tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42446220473791523052024-03-08T09:06:37.266-08:00strtwlkr saysstrtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-34984616703217918952015-01-17T23:43:00.002-08:002015-01-17T23:43:24.760-08:00Another Adventure in the Wilds of Churchill County, Nevada<big>Another Adventure in the Wilds of Churchill County, Nevada</big><br />
<br />
Out of the starting gate our mission for today was to photograph birds,
or at the very least, find the elusive Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
located about thirty miles northeast of Fallon, NV. <br />
<br />
I searched the route on the computer and erroneously thought that it was
simple enough that our GPS unit would not be required. That was a
mistake as there are no street/road signs once you leave pavement and
all of the numerous dirt roads look the same. After making several
choices by the "going in the right direction" method (and being lucky) I
pulled out my cell phone and called up Google maps to verify that I was
indeed on the correct path. "Path" is a better descriptor for what we
were driving on as it was more of a cow path or Jeep trail than a
roadway. <br />
<br />
Just before the worst section of road which I dubbed the "mud hole
minefield" because of the large and numerous craters, we spotted a black
Subaru Imprezza WRX pulled off of the trail to the east. In my mind a
car like that was just out of place where it was. It was a street racer,
not a car you would want to take off-road.<br />
<br />
There was no one visible in or around the vehicle. We supposed a person
could have been sleeping off a hard night of drinking, or might be hiking with friend or dog, etc., and decided to push on to find the FNWR.<br />
<br />
We did indeed find the refuge, thanks to the google map. There are no
signs, no buildings, no indication that it is a National Wildlife Refuge
anywhere. I find that disturbing and intend to ask the folks at our
Fallon office why. The pessimistic answer in the back of my mind says it
is because if there were any signs they would either be stolen or shot
full of holes by idiots who I am convinced, live only to destroy things.
It is probably just lack of funds sufficient to reach far enough down
the priority list.<br />
<br />
On the way back as we came out of the minefield we could see that the
car was still there. I was even more suspicious of such a built up ride
being so far out a seldom used road, so we slowly drove up behind the
car and stopped. The car had a temporary tag which had expired on
1-11-2015, six days ago. It was our gut feeling and best guess that
this was either 1. a stolen car, or 2. a suicide. <br />
<br />
Having gotten crossways of a drunk with a gun in my younger days, I had
Anna stay in the vehicle and stepped out of my Jeep and listened
intently for a bit. Hearing no sounds I cautiously approached the
vehicle going wide to the left where I had the best view and wouldn't
mess up the footprints and other possible evidence on the ground. <br />
<br />
There was no one in the vehicle front or back seats. No keys in the
ignition, no evidence of hot-wiring the car. No scratches to indicate
the windows were pried or a slim-jim was used. Lack of personal possessions and or trash in the vehicle noted.<br />
<br />
There were footprints of a sneaker much larger than my own and a stride a
good six inches longer than my own, which lead off into the brush at
the two o'clock position relative to the vehicle. Most likely, a male,
six feet or so tall and about 250lbs+ (depth of shoe tracks exceeded
that of my own lesser weight imprints.)<br />
<br />
On the right side of the vehicle there was a spot where a male had
urinated recently (holes bored into soft sand, spray pattern, etc., for
those who just had to know) facing the road.<br />
<br />
On either side of the vehicle there were fresh butts of Camel filter
cigarettes (open end facing west but no sand in them. Wind is
predominately from the west here.)<br />
<br />
Conclusion: One large man had pulled the car off the road into a
convenient spot, gotten out, flicked away his cigarette, walked around
the car to see if anyone was in sight, urinated while facing the road,
and then walked off into the desert. <br />
<br />
Obviously pursuing the departed man was outside of my pay grade and
would not be helpful to the local constabulary, so I called the
Churchill County Sheriff's Office dispatcher to report finding said
automobile. As usual the dispatcher answered right away but was very
busy so I had to repeat the information multiple times. A 911 call
interrupted our conversation so I hung up and headed for town. I did
note the mileage so that I could give a reference point for any
responding units, should they return my call.<br />
<br />
A few miles from town we spotted a CCSO unit on the side of the road and
pulled in next to it to speak to the deputy. It was a lucky connection
for both of us; I would have been upset not knowing if any action had
been taken and would likely have driven back out tomorrow to check the
vehicle, and I doubt that law enforcement would have found the vehicle
without an air search considering how far out and how many turns you had
to make.<br />
<br />
The deputy was very happy to see us and called into the duty officer for
a message, that message being that the car matched one reported to
Fallon Police Department as stolen and we were to wait until one of
their units joined us before proceeding. Eventually the PD unit arrived
and I lead the parade back to the car in question. <br />
<br />
I joked on the way out that it looked like we were leading a low speed
(OK, 40 mph) chase and if anyone flying over saw us it would be "film at
eleven!"<br />
<br />
It would be understandable if the police officers following us began to
wonder if I was leading them on a fantasy ride and I said so, but as
Anna reminded me, she had taken a photo of the car and we had shown it to the deputy while we waited. <br />
<br />
As we pulled up to the car the officers, in an abundance of caution,
pulled out their long guns and proceeded as if a shooter might appear at
any moment. In my estimation this was the prudent way to approach as we
could have been facing a suicidal nut, even though it was more likely
just a stolen car. You can't get those seconds back if you guess wrong
and your car thief wants to cap you for getting in his way.<br />
<br />
After a search of the area following the tracks that I showed the deputy, they determined that possibly two people had walked off into the brush, the large male I had found the tracks of, and either a woman or a small man wearing cowboy boots. I did not want to get in the way and mess up the tracks so I did not see the other tracks myself to be able to read them.<br />
<br />
Once happy that the area was reasonably secure, the vin number on the
vehicle was checked and it positively identified the car as the stolen
vehicle FPD was looking for. As is customary in such events I gave a
written statement to the FPD officer who would be handling the case and
we departed on our merry way to dinner at Jerry's, which is where we
always go after our adventures.<br />
<br />
<br />
===========================================================<br />
<br />
Possible scenario based on the above:<br />
<br />
The direction the man walked is the most puzzling thing of all to me.
Why take the most difficult path into a desert that could kill you, when
there was a road behind you that you could eventually walk out on.
Granted, it would take you a good twenty hours of non-stop walking to
reach town, but it was doable. <br />
<br />
The same distance through the desert would take you three days, and the
direction he went, there isn't going to be anything there when/IF he
gets there. Without water and considering the exertion, even with mild
temperatures he will dehydrate and feed the coyotes. If he tries to
drink the seriously alkaline water he will get very sick and feed the
coyotes.<br />
<br />
Night time temperatures in the high desert can be brutal in the
summer, but they will suck the heat right out of your body in the
winter. I would guess that he does have either a lighter or matches with
him (cigarette butts) so could possibly build a fire and stay kind of
warm. A formula for a slower death, but still not a good plan overall.<br />
<br />
One fly in the ointment; the car was unharmed, the doors were locked,
and the keys were gone. What kind of car dumping thief does all that?strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-25425979460029140652014-02-21T10:49:00.000-08:002014-02-21T10:49:05.421-08:00The Smiling Snake<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Smiling Snake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The clamor of excited children got my attention as I
walked along the edge of the park by the school. Cries of “Snake, Snake!” made me break into
a run as much for fear of what the children would do to the reptile as anything
else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A small group of elementary age kids came into sight as I
rounded the corner of the fence protecting the swimming pool. That they were
running away from me at a good clip didn’t do anything to help my building
anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of bigger boys started yelling “It’s a COBRA!” which
made me run faster. The chance that this was anything but a local species was
infinitesimally small. If this were many years later there “might” be a chance,
given the number of deadly snakes which escaped during hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Prior to that year I would expect to see a Tyrannosaurus Rex before a cobra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I caught up with the screaming mob I could see a
slender black snake about four to five feet in length coming to bay as the
children surrounded it. The stressed out reptile rose up in a defiant posture
and turned to face the closest threat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For a fleeting moment my mind asked, “Are you sure? It
behaves like a cobra,” but that thought passed quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was finally close enough to confirm that this poor
harassed beast was a Black Racer, which is a non-venomous slender snake with a
tough guy attitude. They do like to rear up and hiss at you and will definitely
bite if given the chance. The injury from such a bite is probably the least
damaging of any animal bite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Asking one of the calmer boys to help me, I had him get
in front of the snake and at a cue from me, step towards it, staying just out
of strike range. While he was distracting the ornery critter I zipped in from
behind and grabbed the snake by the tail, lifting it into the air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I gently spun the snake this way and that as it tried
to climb up its own body, a little girl dressed like Alice (of Wonderland fame)
pointed and said, “It’s smiling!” Then another child echoed the claim, and
another and another. Snake teeth are far too small to show up in such a way so
I was really puzzled as to what they were talking about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The snake was tired enough that it allowed me to slide my
hand forward until I could grip it just behind the head. Nothing could prepare
me for what I saw when I turned the slender creature around to face me. It WAS
smiling!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trapped in its stretched open mouth was a very small set
of what I could only guess were upper dentures. Even more bizarre was that
these miniature false teeth appeared to have orthodontic braces on them. I
didn’t even entertain a thought that this was intentional, only that I couldn’t
explain it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I tried to remove the foreign object from this
unhappy creature it resulted in renewed flailing and the release of a very
smelly fluid from its rear end which would make a skunk gag. Luckily I found a paper
bag up against a fence that was large enough to hold my captive and after a lot of trying, I finally got all
of it inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a veterinarian not too far away that might help
me, but it would have to be for free, because I didn’t have any money. I hoped
that the weirdness of the problem would catch his interest, if not I would have
to come up with a plan “B.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was just before quitting time when I walked in the
clinic door, but as fate would have it, the car that sped out of the back alley was the doctor racing
for his golf date. The lady working at the reception desk wasn’t at all
interested in helping a kid. As soon as she got “The doctor has gone for the
day” out of her mouth, she turned her back on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The mean streak in me flared up and without thinking I
opened the bag, pulled out the snake, and plopped it down on her desk where it
knocked all of her papers to the floor. I said, “This snake has a problem and I
can’t help it.” It was a wasted speech as the woman had jumped up and ran
through the door to the back areas of the clinic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess she didn’t like snakes as much as I did. It was a
good thing that this particular Black Racer had a mouthful already, because it
really wanted to bite someone at that point. The creature vented its
frustration by once again releasing foul smelling fluid which got all over the
counter top; I didn’t mean for that to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I was looking around for something to wipe up the
stinky mess the door to the back burst open and a lady in her twenties wearing
an apron hurried into the room. I expected her to start yelling at me for
scaring the receptionist, but she was cool. “What’s up with the Black Racer?”
