family. Imagine if you couldn't do that or needed government permission. It is that way in many countries. When we go to college, we study anything we want. Any point of view is welcome. We debate with impunity. We won't be arrested for our ideas. I can write anything I wish here. Publish it without fear. Liberty.

"Land where my fathers died. Land of the pilgrim's pride." Each Thanksgiving we sit as a Nation, around family tables and remember the history of how our country began. Whether you remember the stylized version like the Disney movie or think of the true historical factual version of history, one thing can't be denied: many of the original settlers of this country died in it's establishment. But, they did not die in vain. They were looking for a better life. They believed that a better life existed and they were going to find it. Well, they did. That better life resides in each of us. Americans.

Each of us, whether we are descendants  of the Jamestown Settlement or new immigrants, just "off the boat." In the end, we are Americans and we have the ability to make our country great.

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring." Of course, more than 50 years ago, those words were used by Dr. King to inspire a people. The minorities of America were not seeing the land of Liberty as that. Sadly, many believe that today still that land of liberty for all Americans has not been achieved. As a society, we must decide to do better and then do it.

But the idea of freedom for all is not exclusive to the civil rights movement. There are so many areas of American life that can use improvement and we can make life better. That is the promise of America and the legacy of our forefathers. From the days of the Jamestown settlement all the way to  today, the idea of freedom for all is goal that we all must aspire too. To get there we all must contribute towards that goal.

I believe in America. I believe in the promise of America and the ideal that this simple song speaks of. That belief comes from faith in the determination of the American People to live up to the promise of America.

"My country, 'tis of thee.

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!"

I am not speaking of the politics of America today. I am speaking to the idea of America. Democrat or Republican. Liberal or Conservative. It is one thing we can all agree upon. The idea of America.

We look back at history...

50 years ago, this month, the modern "shot heard round the world" was fired in Dallas, Texas. The tragedy of the President's murder had then and still today, has grave consequences for our Republic.

Political unhappiness can not be resolved by violence. It has never worked. It never will. But, the picture above, of the slain President's flag draped casket laying in State at the White House is almost the emblem of the decade of the 1960's.

I was only 7 on that day in 1963. I remember very clearly where I was when I heard the news. I really didn't understand the consequences of what my mother told me. I remember the grown-ups talking in low tones and the children being told to go play quietly. I remember watching the President's funeral on television. By then, we had a color set but, the live coverage during the day was in black and white. I was really confused. As I read history today, it seems that that 7 yer old wasn't the only American confused during that week of November 22, 1963.

Through a twist of fate, the President's murder touched our family personally, in a strange way. My Father was a Psychiatrist who occasionally did work for the government; examining criminal defendants etc. It seems that the FBI had asked him to fly to Dallas to perform an examination of the accused Presidential Assassin. I vividly remember my father coming into the house on November 24 and saying: "Well, I'm not going to Texas." My mother asked why and my father very matter-of-factly stated that "they" killed him.

With that, the assassination of President Kennedy became just another news story to a child. Until June 6, 1968. Of course, that date lives in infamy as the date of Robert Kennedy's murder. Another "Kennedy boy" had been killed. To date, like the death of his older brother, the reasons remain unclear or at least, illogical.

The very public and violent murders of the Kennedy brothers and Rev. Martin Luther King bring into sharp focus the realization that political violence is not only dangerous, it tears at the fabric of our society and fails. It fails because it does not bring about the change the assassin seeks.

Freedom and Liberty are concepts that have become just words to many. So many people take the freedoms we enjoy in this country for granted. Because their life is difficult, they expect something for nothing. No work. No effort. Just give it to me because I'm American.

The old line that "They" or "The Man" is holding me down is just as much a falsehood today as it was in the 1960s. Many people of modest means have risen to places of responsibility and prominence in our history. We need not look far to see examples of the "American dream." A look at history will tell you that violence was not how those successful Americans achieved.

One of the people I admire is General Colin Powell. The child of immigrants, he led a somewhat troubled childhood of the streets of New York but, his family never lost it's focus on him and he eventually attended City College of New York. He says in his biography that he attended CCNY because he could afford the tuition of the public college.

