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December 7, 1941. A kid is awakened by the sound of gunfire and his neighbor hammering on the door. He runs out and finds himself in the middle of a nightmare. Instead of running for cover, he runs over to man a 50 calibre anti-aircraft machine gun. His claim is that he doesn't know if he hit anything, but, "I shot at every Jap plane I saw." Two hours later, after the last plane was out of sight, he was ordered to leave his post and seek medical attention. He had 21 shrapnel wounds, including a bullet that went through his foot and an arm that he couldn't feel. He never thought of himself as a hero, he said he was just a kid that got really mad one day. That was Lt. John Finn, who was the first World War 2 soldier to receive the Medal of Honor. He passed away last Thursday, May 27th, at the age of 100.
This is the day we remember and celebrate the lives of those who watch over us. The ones who rush in as we rush out. The people in uniform who stand between us and those who would destroy our way of life. And as we celebrate with family and friends, we, of course should take a pause and think of those who are carrying a pager they hope won't go off, just one day. Those in uniforms, either soldier or ER nurse or any emergency personel.
Also, the unsung hero. Those people we don't notice. I have stated many times that I've never met a fireman I didn't like, then I met J.H. No, I'm not going to sit here on THIS day and talk bad about someone with whom I could never find enough common ground with to enjoy a friendship. But none the less, regardless of how we feel about each other, I know in my heart that if someone pages him and tells him that Gary's house is on fire, he will show up as soon as he can and will work as hard as he can to put that fire out. I know he will spit tobacco juice all over my lawn, but I sure will be glad to see him. He is also the guy who will give blood at any and all opportunities, without question or hesitation. And it also occurred to me, what if....... Say that someone decides that the company I work for has made enough money, in war torn countries and wants to do something about it. Make a statement. Who will be the first to know? Would it be the people we hardly notice that greet us as we scan our badges and walk through the front doors? How about that little blond at the back gate? Would that 5 foot tall, 90 pound lady, when faced with "a nightmare", become as Lt. John Finn and say, "I was just doing what they pay me for."
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
MS WALK
Took a walk today, for a friend.
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I went for a walk today, it was a walk for Multiple Sclerosis. It was small, no where near the walk in Atlanta today. But the small crowd, celebrating the first annual walk in Ardmore, Oklahoma, did manage to come up with over $10,000. I was proud, I didn't raise all that much, but I'm happy for what I did raise and in supporting me, my friends helped me support another friend.
After registering, we talked with some of the volunteers and I'm not sure I should brag, but I did answer 4 of the 7 questions regarding MS on the quiz correctly. Hope you don't think less of me for that.
Just before the walk began, there was an invocation given by one of the local pastors. The boy scout troop held up the American Flag while everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Once that was done, a young lady sang the National Anthem and did a pretty good job of it, followed by cheers. During those observances, it was mostly quiet, with what I considered to be proper respect. These Okies, they love it here almost as much as I do. :)
Then the walk started. It wasn't bad. There is a wide concrete surface that only had one good dip before the closest thing to a hill to climb came up. We and the others chatted as we walked down the tree lined path through the woods. Of course, Cathy had to speak to all the dogs on the way. We took a few pictures, tempermental cameras, hmmmp. And also, I guess you can't have this time of gathering without some kid, probably on the cross country team, shooting past everyone and the old man who feels kind of bad about being in the way. Then there are the small groups of supporters, shouting encouragement and appreciation to the walkers along the way. At the halfway point, there was the rest station, refreshment stand, AND the challenge of a longer walk. Another path led off to a longer walk for........the...younger folks. And at the end, another group of well wishers, waving pom poms and shouting "You made it!" and "Thank you!" , while yet another group was giving out the medals for the finishers. No, I'm not done. As you walk up and out toward the pavilion, the Antique Tractor Club had a tractor with the pto hooked up to a belt hooked up to an old fashioned ice cream churn. Uh...yea..it was good.
Ok, one last story. In addition to the signed headband I wore to show I was walking for my champion who is battling MS, I wore my So You Can Sleep t shirt. A guy walked up to me and said "tell your son in law, thanks for serving." I told him, I do, to which he responded, "no, tell him coming from a total stranger in Ardmore, Oklahoma, thanks for serving." I told him I would and that I was walking for two of my heroes.