she said while pulling a cloth from the pocket of her apron and tossing it to
me and nodding at the mess on the counter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I stood there for a while with my mouth hanging open,
holding onto the writhing serpent and processing not being yelled at. A wisp of
golden hair had escaped from the tightly pulled back hairdo and she blew it out
of her face as she waited for me to respond. The unhappy snake brought me back
to the moment at hand by bashing me with its flailing head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh, I see” she said as she noticed the odd obstruction
in the snake’s mouth and moved forward to also take hold of the creature.
Between the two of us we held it still as she looked at what needed to be done.
“Come with me to the back and we’ll see if we can fix this problem.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we went
through the door to the back she knocked at the bathroom door and said,
“Dolores, you can go home now, I’ll close up.” From within the bathroom came a
weak and shaky voice asking, “Is that horrible boy with the snake gone?” My new
friend waved me on into an exam room with the reptile and closed the door
before replying, “Yes Dolores, he’s gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While I waited I tried to calm the nervous snake down by
grabbing a white towel off of a stack on a table and covering its head. That
seemed to help and I sat down on the rolling stool that the doctor always uses
and put my arm (and the snake) on the examination table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It didn’t take long for me to get bored; doctor’s exam
rooms were my least favorite place to be. Even though it was a veterinarian’s
habitat, there was nothing special beyond the same dog breeds chart which
decorates every one of them. Just once I’d like to see a chart of snake species
or even bird species on the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The door opened and the young lady burst into the room
with her hands full of instruments and a roll of tape in her teeth. She
gestured to me to take the tape and then said, “I am Pat by the way.” I mumbled
something that closely resembled my name as I watched her remove the towel
which covered the snake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pat instructed me to move the racer to the metal
equipment tray which she had just cleared off. While I did that she was ripping
off strips of tape and sticking them to the edge of the tray. Once she had a
bunch of those hanging around the tray she started cutting strips of gauze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When there was a dozen pieces of gauze she said, “Now, we
are going to tape our friend to this tray, putting a piece of gauze between its
skin and the tape.” I didn’t say it, but I thought it, “This won’t work the
snake will slip out of the tape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did what I was told and put a piece of gauze and then a
strip of tape over the serpent six times, sticking the tape to the metal tray.
Pat said, “OK, let’s see what we’ve got” and released her grip. Fortunately I
grabbed the speedy creature before it made it off the tray and hung on as it
thrashed all over the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For whatever reason, instinct I guess, I grabbed another
towel with my free hand and whipped it over the snake’s head and wrapped it up.
“Give me a minute to get him calm again” I said to the now flustered Pat. She
didn’t say a word as she stood there balling up the tape strips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I slowly wrapped the towel around the snake’s body and
pulled it down enough to see the head. By tucking the towel wrapped body under
my arm I was able to present the uncovered head to Pat and control the movement
enough for her to be able to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She got an underhand grip on the head and held it to
where she could see the poor creature face on. “What the Hell!” was the first
thing out of her mouth but the shock passed quickly and she got a hemostat off
of the table next to her and tried to grip the false teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The denture material proved difficult to grip so she
tried grabbing a wire. That worked briefly but pulled loose before any real
progress was made. As she sorted through the instruments she had available I
took a closer look at the snake’s mouth. It appeared to me that the denture was
hooked behind the curved teeth. If we pushed it backwards it would just hook
behind the teeth it now sat upon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pat picked up a scary looking tool that made my eyes bug
out when I saw it. Seeing my expression she said, “It is a spreader which is
used during surgery to separate ribs.” Her intentions were good but I was
afraid that the tool would break the snake’s teeth off and told her so. Her
answer was to toss the tool back onto the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was then that I spotted the jar of tongue depressors
that you normally see it human doctor’s examination rooms. The idea just jumped
into my head and I spluttered as I tried to get the entire thought out at the
same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we put one tongue depressor above and another below
the offending denture we should be able to lift it free of the snake’s real
teeth. Pat was good with the idea and she grabbed the flat sticks and we worked
together to get them in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once she had the depressors in place and put pressure on
them, I used the only tool that I had handy; my finger. I got cut a bit by the
teeth as I pushed but was able to work the denture free of the jaws. The snake
then did a maneuver that only someone who feeds snakes would recognize; it
dislocated and reset its jaws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pat said, “I don’t have a cage that could hold a snake in
the entire building.” I told her that I didn’t see any other problems or
injuries on our little buddy and thought that it would be fine to let it go
back where I found it. She was completely cool with that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The merciful woman left the room for a moment and
returned with a laundry bag with a drawstring which she helped me stuff the
once again vigorous snake into. I said, “I can’t pay you for the bag or the
help you gave me, I don’t have any money.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She just laughed, put her hand on my head, and said
“Don’t worry amigo, I haven’t had this much fun since the doc stuck himself
with Novocain.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We both turned at the same time like the idea struck us
both out of the blue, and looked at the false teeth on the tray. Pat picked it
up and turned it around and around in her hand examining it. Finally she said,
“The teeth are small child size, but they are perfect. Why the braces and why
false teeth for a child who would only have baby teeth anyway?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “The top of the whole thing is flat; the roof of
your mouth is not. It doesn’t go into a mouth at all.” We both said “Display!”
at the same time and high-fived each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A glance up at the clock sent me running for the exit
saying goodbye and thank you as I contemplated how to talk my way out of
trouble for being an hour late getting home. Fortunately for me my route home
took me past the same field where the snake chase began. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I took the bag to the far side of the field where some
bushes were planted and opened it and turned it upside down. At first the beast
braced itself inside the bag and stayed there, but a little vigorous shaking
solved that problem. Once it hit the ground it kicked into high gear and left
the area without a kiss, a thank you, or even a look back at me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This event took place on a Friday; the coming home late
thing got me restricted to the house for the entire weekend which was miserable.