His family wanted him to become an architect. He saw the Army ROTC cadets and became interested. He joined the ROTC and flourished. Of course, we all know what happened then.

A minority son of immigrants grew up to be an advisor to Presidents, led the Nation's Armed Forces in a War and became Secretary of State. Not bad for a poor kid from Queens, NY.

Oh, by the way; he succeeded without the use of violence. He used his brain. He did not let the disadvantages of his circumstances hold him back. He never expected any "hand out." He let his hard work propel him to reach greatness.

The violence of the 1960s shows us through the looking glass of time that we can bring about personal change and even social change without violence but, we must be willing to do the work that change requires.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Good works are their own reward. We have to always remember that there are no short cuts to anything worth doing. Wether it is personal accomplishment or social change or Government reform. It takes work. There are no easy answers to complex problems. The "easy fix" that the assassin seeks does not exist.

We can not know if President John Kennedy would have been a great President. He did not get the chance to finish his work. We can not know if Robert Kennedy would have been a great President. He too, did not get the chance to finish his work. But those deaths should never be forgotten. We must ensure that we do not let our society deteriorate to the point that political assassination seems the only choice.

As Always...

Veteran's Day

I am an American Sailor. For most of my life, I have worn the uniform of my country. I've sailed in nearly every ocean and visited most every land. I've helped keep my ship afloat and seen her weapons fired in anger.

I've witnessed the many wonders of this country and the world. From the breathtaking beauty of the calm sea in the morning as the sun rises, to the contradiction of crushing poverty amongst the most wealthy of the world.

In peace and conflict, with my brothers and sisters, I have served this great country of ours. I am a veteran.

Many take my brothers and sisters in arms for granted. Many do not know what it takes to serve an idea. Yes. You see, we serve the idea of this country. We do not serve a person. Veterans have served all the people of our country. We do not take an oath to serve a President. We must obey his orders but we protect the Constitution of the United States.

Imagine that. We swear to protect a set of laws that sets out what this country is. The idea of freedom. Unless you have seen a lack of freedom, you can't imagine what that might be like. How do you serve an idea? Better yet, how do you prepare to lay down your life for that idea? Freedom.

Freedom is a powerful word with a more powerful meaning. From all over the world, people come to America to experience freedom, even today. The media will have us believe that we are universally disliked around the world. Untrue. Some political policies may be unpopular here or there but, notice that we do not have to put up walls to keep people from leaving. We have people coming here, in droves. For an idea. For freedom.

The uniform of the United States Solider, Sailor, Airmen, Marine or Coast Guardsmen is universally recognized around the world. The reason is simple. Americans have always answered the call of our country.

Very few will have the day to themselves on this Veterans Day. Unless you are a bank worker or a government employee, chances are you will work today. My older brother took Veteran's day off several years ago. The next day, his boss angrily asked him where he was the day before. Mickey replied: : "It was Veteran's Day. I'm a Veteran. I took the day off!"

His boss was flabbergasted. He replied incredulously: "Well, I'm a Veteran!"

Mickey didn't miss a beat. He said: "You should have taken the day off too!"

If you are fortunate enough to have the day off. Enjoy it!  I say, "Thank you for your unselfish service to us all."

If you have to go to work, seek out a Veteran and thank him or her.

For the families of all the Veterans, a special thanks to you also. You too served, without a uniform.

As Always...

They'er going to make me better, stronger, faster!

Oh, wait... That's the 6,000,000 dollar man. They are just going to make me able to live my life with less pain. But, I am leaving for the hospital in just a few minutes. The problem is my shoulder. For nearly a year it has been very painful. I've tried everything including drugs and physical therapy. Surgery is the last option.

I'm going to Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth. It's just a few minutes from my home and I've been there many times. In fact, I was born there.

The hospital facilities have changed greatly in 57 years. The hospital itself has been serving the military and their families since 1830. It was the first Naval Hospital in the country. This gives special meaning to the command's motto: "First and Finest."