So it was a good time and we did make our goal. What's next? Well I did sign up for a diabetes motorcycle ride in Witchita, Ks. for July and maybe a diabetes volunteer in OKC for October and I'm still thinking about the Patriot Guard Riders. Damn, Dennis, what have you done to me brother? Love you man.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I went for a walk today, it was a walk for Multiple Sclerosis. It was small, no where near the walk in Atlanta today. But the small crowd, celebrating the first annual walk in Ardmore, Oklahoma, did manage to come up with over $10,000. I was proud, I didn't raise all that much, but I'm happy for what I did raise and in supporting me, my friends helped me support another friend.
After registering, we talked with some of the volunteers and I'm not sure I should brag, but I did answer 4 of the 7 questions regarding MS on the quiz correctly. Hope you don't think less of me for that.
Just before the walk began, there was an invocation given by one of the local pastors. The boy scout troop held up the American Flag while everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Once that was done, a young lady sang the National Anthem and did a pretty good job of it, followed by cheers. During those observances, it was mostly quiet, with what I considered to be proper respect. These Okies, they love it here almost as much as I do. :)
Then the walk started. It wasn't bad. There is a wide concrete surface that only had one good dip before the closest thing to a hill to climb came up. We and the others chatted as we walked down the tree lined path through the woods. Of course, Cathy had to speak to all the dogs on the way. We took a few pictures, tempermental cameras, hmmmp. And also, I guess you can't have this time of gathering without some kid, probably on the cross country team, shooting past everyone and the old man who feels kind of bad about being in the way. Then there are the small groups of supporters, shouting encouragement and appreciation to the walkers along the way. At the halfway point, there was the rest station, refreshment stand, AND the challenge of a longer walk. Another path led off to a longer walk for........the...younger folks. And at the end, another group of well wishers, waving pom poms and shouting "You made it!" and "Thank you!" , while yet another group was giving out the medals for the finishers. No, I'm not done. As you walk up and out toward the pavilion, the Antique Tractor Club had a tractor with the pto hooked up to a belt hooked up to an old fashioned ice cream churn. Uh...yea..it was good.
Ok, one last story. In addition to the signed headband I wore to show I was walking for my champion who is battling MS, I wore my So You Can Sleep t shirt. A guy walked up to me and said "tell your son in law, thanks for serving." I told him, I do, to which he responded, "no, tell him coming from a total stranger in Ardmore, Oklahoma, thanks for serving." I told him I would and that I was walking for two of my heroes.
So it was a good time and we did make our goal. What's next? Well I did sign up for a diabetes motorcycle ride in Witchita, Ks. for July and maybe a diabetes volunteer in OKC for October and I'm still thinking about the Patriot Guard Riders. Damn, Dennis, what have you done to me brother? Love you man.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Another first for me.
Do you believe what you see............or see what you believe?
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It was just across that field. Move to the right along the tree line there. Right there where those rocks are is a little creek. Not a big creek, if you wanted, you could just kind of hop over it.
Well, it was late spring, early summer. Nice and warm, but not hot. The sun felt good, never thought winter would end.
I had decided to take a walk in the field, you could smell those wildflowers from the kitchen and I wanted to get in the middle of them. As I walked, I found myself headed for that little creek. Once I was there, I sat down and leaned up against that old hollow log. Nice. Smelling those wildflowers, listening to the creek cascading down those rocks. Wondering why I never bothered to learn the names and songs of those birds. And always.........looking up......checking out the shapes of those big fluffy clouds hanging in the perfect blue sky.
I truly never noticed being lifted, I did notice being moved. As I moved I felt a smile across my face.......if whomever or whatever was moving me thought I'd fit in that hollow log, well, I just didn't think so.
Once inside the log, it was down, down, down. Deep into the earth. When my eyes started to focus in the darkness, I realized that those little christmassy looking twinkle lights were actually lanterns carried by tiny fairies. The reason, of course, was in order for the gnomes who were busily working even further down below me to be able to see.
Looking around, I realized, that what some would call brownies, had carried me down. I felt no fear, I felt like I had been given a gift. An opportunity for a lesson....... maybe.