Kids didn’t talk on the telephone in our house and there was no such thing as a
personal computer or video game machines then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Television was also off limits unless someone else wanted
to watch it (read, my father) so reading was all that was left. Normally
reading was my favorite past time but I had already read everything in the
house at least once. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A city map caught my eye and an idea to see how many
addresses around my neighborhood that I could identify and picture in my mind
took hold of me; it was something to do! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was while playing this mind game that I realized that
there was a dentist office one block over from the school where I caught the
black racer. The area was a little overgrown with weeds and had broken
sidewalks, but was nice enough for an old neighborhood. The dentist office was
in what used to be a private residence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Monday after school I hurried home and got permission to
go to the paddleball courts at the high school. I did go there (just so I
didn’t tell a lie) but only stayed long enough to hit one ball against the
wall. Honesty upheld, I took off at a trot for the dentist office to see if
they knew what the false teeth in my pocket were all about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I got within sight of the place I slowed to a walk
and watched a field mouse come out of the side door which was propped open with
a brick. On a hanging sign over the front steps the board said “Doctor S. Miles
Allott, D.D.S.” (Of course that isn’t his real name, I couldn’t use that.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I walked up the steps and entered the front door which
had a sign on it saying “We make your teeth happy” and an annoying bell went
off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The woman at the desk looked older than anyone I knew
that was still working and she didn’t hear me come in. I stood in front of her
desk for a little while, clearing my throat occasionally (which she didn’t
hear) waiting for her to see me. It was a shy southern boy’s politeness
nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was still standing there not knowing what to do when a
pretty<i> Cubano</i> dental tech came out and asked if I had an appointment. It was
such a relief to have someone speak to me that I just went with the pretty girl
automatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once inside the treatment room the tech asked where my
records were and what I was having done. I woke up to reality at that point and
started talking. Pulling the denture from my pocket I presented it to the young
lady and recounted where and how I had obtained it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I half expected her to toss me out but instead she showed
a lot of interest and examined the denture all over. Opening a cabinet she
pulled out a headset with a light and several magnifying lenses that flipped
out of the way. “Aha!” she said while looking at the back of the top edge, “I
thought so!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This is an old display model used to show parents what
braces could do for their children’s teeth. These haven’t been used for as long
as I have been here. The doctor and his wife have been practicing for
forty-five years and they used to do orthodontic work, I am sure they would know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We went back out to ask the old woman at the desk, who
was also the doctor’s wife, but she was not there. The young lady, Isabella
according to her name tag, looked at her watch and said, “Oh no, it’s too late,
they have both gone home.” To be fair, there were no scheduled appointments and
I don’t think that the old woman ever saw me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was pretty disappointed and started mumbling stuff like
“It’s no big deal, thanks anyway…” etc. Isabella said, “Hey, <i>hermano, no hay problema</i>!” and laughed,
which was a really sweet sound. “C’mon my friend, I want to look in the store
room” she said and took off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It took me a couple of seconds to process what had
transpired and then I ran after her. She hadn’t gone far, just through two
doors and into the side room with the open outer door. The room was very dusty
and full of shelves and storage cabinets bulging with stuff apparently no
longer in use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isabella was poking around on a shelf mumbling about
“where would they keep them” when she screamed and jumped backwards. Running
down the shelf in the opposite direction were three brown mice doing their best
to get away from the screaming human. My
new friend was standing in the doorway, but behind the door, peeking around it
like the mice were going to mount a counter-attack any time now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “You could use a good snake or two in here.”
Isabella rolled her eyes at that statement and said, “<i>Madre de Dios</i>.” She said, “Make sure there are no more <i>ratitas</i> before I look again.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trying to be nice and yet still slightly the “hero,” I
made a show of banging cabinets and shaking shelves and declared the evil
creatures vanquished. Of course I knew that mice could hide anywhere and there
were probably dozens of them in the room, but Isabella was satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She cautiously returned to the shelf and soon found what
she had been looking for; the bottom half of the tiny denture set! We had proof
that what I found in the snake’s mouth had come from that very room. Isabella
and I both jumped up and down laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I moved a short step-stool over to the shelf the dentures
resided upon so I could look down on it. As I suspected there were rodent
dropping everywhere, but what I had hoped to see was there as well; the
tell-tale curving line of a snake track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were marks in the dust which told me that the snake
had struck at a mouse which was in all likelihood either on or in front of the
dentures and the impact pushed everything. Isabella was muttering about hiring
a cleaning team or exterminators as she went back into the main part of the
building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was satisfied that we had the answer as to how the
black racer got fitted for dentures. The next afternoon I went by the vet
clinic and told Pat what I had found. She seemed more impressed that I came
back to tell her, than by what I had learned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I tried to tell my parents and siblings what had
transpired I was met with disbelief and skepticism. I had witnesses to back up
my story but I just gave up and let it drop; it wasn’t worth the effort. That
smiling snake lived quietly in my memory... until now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-31121456272848794972013-12-07T15:28:00.005-08:002013-12-07T15:28:56.132-08:00Pearl Harbor lesson<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 and the lesson not learned.
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The following offered with much respect to all of my brothers and sisters in
arms who have served and those serving now. <br />
<br />
An act of war was carried out against the United States on this date and the
few survivors remaining and their descendants still mark it with remembrances
and tributes. That date has taken on a kind of "holy" day status and
to not remember it properly is a sin of some kind. Don't get me wrong; I do
believe that it is fitting that the men and women who served their country be
recognized. <br />
<br />
We were on the receiving end of an attack that targeted military objectives
like warships and airfields. It was bad, but it carried with it a military
logic that later on made it more understandable in a cold historical way. If it
had been carried out by U.S. forces against a Japanese city it would have been
called a courageous, brilliant, and well executed plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the attack was against our territory it was/is
viewed as a dishonorable, sneaky, and reprehensible act of an over-reaching
aggressive nation. Remember also that the only reason that the attack happened
before war was officially declared, was the bumbling incompetency of
politicians on both sides.<br />
<br />
There was an extremely important lesson in the bombing of Pearl Harbor that has
not been learned by our leaders or taught to our children. That lesson is
simple: If you randomly kill the citizens of any country, the survivors will
hate you for generations, if not forever. <br />
<br />
Since Pearl Harbor the United States of America has undertaken an ever
expanding policy of bombing opponents into "submission." Can you
imagine the hatred and vengeance that would have arisen if schools, hospitals,
or downtown Honolulu had been targeted? Don't waste your breath saying that we
would never do that, because I have walked through the rubble personally. Talk
to any Iraq War veteran about the destruction they saw. <br />
<br />
I have heard the first hand stories with my own ears from the mouths of those
who lived through the events of World War Two. Their hatred of the Japanese
still burns brightly in their hearts. I have experienced the chaos personally
from Vietnam to Beirut and heard the dialogue of both sides from Bosnia to
Afghanistan. <br />
<br />
The truth is still the same: when you rain death on people you do not instill
fear or humble them into submission, you make generations of people who will
hate you until their dying breath. The only winners are the people who make the
weapons and munitions used to kill "other people's children." <br />
<br />
We need to learn the lesson of Pearl Harbor and stop making new enemies.
Remember how America felt when they heard the news about death reaching their
shores: the heartbreak, the frustration, and then anger. Everyone immediately
ran to the recruitment office to sign up to fight. <br />
<br />
If you want to remember Pearl Harbor, remember how that event wrecked lives and
don't allow that to be passed on. Being strong isn't about blowing people up,
it is about solving problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-75352142408488003142013-11-29T00:33:00.001-08:002013-11-29T00:33:22.153-08:00Thanksgiving past<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">International Thanksgiving in Alaska
1976 </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Ft Richardson Army Base, near Anchorage, AK <br />
<br />
<br />
Being stationed in Alaska from 1975 to 1978 was a great thing for an outdoor
type like myself, with a wife, little girl and dog to keep me company. We had
each other and our shared hobbies and interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For those Air Traffic Controllers
who worked for me it was quite different, they were alone. Stanley did bring
his wife up and had a house to go to, but their families were far away, just
like the others. We needed each other to make our own family group.<br />
<br />
The idea started out simply as a Thanksgiving meal where everyone could gather
and not be by themselves. A good plan, but as we added people to the list it
began to show a different color to me. The names that I wrote down on the page were
what did it. <br />
<br />
There was the Southern boy, with an Ohio wife and a Georgia born daughter in
the house already. Add to that a Japanese kid from Hilo, Hawaii, and Polish guy
from New Jersey. A German man from New York City with his British imported
wife. A Czechoslovakian from Michigan, a French Canadian from Wisconsin, a pair
of Nebraska yuppies of mixed Scandinavian ancestry, and a nutball from Guam by
way of Puerto Rico. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What we had was a U.N. meeting without
the politics. From that realization came the theme of: International
Thanksgiving. <br />
<br />
I called upon my second-in-command, Stanley, to assist me with finding cultural
dishes from each ethnic group represented. This could prove to be a strange
conglomeration of dishes, but that would just make it more interesting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
For our Hawaii born Japanese son, Clifford Mitsuo "Mitch," we decided
that octopus was a good representative offering. There were none to be found in
the commissary, so we headed into town and stopped at the big chain grocery
store. The man at the meat counter laughed at me when I asked for a whole
octopus. I guessed that was a no to my question as to whether they had any.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
As is common in remote parts of the world, everyone listens to everyone else's
conversations and Anchorage was no different. An older Chinese gentleman heard
our question and was too polite to interrupt the rude grocery man, so he waited
until we turned to leave to summon us to his side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He was dressed in traditional Chinese clothing
and looked to be very ancient, but he spoke better English than the clown we
had just dealt with. "Gentlemen," he said, "You may find what
you seek at this market" and handed us a card. It sounded like a line from
a James Lee Wong story!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
We drove to the market and went inside a small building with a huge shop
stuffed inside. It truly looked like a black & white movie from the 1930s
with all of the stuff hanging in that shop. There were live chickens in crates,
canaries in bamboo cages, eels in pots of water and more of the little ancient
Chinese guys smoking pipes. The place was a trip! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I couldn't find the cash register,
which is where every American shopper goes to find out about anything, so I
asked the youngest looking man in the place if he spoke English, and he said,
"No, but my grandfather does," pointed at a really old guy and left.
