News and world affairs?

[PessOptimist]

Large sigh.

I am trying to be a good citizen, worker and provider. Really I am. I have resolved to pay more attention to finances, home upgrades and less at home attention to ongoing work projects.

Sitting here on the patio, researching things for one of the home upgrades agreed to be needed while i am still employed, the sig other came out and sat down, obviously wanting to talk.

I never got a chance to share my news about my grand daughter successfully pooping in her potty chair. Well, having been a parent, I think it is great news. Especially for the parents.

The news passed on by SO was that a friend who works in Afghanistan for an <undisclosed> contractor at <undisclosed location> doing things with computers connected to <undisclosed equipment> mentioned that the active duty US personnel at the location may or may not be departing within an unknown time frame. OPSEC considered.

The main point of the news was that the friend would be in San Diego with two of his kid's and we were to visit on a specified date, staying at a specified place and eating at specified locations at specified times, probably ordering specified food. I must take leave on the specified days. Fortunately, work is a little flexible about leave not planned during December for the ensuing calendar year.

The question was then asked "are we leaving Afghanistan?". I replied, kindy I hope, that if SO would watch something on TV other than ET, TMZ, The View; I Love Lucy and Golden Girls reruns that perhaps she would know. She then asked about the troops in Iraq and Iran. I suggested I needed to complete an e-mail I was writing to an HVAC contractor about one of the above mentioned home upgrades.

The purpose of all this drivel? I believe that my SO is not an atypical citizen of the United States. Someone please tell me I am wrong.

Happy Saturday.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Probably more typical than it should be...

I find a lot of people, in and out of the military, just go on with their lives and don't pay attention to what is going on around them (city, county, state, country, or world).

That's just my observation

 

[konakathy]

Probably more typical than it should be...

I find a lot of people, in and out of the military, just go on with their lives and don't pay attention to what is going on around them (city, county, state, country, or world).

That's just my observation

I agree - and it's because the world's problems can be so overwhelming. Sometimes it's easier just to focus on what's coming at you locally.

Trying to find a little bit of peace of mind in your own back yard. Give a helping hand to those in need when you can. One person can do so much and if it's a small
amount of care and understanding, that's still ok.

Hell, I moved to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to get away from the madness - still have problems to solve , but a lot less stressing about them.

Surfs up, dude.

 

[WorkFE]

PessO,
After 30 years, a relatively newby to alot on here, I've learned to except the fact that what you do is important to you and everyone else however your autograph just is not worth that much.
However it reminds me of a story. I was running a recruiting station on the east coast. My recruiters had made mission for the month of May early so I went down to the local Minor League baseball stadium and puchased 8 tickets for a Memorial Day game. Figured a day at the park enjoying Americas Game on a sunny day was deserved. The morning came and my recruiters ask me if I minded, because it was Memorial Day, if they wore their Class A uniform. Great idea, no work but eight billboards walking around the stadium sounded like a good idea.
After the 3rd inning the stadium announcer asked all the Veterans in the Stadium to stand up. Of the roughly 5000 people in the stadium about 500 brothers and sisters in the stadium rose and it was an uncomfortable 5 minutes as fans, players on the field an in the dugouts applauded. Other than the feeling I received from my family on my many return trips home it was quite special but Nothing and I mean Nothing compared to what happened next. A player for the Atlantic City Surf entered the stands and ask me for our autographs. Before you new it parents had lined their kids up in the stadium stairs leading to our seats, about 200 of them to get our autographs. It is a day that at this very moment still brings tears to my eyes and a day I will never forget. The moral of the story. Our citizens don't need to know where we are. It does not bother me that they may not know those locations or what took us there in the first place. Our Service Men and Women only care that citizens know WHY we do it. I'd bet your SO can answer that and bring a tear to your eye.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

WorkFE, that is a great story and one I would never expect to happen these days.

I question whether the kids (<30) know why we (the military) are any where. I have on occasion been thanked for my service but it is typically from older folks, who I contend are the only ones who know and/or care about the defense of our freedoms any more. Many of the younger generation just assumes the safety of our freedoms and may not be aware of the price paid by so many of my brothers and sisters in uniform (like yourself); while too many paid the ultimate price.

I am painting a broad brush, so flame at will. I am not referring to anyone in the younger generations that understands nor the older folks like me who should...

Just my 2 cents

 

[nasa1974]

A lot of change since 9/11. Todays military is voluntary and our young men and women have a pretty good idea what they are up against. But not always. I don't say thank you to all of them, but I do to a few. I pray for them all the time. We as a country treat our military differently now. What we need to do is say thank you to those vets that were drafted and fought in a different war. We need to remember their sacrifices also. Some didn't get the respect they deserved. I had a draft number but I joined the Air Force. I am an Era Vet not an in country Vet, but I have a few friends that were.

Funny thing though, it seems once military always military. There seems to be some kind of bond others don't see or feel. I think about what my grandfather went through during WWI, my dad and uncles during WWII and Korea. Sometimes I talk to my cousin about the first Gulf War. We seem to have an understanding a different sense of humor.

Maybe that is enough. Knowing that someone before you paved the way and those after us understand our sacrifices and we all respect each other because of what we did.

I wasn't a Marine but Semper Fi seems to fit. Ooh-rah

 

[nnuut]

Ooh-rah!

 

[WorkFE]

I'm a Glass half full kind of individual