So, some time after 0600, I will be anesthetized and the fine Navy doctors will tear up my shoulder, file down a bone spur and try to alleviate the pain of arthritis by removing some bone from my shoulder. This all sounds pretty complicated to me but, my doctor assures me that this is not his first day on the job and he has done the same procedure many times. So, here's keeping my fingers crossed.

While I am unconscious, my doctor from ENT will give repairing my paralyzed vocal cord another go. Hopefully, I might come out of this with a voice that can be heard again. We can only hope.

In any case, I have faith in my doctors and know they will do their best for a positive outcome. Anything less is just too much paper work.

Because of all of this, it may be a little while before I am able to publish my blog again. I will do my best to be at the computer as quickly as I can. I do enjoy the writing and appreciate the loyalty of all of you who regularly read my ramblings.

For all the good wishes I have received and prayers for a speedy recovery, I can only thank you all. You are all my friends and I am grateful for each and every one of you. 

I'll be talking to you all soon. My Facebook page should have updates.

As Always...

Humor in Uniform

So many people think that those in uniform have little or no sense of humor. My sister was always amazed if my Father, Brother or I would tell a funny story about our time in the Navy. I guess she thinks that we "Trained Killers" should be serious all the time. I once told her that even the trained killer has to blow off some steam sometimes or he would become ineffective.

My service Mom friends will attest  to the fact that their sons and daughters who serve or have  served do in fact, have a well honed sense of humor. Humor is how we cope with stress and relieve boredom. Just like in Civilian life, things would get dull very quickly if we didn't know how to get a laugh. More importantly, we have to be able to laugh at ourselves. Civilians have a sense of humor, why can't the military?

I've got an untold number of funny stories, starting from military school and moving right on through my career in the Navy. Every once in a while, I tell one that my wife of 32 years has not heard. She always asks: "How come I haven't heard this before?" I don't know, but if you'd listen now, you will get a good laugh.

I write about this subject today because, I was on line and found a funny story on a web site that I thought was worth sharing. This seemed like a good way to incorporate it into a blog.

"While having a slow morning during one of our weekend drills at my Army Reserve unit a fellow soldier and I were just sitting in the hallway next to the unit arms room. Nothing was going on until our Platoon Sergeant came by and of course had to come up with something for us to do, he yelled at the armorer “hey you got a .50??” (.50 cal MG he wanted us to break down and clean). As he was waiting on the armorer he asked my buddy, a new Private, “can you break down a fifty?”..the Private proceeded to start going through his pockets and then replied “sorry Sergeant but I don’t have any money on me”….the look on our Platoon Sergeant’s face was priceless, he just shook his head and walked away."*

That's just funny.

One quiet Sunday night at the Pentagon, my cohorts and I had the communications watch. It was a very slow night. There  really wasn't much to do. Even 'Field Day" was complete. As I walked around the Communications center, ensuring everything was squared away, I found a working jacket in the corner, on the deck. Anyone who knows me knows I hate "Gear Adrift". (That's anything not put in it's proper place.) I imagine my penchant for gear adrift stems from my years in Military school (See yesterday's blog). 

I looked at the name on the jacket and sure enough, it was the coat of a sailor who had been told many times to put his belongings were they belonged! We are not a bunch of "Lubberly" Army pukes, who can put there things any place they like. We are Sailors and we stow things away properly! Well, I guess this hapless Sailor failed to receive the memo, again. 

I love a good prank and don't mind using a joke as a learning tool. So, I took the offending jacket and a plastic bag over to the deep sink. I soaked the jacket in water and balled the wet mass up and shoved it in the bag. Closing the plastic bag as tightly as I could, I now had a soaking wet ball. I placed the whole mess into the freezer we had in the Communications Center break area. It should be nice and hard by 0700 (about 8 hours from now.)

Sure enough, as the hour of our relief approached, the offending Sailor began looking for his jacket. One of  he problems with not putting something away where it belongs is, you have a tendency to forget where you "dropped" it. Eventually, our hero asked for help. "Has anyone seen my work Jacket?"

Not only was there a resounding NO in reply; assorted smart remarks began to echo throughout the room;  "Don't you have to work to have a work Jacket?", "What does it look like?" (It's a uniform item, they all look the same.) on and on the wise remarks came as our Slovenly Sailor got more frustrated.