What?!<br />
<br />
The man in charge came to our rescue and told me that the others were a bunch
of jokers and asked if he could help. I explained what I was trying to find and
he lead us around and through the maze of shelves to a big deep sink. Covering
the sink was a sheet of glass with bungee cords holding it in place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I thought that was odd until the moment he unhooked the cords. A tentacle
pushed under the edge of the glass and kept growing in size until the body of
an octopus appeared. Evidently they are supreme escape artists that can and
will get out and slip into the most inconvenient places imaginable, and
probably some that we couldn't imagine. The shop owner deftly grabbed the
creature by the head with his fingers in the eyes and breathing openings. He
said will this one do?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
“Well, yeah!” we said, thinking how the Hell, and what the Hell do we do with
this thing now? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man had already figured out that
we didn't have a clue so he took us farther into his shop to a free-standing
butcher block. There he grabbed a wooden club similar to a belaying pin on a
sailing vessel, and whacked the life out of the beastie in one stroke. He then
took a meat cleaver and had the beak and the internals out of the octopus
before we could really focus on what he was doing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
The gentleman gave us instructions on how to wash the creature to properly
prepare it. He suggested that we dunk it in boiling water, and then steam cook
this meat. Why didn't we remember that they have McDonald's on the Big Island?
This was going to be a lot of work. “Hey wait a minute,” we thought, “let's
make Mitch do it!” Cool, this was going to work after all.<br />
<br />
Stan kept fussing that his German food was next, but at least it wasn't so hard
to get. He wanted Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and German beer. The man was actually
a pretty good cook too. I guess it was his bachelor years between wives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His first wife didn't like him being
on the road all the time playing bass for great jazz horn man Chick Corea and
had emptied his bank account, filed for divorce in Reno, (Hey!) and driven off
in his brand new Cadillac. So Stan had to fend for himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When he married Geisla (Geese-La) in
London, he didn't realize that he would still have to do the cooking if he
wanted to taste anything. Even though she was born in Germany of German
parents, she was raised in London by relatives who had made her into a complete
Brit. No flavor in her food at all.<br />
<br />
Our man Andre was a French-Canadian transplant to Wisconsin. He was born there
and was a US Citizen, but all of his family lived in Canada. When he joined the
Army, his parents and siblings went back north to live where the rest of the clan
was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His contribution was Canadian duck,
a really tasty meal, which used chopped up duck meat, ham, onions, celery, some
kind of green peppers, a lot of butter, flour, and all kinds of spices. He
fussed around with it in the kitchen all morning singing stuff in French and
being just a happy chef. It required a lot of stirring, I do remember that, and
it was awesome tasting.<br />
<br />
Scott was a unique individual. He was the crudest, rudest person that I have
ever known. We couldn’t take the man into a bar with us, because a fight would
start within five minutes of his arrival. He was also one of the most brilliant
electronics technicians that ever lived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He could look at any piece of
equipment and know what it did and how to deal with it. If textbook fixes
weren't possible, he would invent something that worked. I can't tell you how
many times he made something out of nothing for me. Of course this was the same
guy that lit his hind end on fire lighting flatulence too. Can't have
everything I guess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scott was only allowed to bring
alcohol. No cooking should ever be consumed if he had anything to do with it.
He could somehow cause food poisoning in an unopened can of peaches. He brought
about 3 gallons (No, I am not kidding) of hard liquor and we called it good.<br />
<br />
My number three guy, Jerry, was of Polish extraction and had been raised in New
Jersey. He right away jumped on the idea of Kielbasa and a surprise, which he
wouldn't tell us until he brought it. It turned out to be six large pizzas with
anchovies on every one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was a sick individual. He knew
that if he said "anchovies" before hand, only he and Mitch would say
yes. This way no matter which pizza he got to, it would have his beloved little
dead, sea creatures on it. The Kielbasa was very good though, and it was cooked
in some kind of seasoned oil that his grandmother told him to buy.<br />
<br />
Alexander was the only boy of six children in his 100% Czechoslovakian family
from Upper Michigan. He was never in the kitchen growing up to do anything but
eat. He chopped a lot of firewood and did all of traditionally male oriented
chores, but didn't have a clue about cooking anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We told him that we had lots of food
and we just wanted him to join us and enjoy. He finally settled on bringing the
staple of every American gathering, potato chips… bags and bags of potato
chips. He couldn't decide what kind went with our meal (like who could?) so he
bought a big bag of every kind the store had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Alex was a big, sensitive, quiet guy, who I had to coax into speaking into a
microphone when he first arrived, but could now hold his own working traffic at
the control tower. You were never quite sure what he was thinking, but the man
never missed anything going on around him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When he arrived back at my house
after he dropped off his bags of chips and went to the barracks to get cleaned
up, he was again carrying a bag. What the Hell is he doing I thought, not more
chips! But it wasn't.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
His family practiced a tradition which is largely thought to be Russian, but
many cultures in the area pursue it; that tradition being that of carving eggs
and painting them as gifts. He had two large eggs for Stan’s and my house, and
smaller, chicken egg size ones for everyone else in attendance at that dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were all ornately carved and
painstakingly hand painted with a tiny brush, inside and out. We aren't talking
Easter egg dye job painting either. Alex had painted scenes inside of each egg
and crosshatch patterns with gold paint on the outside. Think Faberge eggs and
you would be close to what they looked like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">OK, they were certainly not that
same quality, but every bit as precious to us. He had stayed awake every night
after work creating these gifts instead of sleeping, because he wanted to
contribute something to our celebration. There were a lot of allergic reactions
all through the room as the manly men rubbed their eyes and tried to regain
composure. It was a very touching gift you must agree.<br />
<br />
The last two members of our group were the newest arrivals to the family of
controllers. The female partner was the controller, “Can't Cook Kate,” with her
husband Sam, who worked in Personnel. The husband told us her nickname when we
first met them at their check in to the Company HQ. He was explaining a scorch
mark on her duffel bag, saying that she had dropped a flaming pan of something
on it and he had rolled the bag to put it out. We all assumed he was joking.