It seems that mother nature, who possesses many wonderful things, also, has a workforce. With all her valuables being sought after at such a feverish pace by the humans, she had decided to move them around. How long since you've heard of a big "strike".
She has hired these fairies to keep the underground areas lit up, so as I said, the gnomes can work tirelessly, mining gold, silver, diamonds, and other treasures.
I witnessed the mole, digging endlessly. The mole has a knack for finding treasure. He was made blind so he could "sniff out" the treasures, but would never see them, so as not to desire those objects that shine so brightly and want them for himself.
Then the gnomes come and mine the great find and load the woven grass baskets, produced by the weaver birds.
At that point, the baskets are pulled by gophers to where ever mother nature desires. In that way, a large cache is broken down into something easier to hide.
Once an area has the proper amount hidden, then the badger is hired for security. There may also be prairie dogs or meer cats used for sentries.
So always remember, if you see where a mole has been digging in your yard, it may be that mother nature is planning to hide some of her valuables on your property.
Should you see a prairie dog or meer cat run and hide upon your approach, it could be that he or she is warning the others to prepare to take the precious items to another location.
Also, if the rabbits are raiding your garden, you may be feeding a troupe of gnomes.
And I don't have to tell you what may happen if you disturb a badger.
I awakened, still leaning against that hollow log. I had been there until the shadows were long and the sky had turned orange and red and purple. And I'm not sure, but I believe that I could hear a bit of a rumble below me.........under the ground. Hmmm, what do you think?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was just across that field. Move to the right along the tree line there. Right there where those rocks are is a little creek. Not a big creek, if you wanted, you could just kind of hop over it.
Well, it was late spring, early summer. Nice and warm, but not hot. The sun felt good, never thought winter would end.
I had decided to take a walk in the field, you could smell those wildflowers from the kitchen and I wanted to get in the middle of them. As I walked, I found myself headed for that little creek. Once I was there, I sat down and leaned up against that old hollow log. Nice. Smelling those wildflowers, listening to the creek cascading down those rocks. Wondering why I never bothered to learn the names and songs of those birds. And always.........looking up......checking out the shapes of those big fluffy clouds hanging in the perfect blue sky.
I truly never noticed being lifted, I did notice being moved. As I moved I felt a smile across my face.......if whomever or whatever was moving me thought I'd fit in that hollow log, well, I just didn't think so.
Once inside the log, it was down, down, down. Deep into the earth. When my eyes started to focus in the darkness, I realized that those little christmassy looking twinkle lights were actually lanterns carried by tiny fairies. The reason, of course, was in order for the gnomes who were busily working even further down below me to be able to see.
Looking around, I realized, that what some would call brownies, had carried me down. I felt no fear, I felt like I had been given a gift. An opportunity for a lesson....... maybe.
It seems that mother nature, who possesses many wonderful things, also, has a workforce. With all her valuables being sought after at such a feverish pace by the humans, she had decided to move them around. How long since you've heard of a big "strike".
She has hired these fairies to keep the underground areas lit up, so as I said, the gnomes can work tirelessly, mining gold, silver, diamonds, and other treasures.
I witnessed the mole, digging endlessly. The mole has a knack for finding treasure. He was made blind so he could "sniff out" the treasures, but would never see them, so as not to desire those objects that shine so brightly and want them for himself.
Then the gnomes come and mine the great find and load the woven grass baskets, produced by the weaver birds.
At that point, the baskets are pulled by gophers to where ever mother nature desires. In that way, a large cache is broken down into something easier to hide.
Once an area has the proper amount hidden, then the badger is hired for security. There may also be prairie dogs or meer cats used for sentries.
So always remember, if you see where a mole has been digging in your yard, it may be that mother nature is planning to hide some of her valuables on your property.
Should you see a prairie dog or meer cat run and hide upon your approach, it could be that he or she is warning the others to prepare to take the precious items to another location.
Also, if the rabbits are raiding your garden, you may be feeding a troupe of gnomes.
And I don't have to tell you what may happen if you disturb a badger.
I awakened, still leaning against that hollow log. I had been there until the shadows were long and the sky had turned orange and red and purple. And I'm not sure, but I believe that I could hear a bit of a rumble below me.........under the ground. Hmmm, what do you think?
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