Finally, my supervisor told me that enough was enough. I went to the freezer and pulled the solid ice ball with the working jacket core out of the freezer. I announced "Hey, is this your jacket?" Upon seeing the mass of ice, the entire room burst into laughter. The owner of the coat was not amused. He decided he was going to see the Chief.

Big mistake. After hearing the hapless Sailor's story, the Chief told him he was lucky all we did was freeze  the coat. (The chief didn't care that it was 30 degrees outside and the kid didn't have a warm coat.)

Needless to say, we never had to pick up after that guy again.

The above prank may sound cruel but, I can assure you; on a slow Sunday night, fighting boredom, it was a hoot!

Find the humor in your daily life. It keeps things interesting and reduces stress. A good laugh is good for your health too.

Cheers!

As Always...


 * Story taken from web site "MyServicePride.com"  

What makes you good?

I've talked about a lot of things in the 50 blog posts that have  preceded this one. Today, I wanted to talk about something good. Well, I think it's good.

What makes us the people we are?

In a post a short while ago, I mentioned the unhappiness in my house while I was growing up. After reading that, I  have been asked how I was able to break the cycle of abuse and violence. You see, although I spent my adult life in the military, I am in no way a violent person. Honestly, I have trouble watching violence, especially if it is a depiction of domestic violence. Movies like "Sleeping with the Enemy" make me physically ill. So, serving in the military has nothing to do with violent propensities.

So, How did I break the cycle of violence and abuse from home? Well, I'll give  you a clue. That is me in the picture, above. 7th grade at Admiral Farragut Academy, in New Jersey.

Before the mothers amongst you gasp in horror at the thought of sending a little kid off to military school, remember this. I asked to go. I think my father was relieved to send me. But, that's for a different blog.

I found Farragut (know as AFA by the cadets and staff) to be an amazing place. It was staffed by real, honest to goodness American Heroes. Men who saved the world, part of the "Greatest Generation" were to be my role models. I remember them as if they were here today. Capt Klein, CDR Duncan, Chief(s) McFadden, Larson and Frendak.

I remember them all. They all had a profound effect on my life. I was a frightened little boy. I was away from home and I missed my Mom so very much in those first days away at school. We, as new students (Plebes) were not permitted to make calls home. It was part of the transition. I'll never forget  going to see Capt Klein, to ask if I could Please call home and talk to my Mom. He told me no. But in a kind way, he explained to me that it would be easier for me, if I didn't call. Of course, he was right. The Capt was a task master. His job was Director of Activities and Naval Training (the title was later changed to Commandant of Cadets). No matter the title, he was the equivalent  of the civilian Vice-Principal. As the years progressed, the Captain would come to be my friend and a role model.

We, as Cadets had most of our dealings with the retired  Chief Petty Officers. What an amazing group of Sailors.  Chief Frendak wrote to me every week when I was in recruit training. Chief McFadden had real pride in me when he saw me in my Navy uniform for the first time.

The Director of Naval Science was CDR Richard E. Duncan. What a kind and understanding gentleman he was. In all the years I knew him, I only knew him to raise his voice once. But even then, he had a sparkle in his eyes that let you know that he was a kind man.

I have fond memories of all the staff from school. But, the person who had the most impact on my life was the one that I had the least contact with, until my final year at AFA. The Headmaster.

You see, Farragut was not some Dickensian bastion of discipline and cruelty as some people might think a Military School would be. It was a place of structure, of course. There was marching and military drills and discipline. But, most importantly was the idea that we all could reach beyond ourselves and achieve. We could achieve physically and especially academically. We were taught that above all else, academic achievement would stay with us throughout our lives and help us become productive citizens and first class role models as we progressed through life.

I learned these things from the Headmaster. Capt Raven O. Dodge was a scary figure to a young 7th grader, away from home for the first time. Thin and balding, he had a quiet voice and only one hand. Yes, he had only one hand. He kept his right hand in his pocket. We heard rumors that he had a rubber hand but, I never saw it. For years I was afraid of Capt Dodge. Although, I found out later that I had no reason to be.