Turns out, he wasn't.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Kate was to bring a big garden salad. The two wives had advised us that no one
could screw that up, so we gave that assignment to Kate. She asked if she
should bring salad dressing too, and thinking of bottles of stuff you pour on
your green salad, we said, sure, why not.<br />
<br />
Their car had not arrived in Anchorage yet, so Stan and I drove over to the
temporary quarters they were in to pick them up. As we walked in the front
door, the smoke was rolling out to meet us and a smoke alarm was playing a
melody that we were to hear so often at their house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kate was coming out of the kitchen
towards the metal trash can outside with a pan of blackened something, which
turned out to be French toast… after the Revolution, I'd say. Sam was
nonchalantly walking out of the bedroom in his country club tennis attire
complete with the sweater tied around his neck. I fully expected him to say,
"Oh Buffy, shall we go." But he didn't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was still a layer of dark
smoke hugging the ceiling as Kate came back from changing into her matching
tennis outfit, again complete with a sweater around her neck. We started out to
the car and I asked, “Weren’t you bringing a salad?” “Oh yes,” she says and
runs back towards the next remodeling job for the housing office on base. She
didn't pop right back out, so I went in after her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was mixing something back and
forth between two mayonnaise jars and looking puzzled. I should have known that
was a bad sign, but I was in a hurry and didn't. I picked up the bowl of salad
looking stuff and she carried the jar in her own hands.<br />
<br />
We had pans of food everywhere there was space to set them down. The octopus
was still in the pan of water it was cooked in, the duck was in a big pot on
top of the stove, the Kielbasa on a cookie sheet in the oven, as were the
bratwurst, with the sauerkraut on the back of the stove, stinking up the place.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pizza was delivered in a snow
storm by a goofy looking guy from a ratty old pickup truck, and Mitch met him
at the back door and took delivery. Mitch was funny; he would not allow anyone
to walk into our house wearing their shoes. There was quite a pile of boots,
shoes, coats, etc., piled up just inside of our back door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My daughter Jenny, who was three at
the time, decided to help and threw all of it down the basement stairs, and
then brushed her hands together and declared, “There, that’s better.” She had
done such a good job that later when people were trying to leave, no one
remembered her comment and didn’t have a clue what happened to all the gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The six pizzas and the big salad
occupied the dining room table, so we just grabbed plates and did the buffet
line thing and filled up with goodies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This brings us to the actual meal
time and a very touching moment where each person said something in the form of
a blessing in the language of their heritage. It was truly a special moment and
I had no idea how much we would need those prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we all started with the salad,
being the more or less traditional beginning to American meals, it was
predestined that we should all react in the same way at the same time. We put
the salad in our mouths at the same time, and we all spit it out at the same
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kate had poured the entire quart jar
mixture on the bowl of salad and saturated it really well. It was primarily a
whole bottle of vinegar and an unknown type of oil which she had found in the
cabinet in the kitchen in a clear bottle. I for one didn’t think that I would
ever get it off of my tongue, even though I was licking a kitchen towel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moving right along, we tried to stab
a piece of octopus and found that one could not stab the pink morsel, you must
scoop it up. Mitch grabbed his with his fingers and drug it through the soy
sauce and popped it into his mouth. We all did the same thing eventually. Then
we chewed, and chewed, and chewed a lot more. If these were pink pencil erasers
they wouldn’t have been any harder to chew up and swallow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Canadian Duck was excellent,
what there was of it. We told Andre not to make a lot of it because we had so
much food and he did as instructed. The brats were good, but very greasy, and
the Kielbasa was good but spicy as all get out. The sauerkraut still stunk like
crazy, but we ate on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jerry was happy as could be eating
his anchovy pizzas, and in fact ate so much of it that he had to go outside and
unload some it, well, and tequila and beer, before he could start eating more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the time the evening was over, we
had consumed all of the duck, most of the brats and Kielbasa, all of the
alcohol and all of the potato chips. Four large pizzas were gone, and two whole
ones were left. There was lots of salad and octopus to be had. Maybe we should
have mixed the two together; the oil might have softened the meat to where it
could be chewed. We did learn that we had over cooked the octopus a teensy bit.
OK, ten times the amount of time we were supposed to do, but who knew?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only thing we remembered for
sure was that we had all been together for the day and evening and we enjoyed
each other’s company immensely. No one was alone, or left out, and that was
tremendous in a place where being alone can be fatal to your mind and well
being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a good day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-11120703894377771412013-10-08T17:43:00.002-07:002013-10-09T17:02:19.090-07:00My Old Dog<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Old Dog<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki doesn't know that she is an old dog and really
doesn't care from what I can tell. She also doesn't seem to hold my being an
old human against me. We just meander through life a little slower than we used
to and it's all good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can learn a lot from an old dog if you pay attention.
She never, ever misses an opportunity to take a nap and is especially fond of
movie time. We spend many hours together with Charlie Chan or Nick Charles
solving "who-done-its" on the big screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She waits until I am settled into my recliner for sure
and not going to pull a surprise trip to the bathroom or kitchen, and then plops
down on her cushioned doggie bed with a big sigh. Mikki can snore through the
longest movie that I own without a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is not to imply that she is lazy, but just that she has her priorities straight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If anyone or anything dares to enter her domain she will
race to repel all boarders. Her fierce defense of her property is well known to
all dogs, cats, birds, leaves and other floatie things (like plastic bags)
which might violate the perimeter. Nary an adjoining neighbor may enter their
own backyard without being announced by her majesty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the years that I produced the Desert Home
Companion her militaristic attitudes earned her the title of Colour Sergeant
Mikki of the Highland Regiment of Border Collies. Her conduct has never wavered
and her behavior has always been exemplary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Early on in her canine teenage years (1 & 2) she had
to deal with a couple of other dogs living at her house and it didn't work out
well. They were both rescued German Shepherds with emotional and physical
problems and conflict ensued regularly. Both ended up being put down for
unsolvable health problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later we tried to provide another same species companion,
this time with a Border Collie. Jessie was a hyper active looney-tune from the
start. There was a reason that she was the last puppy to be chosen and leave
her mother; she was nuts!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki was stressed to the max. At times she would just go
outside and bark at nothing to voice her frustration. The younger dog would
pick at her and pester her constantly. The puppy was a dedicated chewer and
destroyed everything that she came into contact with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally after many months of trying to make it work we
contacted a Border Collie rescue specialist and found Jessie a new home. She is
now a working sheep herder and as happy as can be. It was constant hard
physical activity that she needed and now she gets it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki slept nearly twenty-four hours straight without
moving and was her old happy self again, once the pest was gone. She can
tolerate other dogs for a short period of time but they have to be willing to
leave her alone when she is done visiting with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can totally relate to that. I can tolerate people for a
short period of time and then I want them to leave me alone. Why can't humans
get that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anna and I travel as often as we can given that we still
have responsibilities regarding parental care and the other commitments we have
taken on. Mikki is happy to stay home and guard the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Early on in our association we tried taking her to a
boarding kennel recommended by trusted friends when we had to travel. They
described the place as a sort of doggie day-care or camp where their animals
got to romp and play with other dogs. For Mikki it was more like doggie Hell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We tried the place, which was clean and appeared to be
well run, twice. Both times Mikki would uncharacteristically attempt to bolt
past us when we picked her up, in her haste to get to our car and leave. She
was shaking so badly that it took hours for her to calm down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The third time that we used the facility I went back into
the kennel area to collect her and she was huddled against the side away from
the other dogs trembling in fear. I never took her back again. What we thought
was the best option for her care turned out to be the worst for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since that time we have either had someone stay at the
house with her while we are gone (best option), or at least visit her each day
to check her food and water and be with her for a few minutes of human contact.
There have been no more terrified shaking episodes. Being in her own
environment alone was preferable to her to the overwhelming presence of other
dogs in a strange place. I do understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki's happiest times are when she can physically touch
both of her humans at the same time and be the center of attention. She gets
jealous if we pay more attention to each other than her and will try to get in
the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When other humans come to visit she greets them at the
front door by sitting in the middle of the entryway where you can't possibly
come in without petting her. She does not jump up on people or behave
aggressively in any way but never misses an opportunity to be in the right spot
to be touched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She is especially fond of our grandchildren and will wear
herself out trying to herd them into a tight little group where she can touch
all of them at the same time. It can be comical to watch. The kids and
grandkids quite often look after Mikki when we travel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki has learned the sound of the mail truck and the UPS
truck and will go sit at the front door when they are in front of our house to
let me know that we have a delivery. As my hearing began to fail it was a
helpful thing to have the extra ears on duty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The old girl has a pretty good command of human speak and
will help us old people find each other when asked to. She does know exactly
where both of us are at all times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is very nearly impossible to go to the bathroom
without her escorting you there. She extends this courtesy service to any human
who visits, much to the consternation of some who are more sensitive about
being watched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I had any complaint about her it would be her need to
bring her dry dog food to wherever I am to eat it. She crunches loudly and
leaves bits of the food for us to step on. This is a common behavior among pack
animals and involves a need to be safe while vulnerable, as in with their head
down eating. It doesn't seem to bother her that I don't like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mikki's second favorite things are dog biscuits, which
have become "cookies" in our communications. They were used to train
her in basic obedience and then to reward specific activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She has graciously allowed us to think that we have
control over the whole process while she taught us when to give her what she
wanted. Thanks, your Dogness!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the currently accepted equivalency formula (15 years
for the first human year and then 5 for each succeeding year) Mikki at twelve
human years of age, is seventy in "dog years." She is pretty spry and agile for a senior
citizen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is apparent that she is not done teaching us how to be
an equal sentient being yet and strives to communicate each day that we must
live in the now and appreciate what we have around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She harbors no grudges and lets each night wash away
anything negative that may have happened. She treats every person she meets as
a friend until they prove otherwise. She doesn't kill everything that she
encounters just because she can, preferring to check it out and learn what it
is instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This old dog greets me at the door with the same enthusiasm
and love whether I have been in the garage for sixty seconds, or out of town
for weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is much to be learned from her about accepting life
as we find it and enjoying it as we go. I am glad that she hasn't given up on
teaching me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-81919328626305651882013-09-26T14:51:00.001-07:002013-09-26T14:51:12.803-07:00The hardest thing about PTSD<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Written by request of dear friends who asked that I share
what I have learned. This only my opinion and is not meant to be anything else.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://strtwlkr.com/2012/12/12/the-hardest-thing-about-ptsd/" title="Permalink to The hardest thing about PTSD"><span style="color: black;">The
hardest thing about PTSD</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of us who served the country in the armed forces
have a condition called PTSD or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. It is not
exclusive to the military; anyone can have it thrust into their lives. Police
officers, fire fighters, EMT’s, rescue workers, and others, commonly endure it
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The hardest thing about PTSD in my opinion is that it is
invisible. No one can see it like a missing limb or visible scar, and like a
vampire, it doesn’t show up in the mirror. And, like a vampire, it can suck the
life out of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It can manifest itself as depression, irrational actions,
aggressive behavior, or in other ways. You may have one or all of these
problems riding around inside you, not only unseen by others, but it can be
unknown to you why you do things or feel angry or sad.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those of us who have taken human lives and/or had
injuries to our physical bodies can at least point to that as a possible reason
as we try to rationalize why we behave or think as we do. But it can just be
exposure to the sights, sounds, smells, or even knowledge of things so horrific
that our minds do not want to accept them as any part of who we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The internal battle of trying to either live with, or
expel, these memories can change how we think and behave. Passive, gentle
people can be a ticking bomb of emotional TNT, exploding for no apparent reason
to those around them, even lashing out at those they love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is like the learned “automatic” response to catch or
block something (like a ball) thrown in your direction. The “ball” in this case
is unseen because it is a memory and the automatic response is a form of
self-preservation. You lash out either verbally or physically to try and
prevent that bad memory from getting into your head again. People around you
have a hard time comprehending what is going on, which is understandable,
because you may not either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For many of us, PTSD can manifest itself as depression.
Nothing ever seems right in your world any more. Years may pass before it hits
you, or you may experience years of suffering from nightmares where you live
out the bad experiences over and over again. We are all unique individuals in
our body chemistry, as well as mental makeup. You are who and what you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are programs offered by the VA and others to help
those who suffer from PTSD and if you are a person who can talk to the social
worker or shrink types without getting even angrier or more depressed, then go
for it. Some of us get worse instead of better in that scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For me, peace with what I did and lived through is coming
from something quite unexpected, at least to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many had suggested going to church and praying, etc., but
I found that too hypocritical and full of BS. The chaplains always blessed the
missions as we went out to kill other human beings. Really? Organized religion
has always seemed to be a scam to me… I mean come on, I have to pay (tithing)
to belong to a group that tells me how to think and act according to their own
made up set of rules, and I am supposed to not trust and actually dislike
anyone who doesn’t agree with those rules? Nope, not buying it; it just makes
me angrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So finding my way to becoming whole again by following
the Buddhist path was a complete surprise to me. Here is a teaching where: you
do not pray to a deity or god creature, you don’t pay to belong, the teacher
says to question everything including him, and the only thing you have to do is
work on making yourself a better person. And we are completely cool with anyone
believing what they want around us. It is all good. So why does this work for
me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have learned through the teachings of Buddha, to look
inward and accept what has been done in the past as lessons and experiences. I
can work on improving my own thoughts, words and actions each day, to make me a
better person. This means that I can let go of the bad things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So I have found a way to help myself. Will this work for
everyone who has PTSD? I have no idea, as like I said, we are all unique
individuals. But it works for me and other people I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What can you do if you have PTSD or are having depression
or anger issues since coming home, and don’t know what to do or where to turn?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Talk to someone you trust in a quiet setting
and preferably without alcohol involved. I have nothing against
appropriate drinking, but I have seen many discussions go the wrong way when
booze made the brain disconnect from common sense. Talk to me if you need to,
I’ll listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What if someone close to you has diagnosed PTSD, or you
think that they may be suffering from it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">See the above advice. Don’t blast them with questions
that can be controversial or embarrassing in the middle of a party or family
dinner, etc. Don’t fuel the discussion with alcohol to get them to “loosen up.”
It may turn ugly in a flash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t ask “How many people did you kill?” That is rude
and unkind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do ask leading questions like, “What were the people like
there?” or “was the weather really hot and dry, or cold and wet?” etc. Let the
memories flow on their time table and energy.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Listening to and reassuring your friends or loved ones that
you care about them and know that they did their best is important to healing. I
strongly emphasize the listening part; the more that you can get the bad stuff
out in a non-judgmental setting, the more the burden lifts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be kind, be compassionate, and be understanding. Until
you have walked, (to paraphrase this a bit) their miles in their moccasins, you
have no idea what kind of load is riding on their shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Am I a doctor or a counselor licensed and/or credentialed
to talk about this subject?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NO. I am a veteran who served from Viet Nam to Beirut and
has been there, done that. I understand how hard life can be when the black
cloud lives inside your head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My only goal for writing this is to promote understanding
and compassion. Peace to all, brothers and sisters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-77592718756432108412013-07-20T10:51:00.000-07:002013-07-20T10:51:36.792-07:00Ride 'em Cowboy<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ride ‘em Cowboy</span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></h2>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">It is an amazing thing to see how
even the tiniest bit of self-confidence can surmount any amount of common sense
in a teenager when you add even a small amount of alcohol. Yes, I speak from
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">We were rootin’, tootin’ buckaroos
solidly on the fast track to becoming legends in our own minds! You could say
(justifiably) that the group of us who rodeoed together had grown confident and
cocky with our successes. I am told that this was a very common pairing of traits
in males of the human species when things go their way more often than abject
failure. To put it in today’s vernacular, we thought that we were “badasses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">The four of us who were together that
night had all made the buzzer (rode for eight seconds) in the final round of
bull riding at the big Orange Blossom rodeo. Our abilities and derring-do
increased with every telling of our rides, and that was before we were given a
case of beer by an older cowboy who was calling it a night and going home to
soak his battered body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">Our good fortune in obtaining free
(and illegal for us) alcohol just reinforced our belief that we had the world
by the tail and could not be stopped. We had enough sense left at that moment
to know that we had to get away from the rodeo grounds if we were going to
drink and celebrate; there were cops everywhere and they knew how old we were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">One of our older friends who did not
ride (bulls) was there with his red Chevy Impala convertible and was very
willing to do the driving while we drank the beer. He had a head start on us as
he had been drinking while we were competing and only sipped on his own beer as
he drove. I fully acknowledge that this was dangerous and stupid behavior on
all of our parts; but we did it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">We cruised around on the back roads
of our county, occasionally stopping to relieve ourselves in inappropriate
places like under the traffic light in the middle of an intersection at 1 a.m.
One such time one of our party was late getting back inside the car and leaped
onto the convertible top of the car and hung on. We drove several miles before
we finally realized that he wasn’t in the car with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">It was while in this impaired state
that one of our number suggested that we needed to ride something else like an
elephant or a polar bear – because two thousand pound Brahma bulls weren’t
tough enough for us anymore. IF we could have thought about where such an
animal might be found, our journey would have taken us to the Crandon Park Zoo
near Miami. I know that we (thankfully) would have lost interest well before we
got there and ended up at a Waffle House somewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">Our pickled brains couldn’t process
that much, and we were almost safe from that idea until we saw the sign for
Pioneer City. Pioneer City was a local “Wild West” attraction that had just
gone under due to bad location more than anything else. We knew that there were
still animals being housed there and it was only a few miles away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">There were suggestions made that we
might find an ostrich, or a giraffe, or maybe even a rhinoceros (which we could
not pronounce at that point) to ride in their corrals. Fortunately for all
concerned none of those creatures were visible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">We did however see something stirring
in the paddocks from our vantage point atop the front fence. I make no excuses
for why our driver had a large pair of bolt cutters in his trunk and only note
that he called them his universal key. The chain on the gate was soon history
and we drove into the first corral… literally; our driver missed the brake
pedal and hit the gas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">There were a couple of Sicilian
donkeys in the next corral and they were far too small to bother with trying to
ride. We did give them water though as their trough was completely dry. The
fellow who rode around on the top of the car once again wandered off to relieve
himself and started screeching like something had bitten him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">Upon reaching him we found him
excitedly pointing into a larger corral at some really shaggy beasts banging
around inside. They did not appear to be happy to see us at all. Once again we
filled the empty water trough and in the headlights from our car we recognized
the heads as belonging to buffaloes, or more appropriately, American Bison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">You will recall my opening sentence
about confidence and alcohol overcoming common sense. Yeah, we were on a Busch
beer and testosterone high and any kind of sense was on vacation. The shouts to
get the gear out of the bags and get ready to ride a wild buffalo were bouncing
off the buildings. “Where were the cops when you needed them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">I can tell you with certainty and
personal conviction that bison and beef cattle are not of the same temperament.