As time went on, Capt Dodge was eventually retired and we got a new Headmaster. But, Capt Dodge stayed on in school as Headmaster "Emeritus." He was given an office much like past Presidents of our Country but, I expect that no one thought much of him any more. He had found his pasture.

One afternoon, after all the classes were done and drill had finished for the day, I was helping out in the admissions office. In an office there, which I thought to be empty, I found Capt Dodge. To my surprise, he knew who I was. "Come in, Mr. daSilva", he said. Inviting me to sit, he visited with me for an hour. He then asked me to return any time to visit again. So, I made a habit of visiting with Capt Dodge 2 or 3 times a week, as time permitted.

We talked about all sorts of things. Some of no consequence; others of great import. Some funny and some were actually school secrets. I found out who the administration liked, disliked and even who the staff thought would go far in life.  The Captain told me that I had a reputation as a person who never gave up and he always admired that in me.

One day, as we were visiting, he pulled out a pack of Marlboro Red cigarette and offered me one. As he held out the pack of smokes, he asked, "You do have a 'Smoker's Card', right?" I smiled and told him yes, I was permitted to smoke. This kindly gentleman, whom I had been frightened of as a 7th grader then remarked "You are probably the only Cadet in the history of this school to have his cigarette lit by the Headmaster!" With a smile he lit my smoke. I still smile today, thinking of that.

I don't smoke any more but, the lessons I learned at AFA stay with me today. I try to be kind to everyone, especially those who are weaker or smaller in some way than I. I do my best and I try to be a role model for those in my life.

It was the staff at a now closed military school that helped me  grow up, face my fears and be a good citizen. I only hope that I live up to the expectations they have placed in me.

Thanks for listening.

As always...

Go bake some bread

Today is election day. Thank God! My phone has been silent all day. The thing I hate most about the election season, especially the day before the election is; the never ending phone calls! It seemed to me that every 5 minutes, my phone rang yesterday with some pollster or another calling. I especially love the very personal messages our state representatives deliver when their machines call.  To me, there is nothing more personal than a recorded message from a politician. I live for those calls. Don't you all?

So, here in Virginia, the polls opened at 6 o'clock this morning and will close at 8 tonight. The decisions have been made and people are standing out in the chilly weather to cast their ballots. I'll go later and vote when my son gets home. It shouldn't be to crowded.

In the mean time, I was looking at various news items on line and came across one that peaked my interest. According to this web story, Navy Seals are not permitted to wear the "Don't tread on me" flag on their Navy uniforms. The story went on to say that the Obama Administration thinks that the flag is "To Radical". I'm intrigued.

Having worn a Navy uniform in one form or another since the age of 12, I searched my memory for where on the Navy uniform that particular flag would be worn. Now, I am getting older but, I don't believe that I have developed any unusual memory loss. I don't recall any place on a Navy uniform  that that flag would be worn.

As an aside: The "Don't Tread on Me" flag was last used aboard U.S. Navy Ships in the Bicentennial Celebration era (1975-1977). This comemorative flag was flown from the "Jack Staff" (The flag pole at the very bow of the ship, in port.)  it was flown in place of the Union Jack, which normally flies in port.

  In all my Naval experience, I have never seen the "Don't tread on me" flag worn on any Navy uniform. However, maybe my mind is going. After all, I spend hours each day at a computer, writing to people I have no idea are going to read what I write. So, maybe I have gone crazy. But, not so crazy that I forgot how to check things.

After a little digging, I found U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations on line. Imagine that! The regulations talk about a lot of things but in no place does it even mention the "Don't tread on me" flag. Now, I realize that I could have just gone to a few web sites run by civilians and found that this story was not only bogus but stupid but, I wanted to go to the source so there would be no confusion. By the way, if you want our Sailors to be permitted to wear this particular flag on their uniforms, you can write to
the Secretary of the Navy.  I'm sure your suggestion will be forwarded to the Navy Uniform Board.