A bull may get irritated with you trying to put rigging on him to ride and may
look for some payback for a few seconds after the ride, but a buffalo hates you
on sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">We thought that we were being smart
by singling out the smallest adult buffalo and crowding him into a corner to
attempt to put rigging on him. It was a lot like trying to catch a large
alligator by holding onto the tip of his tail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">My mother asked me a couple of days
later why I had holes in the front and back of my best western shirt. I had to
use the standard teenager answer for everything, “I dunno.” I couldn’t very
well say that I had been repeatedly hammered into the barbed wire that lined
the inside of the buffalo corral and that the holes corresponded with the ones
in my chest and back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">To say that we were hard-headed would
be kinder than just saying the truth; we were stupid. Over and over again we
tried to hold onto that furry freight train as it ran around the pen banging us
into the wire, the fence posts, and even the other buffalo. One guy leaped up
onto the shaggy back and only managed to get his body across its middle, like a
“dead man riding.” He wasn’t there long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">Our older <i>compadre</i> was now
drinking again and laughing until he wet his jeans. Of course he said that he
spilled beer, but I had never, ever seen him spill a single drop before. He did
what any good <i>amigo</i> would do for his brother cowboys; he brought us more
beer. From his perch atop the fence he had the best vantage point and held the
flashlight on our antics in the early light of dawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">As the sun began lighting the eastern
sky we conceded defeat: buffalo 4, cowboys 0. We were nearly sober by then and
began to notice how bad we smelled from hugging that buffalo. The realization
that we had broken into the park and were sure to be found if we stayed
prompted our departure for the beach and a sunrise swim to get the smell off
before we went home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">The abandoned animals of Pioneer City
were there far longer than they should have been and we snuck back in several
times to water them and bring some hay and grain to them. Eventually an animal
rights group rescued them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">We never tried to ride the buffalo
again; he won fair and square.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">Our actions on that night bring a
favorite Einstein quote to mind:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 117%;">“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human
stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” Albert Einstein US (German-born)
physicist (1879 - 1955) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-53437869933537489332013-07-05T22:57:00.002-07:002013-07-05T22:57:15.728-07:00Sixty and Still Here<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sixty and Still Here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine if you will being six years old, watching your
grandfather die at fifty-nine from lung cancer and having your own grandmother
tell you that you and your father will also die before age sixty. Terrifying,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then visit a Jamaican voodoo woman with your girlfriend
when you are sixteen and hear from this woman who does not know you that you
will not complete your sixth decade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jump from there into the army during the Vietnam War and
exacerbate the problem by entering into a special occupation with a six weeks
to six months life expectancy. Not enough? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Add to that a visit to a psychic with your spouse when
you are twenty-one for a question that she wanted to ask about getting cancer
herself. While there have the woman take your hand and look you in the eyes and
say “I’m so sorry.” You ask about what and she says “You will not see your sixtieth
birthday.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can rationalize that it is all bull and that your
grandmother was just a mean old woman who was hurting from her loss and was
lashing out. The other two were just saying things that would scare you into
coming back and paying them for further “readings” or potions to “save you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can do all that. But it doesn’t take the creepy
thoughts out of the back of your mind. The “what-if” machine works overtime and
no matter how scientific and rational you are it is difficult to not wonder
about it. Three people who don’t know each other and two of them know little to
nothing about you, have all said the same thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was young and going at life full-tilt I didn’t
worry about reaching sixty. Most of us didn’t believe we would see thirty.
Considering what I did as a young man it was very unlikely that I would survive
more than a few years anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then your child grows up a little more and you can’t
imagine leaving her alone so you change your occupation to something less life
threatening. Life throws you a curveball and you have to go back into the
military, but you choose differently this time and try to be safer. Two more
kids come along and you definitely can’t check out now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Out of the military again and the transition period from
soldier/sailor to civilian begins. The things you had to do in the military
cause nightmares and guilt to nearly drive you crazy but you persist because
your kids need you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Age starts accumulating and another life change happens
where one marriage ends and another begins. You still have the nagging voice in
the back of your mind saying “remember the predictions… sixty is it.” You take
out the maximum life insurance policy at work. Even at that stage when asked
about retirement you give your standard answer, “I will die on the job. I won’t
live long enough to retire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The opportunity to manipulate your service time around
and retire at fifty-six happens and you go for it. The whole process is a fairy
tale to you for years afterwards because even after you do it, you don’t
believe that it happened. My own prediction of not living long enough to retire
has failed. I’m good with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The years tick down to the magic number “sixty” and even
on the night before your birthday you still have the voice in your head saying,
“OK, this is it, get ready.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It took until the day after my birthday to believe that I
wasn’t going to die somehow and make those predictions come true. I didn’t want
it to be true, but I have heard it since I was six years old and it was
ingrained into my psyche.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what happened, why am I still here? Was it because I
changed my lifestyle, or altered my path? Did I do enough good deeds to help my
karma? I don’t buy into the God’s plan story so it shall remain a small
mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What have I learned from this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You live until you die, so don’t stop living prematurely.
And, that the how and when you cease to be are vastly unimportant when compared
to how you live right now. By “how you live” I mean how you treat the people,
animals, planet around you. Is the world a better place because you are in it?
If not, you still have a chance to make it so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-41873641259692494562013-07-02T16:54:00.001-07:002013-07-02T16:54:57.407-07:00Deals<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John Quincy Adams known to his friends as “Q” (and by the
military as Staff Sergeant Adams, John Q.) was mulling over a problem that
would affect his family as well as his career. His next duty assignment or “rotation”
(transfer) was rapidly approaching and the army wanted him to move to Germany.
That didn’t seem so bad on the face of things, but in reality it would leave
his family alone most of the time among strangers in a strange land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
wanted to return to the base in Georgia where they had lived prior to Alaska.
It was a place where his wife and daughter would be within reach of family and
friends should something happen to him. In his real line of work something bad
was always likely to happen to him. He couldn’t even tell his family about what
he did as it was far beyond “top secret” and would put them at risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Q. had been kept extremely busy with assignments and couldn’t squeeze in the
time to address the transfer issue. It always seemed to be that way. Keeping
him too busy to attend to personal matters until the last minute was a familiar
psychological ploy that he remembered from classes at Quantico.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tremendous pressure had been put on Q.
to take the duty station in Germany which he told the detailer (assignment
officer) he did not want. The words “operational necessity” were thrown at him
repeatedly. There was never anything straight forward when dealing with the military
(or government in general) it was always a chess game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other offers that were really terrible
were pushed at him so that the alternative (their real preference) would always
look better. Isolated duty in the Antarctic and northern Greenland were brought
up as possibilities. It had been proven <i>ad
infinitum</i> in the three years that Q. was stationed in Alaska that where he
was assigned did not matter; he could do his job from anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The work that they cared about was
not done where he lived anyway. Only his air traffic controller “day job” was;
and they weren’t really concerned about that part. What Q. did wasn’t listed on
any job resume or even talked about; if you wanted to stay alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SSG Adams was a member of a unit of
soldiers which worked for a part of the military known generically as “black
ops.” They were the shadow people who weren’t there and only existed in the
darkness of secrecy. That group carried out assignments which were “outside”
(for whatever reason) of the missions given to regular units. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
was common in any unit or career field, military or civilian, there were always
deals to be made for choice of assignments. This is the story of one of those
deals as told to me by the man who lived it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Good Deal</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
The call came in while I was at work in the control tower. I had to arrange for
my duties to be taken over so that I could go to the communications center.