So, that puts the stupid news to bed for today. I really wish that the people who wish to make the current administration look bad would at least make up believable stories when they fib. Honestly, the administration doesn't need help looking bad. Like most, they do a good job of that themselves.

In the mean time, my house smells really nice because my daughter is baking bread for a Church Bazaar.  She is making several  loaves of Italian bread along with an assortment of rolls, including Pretzel Rolls. The smell of baking bread almost makes me forget the pain in my shoulder!

Baking bread is very therapeutic. It requires lots of skill and concentration. You get a good little work out too, when you knead the dough. I hope she saves us a loaf to go with dinner tonight.

So, today I've had a little bit of fun with you all. Be careful of what you believe when you read a story on line. Remember what the great showman P.T. Barnum said: "There's a sucker born every minute." Well, maybe he didn't really say that but, that's the story and I'm sticking to it.

Happy Election Day. Vote Early and Vote Often!

As Always...

It takes more than a flag to make a Patriot. (No, I'm not talking about New England's team)

I hear all sorts of talk today, in the media and by politicians about being a patriot. Frankly, I do not believe any of them know what it is to be a patriot. Because you wear the image of an American Flag on your coat lapel, does that make you a patriot? Well, if that is the case, 90% of the population are patriots. Wrong! Symbols and slogans don't make you a patriot.

I don't need the American flag to show  I am a patriot. Everyone who knows me, knows. I don't need to be permitted to say a pledge in a school to be a patriot. If I feel the need to pledge, I'll do it.

I don't need a court to tell me I can pray in a school, on a plane, in a court or before my dinner. If I want to pray, I'll do it. By the way, if I am in public and my praying to my Christian God offends someone, well, I won't tell you here what I would say. I'm sure you can imagine.

My point, friends is simple. Patriotism is not something you wear or wave. You do not need permission to be a patriot. You show you are one by your actions. If you want to be free, act free. If you want to be free, go out and get your freedom.

Freedom is a gift. But it must be earned with our actions. People complain all the time about a government that is unresponsive to the needs of the people. When did YOU do something about it? You as an American can do something. Write to your representative or, better yet; start a writing campaign. 1,000 letters on the same subject will get someone's attention.

Personally, I am a conservative. I believe smaller government is better government. But, currently we have no government. The legislative branch of our government is stalled in ideology. All in the name of patriotism. Of the 435 members of the house of representatives and 100 in the Senate, I'd be amazed to find 100 people who know what a real patriot is. I'd bet that all 535 of those legislators would classify themselves as patriots.

If they were patriots, we would not have had a government shutdown. If they were, the deaths of 4 Americans in Benghazi, Libya would have been really and truly investigated and those policy makers would have been called to account. But, the Secretary of State told a  Senate panel "What difference does it make? Those are not the words of a patriot. What was going on, when and why were all facts that needed to see the light of day. A patriot would have said "I am the Secretary of State, it was my responsibility to safeguard our diplomats over seas. Obviously I failed in that task." But no, The Honorable Secretary obfuscated her responsibility and as a consequence, failed as a leader and a patriot.

You see, anyone can say they are a patriot, it's your actions which define you. So, the next time someone tells you they are a patriot and they want to say the "Pledge of allegiance" in the schools, tell them to teach the pledge to their children if they like. But, the pledge alone won't make them a patriot. I'm sure all the senior members of the current administration know the pledge. Well, they know the words, the real meaning may escape them.

The conservative crazies in the congress want to put prayer back in schools. I don't understand. Prayer to whom? I have friends of all faiths. Many of them pray differently than I. I understand the desire to pray in school, I used to do it all the time. Just before a test, I would lower my head, close my eyes and say what became know as the "Alan Shepard's prayer": "Please God, Don't let me screw up." Simple and effective. But, I didn't need a court to say I had permission to pray. I just did it, quietly, without fanfare, without recognition or the expectation of reward. That is what a patriot does.

When the rebels threw the tea into Boston harbor in 1773, they did not have the permission of the King. It was an act of defiance. To England, it was an act of revolution. To us, it was Patriotic. But, it was action. You read about it in the history books as an active protest. It is not in the history books as an idea that a bunch of fellas talked about around a table in a tavern. They let their actions speak for them.

Women would not have the vote in this country if it are not for the patriotic women who marched and protested for years to get what was theirs and should have been codified in our Constitution in the beginning. It wasn't. The women went and got it. Not by sitting around and talking but by action.

A few years ago, one of our local libraries was going to be  quietly closed by the city council. You  know, a little back door, midnight politics. A good friend o mine heard about it. She raised such a stink in public, on Election day that the next day the paper ran a story that the library was not going to be closed. The city manager had no idea how in the world that "rumor" got started. Patriotism in action.

Your patriotic action can be great or small. Size is not important. In a week, we celebrate Veteran's Day. This is a day to remember all who served. Show your pride. Show your patriotism. Shake the hand of a Veteran and thank him or her for their service.

For those patriots among us, you have my permission (as if you need it) to say:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
And to the Republic of which it stands.
One Nation.
Under God.
Indivisible.
With Liberty and Justice for all.


As Always...

From the Halls of Montezuma...Marines are not just Soldiers at sea

In a Tavern in Philadelphia, PA in November of 1775 a small band of men joined together and formed what was to become Known as the finest fighting force for freedom the world has ever known.

The United States Marine Corps

was born from those humble beginnings. Today it has grown to a force of dedicated men and women of well more than 200,000.

Marines have fought in every conflict the Country has been involved in. Currently, they serve in all forms of combat, on land, sea and in the air. Marines are truly the most versatile of all the Uniformed services of the Untied States.

The service is steeped in tradition. The tradition of a fighting spirit. Often times, just the mention of the deployment of United States Marines into a crisis situation is enough to defuse the tension and get the aggressors to back down and begin talking. This reputation as the fiercest fighting force in the world is well deserved and has been earned over 238 years of hard fought combat. The blood of each and every Marine that has ever served is with every member of the Corps from the first day they assume the title. It can be seen in the uniforms of our Marines.

Each part of a Marine's uniform serves a purpose and both protects the Marine and reminds him of his fighting heritage. From the high collar of the dress blue coat which was designed in the old days to thwart a blow from an opponent's sword, to the blood stripe on an NCO's trousers or the piping on the Enlisted coat. A Marine never forgets those who have gone before.

Of all the services, Marines learn their history as a service from before their first day in training. Names like Henderson, Daily and Puller still come easily to the Modern Marine's tongue. 

Marines were initially formed to serve as Naval Infantry. They would fight from the decks and rigging of our young Navy's sailing ships and fight the ship. It was there, in the crucible of battle that the first young Marines began to build the tradition that we all know today.

Of course, now, Marines fight in places with no ship for support. Afghanistan is a dry environment but it's for boding scenery doesn't deter our Marines. they continue to fight for the peace. That's what they have always done. The Marine Corps is the power projection ashore which gives our Navy it's punch.

Some of the Corps most famous fights were during World War II in the Pacific. FADM Nimitz had been employing what was known as an "Island Hopping" strategy. The fighting was mostly done by United States Marines. 

In the Korean conflict, some of the most famous fighting was performed by Marines.  Marines have always answered the call of their country, no matter the place or time. No sacrifice is to great for Marines. 

I write this as my son dons, once again his uniform for another drill weekend. This drill is special. It's held in November. 10 November is our Marine Corps Birthday. Beginning today and throughout the month, Birthday balls will be held to honor those who have gone before, serve now and will serve in the future. I am fortunate enough to have many Marine Corps friends Both Marines and their families. As a Sailor, I am honored. I also come from a family of Marines. 2 of my children and a son in law are Marines. Nephews, Cousins, Parents, Brothers; the list goes on. Marines all.

As we celebrate the Corps birthday, we don't ever forget those left ashore as our Marines serve. The Marine Corps Moms, sisters, wives, brothers. They too are all part of the United States Marine Corps family.

To all my Marine Corps Friends and Family, wether you are still with us or standing your post in  Heaven, especially this month; in November, I remember you all with a special place in my heart. For all you have done and all you continue to do; for all of us, in the cause of Freedom I say:

Semper Fidelis!

As Always...