Once I arrived there I could respond via the necessary "secure" line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside the heart of Communications
Central there are rooms which are supposed to be “listen proof” and use the
highest security protocols. It was in one such room that I was connected with
the senior member of the unit that I worked for. Conversations with the unit
commander were always conducted this way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was on the east coast and it was
very early in the a.m. in his time zone, but the call hour was his choice. My
superior was not alone in his secure location as I was to find out before long.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was told up front that if I would
take the mission being offered (and successfully complete it) I would be
guaranteed to be stationed in Georgia as requested. There were prompts being
given by someone else, to which my boss would reply, “Yes Sir” and then modify
what he said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since he was the senior ranking
member of our entire unit and reported directly to… let’s just say, very close
to the top of the chain of command, it caused me concern to hear my boss in a
subservient role. Whoever was in the room with him had a lot of juice on the
hill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We reached an agreement and the deal
was done. I would have agreed to anything to get my family back to Georgia
instead of the overseas duty station which would have required me to leave them
alone among strangers, and they knew it. So, yeah, I was played. Politics is
all about deal making and the military was in no way immune from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are probably already questions
as to why a soldier was “asked” to do anything. I mean we were the order
obeying group, right? If it were a straight forward duty assignment, in a
regular army unit, you would be right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life was more complicated than that. When
what you were being tasked with involved a certainty that rules would be broken
and lives would be lost, including possibly your own, it was best to have a
“volunteer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Mission<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A missing teenager is always an
upsetting situation, but rarely requires military intervention, even when it is
a white, blonde, and cute female. Historically those are the criteria that
usually command the most reaction in our society. But, when it was the child of
a sitting United States Senator, things accelerated and unusual methods and
resources were brought to the table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was sent to a foreign country
without benefit of customary identification or procedures. There would be no
support, or local law enforcement presence, unless I messed up. The up side was
there were also no limits or rules placed upon me to create “red tape.” I had
“blank check” authority. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why me you ask? Because I was
trained, experienced, had contacts in the region, and most of all … I was
expendable. Hold onto these two words forever regarding the government:
plausible deniability. Whatever I did, whatever went wrong, they wouldn’t know
a thing about it. No records, no paper trail. I was also very good at what I
did, as evidenced by my still being alive. I got “results” every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girl in question had been
grabbed in Istanbul, Turkey while wandering the Grand Bazaar along with two
other American teenage girls. The other girls were found twenty-four hours
later, beaten and raped, but alive. They were released (according to their
statements) because they were not blondes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These events had transpired well in
advance of me being brought into the picture. As anyone who has ever been
connected to a missing person case can tell you, time is everything. The more
time that has passed, the worse the prognosis becomes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was not as bleak as that though,
there had been action taken immediately by a federal agency with whom I was
used to working. Through their in-country agents and local contacts, it was
determined that Gail, (not her real name), had been moved out of Turkey and
into Egypt before the other girls were released. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was on a plane to Washington, D.C.
when I received an update on her movement. It may sound odd that I was able to
get messages in flight, but I was being transported by an agency that we referred
to as “The Company”. The same “company” whose agents were providing the
information from Turkey, and Egypt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After landing and then a fast ride
in a black windowed SUV, I was deep inside a building in our nation’s capitol.
Where I was, I couldn’t have said for sure. The vehicle drove down a ramp into
a basement parking structure which had guards and barricades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From there it was into secure
elevators which had card readers and guys with bulges under their left armpits
waiting for us on whatever floor it was we stopped at. It was pretty
freaky to ride on an elevator with no floor indicators and which took multiple
entries on the keypad to select your floor. Keep in mind that this was 1978,
well before the public had internet, laptops, or cell phones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The purpose of my stop in Washington
was to be briefed on the particulars of the mission. The briefing officer (not
my boss, nor the Senator, they were already distancing themselves from any contact
with me on this assignment) gave me the same information that I received via
secure phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I got pissed off at the amount of
“non-disclosure” in the meeting and told the junior agent to stop wasting my
time and get my boss on the phone. He left the room and I packed up my notes
and put on my jacket. My thoughts were all about how to get out of the building
and back to Alaska.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Junior” (the young agent) never returned,
but his boss did. That (obviously more senior) agent had a better outlook on
sharing information. Pertinent data started to flow and my questions were met
with answers, instead of the infuriating “I’m not authorized to share that.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My freshly updated information
showed that Gail was being held and transported by a white slavery group that
supplied the needs of Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Their customers had
more money and power than many small countries. They were not afraid to snatch
any target that would fit a customer’s request. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From that bit of information I knew
who I was up against, at least to start with. Things could change rapidly when
you were far away and not in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bigger problem would be which
buyer she was en route to. She was a white, blonde, attractive, and teenaged American
female. Criteria which would fit many requests I’m sure; meaning that she could
be bound to anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other possibility (and the one
that I considered the prime option) was that she was the daughter of an American
politician. As such she could be used as a bargaining chip in a ransom, or a
blackmail plan. Or she could be a prime “trophy” for a collector of women.
Those options would narrow the destination to a few Middle Eastern locales,
known to the company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did not question the explanation given
by the junior agent regarding Gail’s different last name being a ruse for
safety sake while traveling -- until I asked to speak to the other two girls
and was denied. Those things, combined with lack of civilian authority involvement,
set off alarm bells in my head. The incongruities rattled around in my head
while the senior agent talked… until I had stewed about it enough.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call it a gut feeling, but I stayed
alive by listening to my gut, so I stopped the briefing. I told the agent that
I didn’t like being lied to and I needed the truth to do what was asked of me.
He picked up the telephone and dialed two digits, (so they were in the
building!) and spoke to my boss briefly. Apparently he got permission to tell
their version of the truth, because he was forthcoming and even more
cooperative after that call. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gail was the illegitimate daughter
of the Senator. Her existence was something not known of by the public, and he
wanted to keep it that way. Her mother had already passed away. Gail lived with
her grandmother who thought the Senator was just taking care of his deceased
secretary’s daughter out of loyalty to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Per my request I received a current
photo of the young lady, but had to ask again for her vital statistics and
private details. It was absolutely imperative that I could identify her from
whatever glimpse, photo, or description I might obtain. The field agents knew
the value of rapid identification and insider knowledge, but the office types
were hampered tremendously by political pressure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gail had a birthmark on her lower
abdomen, just to the inside of her left thigh, which was the color of melted
chocolate ice cream. Today such a mark would be public knowledge and probably in
a photo on her Facebook page. That was not the case in those days of enforced
modesty for young girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sincerely hoped that it didn’t
come to that detail to identify her. I asked if there were any other details or
secrets that I should know that would help, but the Senator had shut down the
information feed. That was a mistake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we were briefing and the
supply officer was gathering the gear I asked for, new intelligence information
came through. Gail had been seen being put aboard a private jet in Cairo bound
for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. We had to move faster if I was going to catch
up with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was in the air again in less than
thirty minutes. A fast “company” Jetstar II jet with a crew of three and long
range fuel tanks had been assigned for my transportation needs. I was traveling
solo, bound for Jeddah with a fuel stop at Tenerife. Once in Saudi Arabia a
quick assimilation into the local populace would be essential. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortunately for me, I still had
longer than military standard hair (left over from my last mission) and a good
mustache. That made adding a beard and some color to my skin the only body
alterations necessary. My hands were calloused and tanned from years of working
outside with tools and exposure to the elements. I would fit in well with the
working class of people that I would be moving through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At my request the plane was driven
right inside of a cargo hangar upon arrival in Jeddah. I exited the plane
inside of that hangar already in native clothing and met up with my Saudi
contact. That man was my connection, not the company’s, and I made sure that
the pilots never saw his face. Little things could cost lives in that business.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The plane moved out onto the line on
the International side and parked for refueling. They were heading for Turkey after
an eight hour crew rest and would stand by at the U.S. air base there. I had
hoped that they would not have to wait long for my call. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My local man, Hamid, (not his real
name) put my dirty brown leather bag in his beat up Fiat and locked the trunk.
We worked moving cargo for several hours so that I could be seen by the local
security forces. Those guys had itchy trigger fingers and always had their
machine guns pointed towards us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At <i>adhan</i> (the afternoon call to prayer) we lined up outside on the tarmac
facing Mecca, which coincidently, was not that far away. I stayed close to
Hamid and focused intently on performing my prayer ritual without looking
around. It was a good thing I did because the other men were watching me
closely, as my partner noted as he glanced around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back inside the hangar Hamid made a
telephone call to his men who were trailing the movement of the kidnapped girl.
It was now eighteen hours since I received word of her flight to Jeddah. It
was hard to be patient when I knew how critical time was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hamid signaled me to get in his car
and we took off through the security gates and eastbound through the city.
Twenty minutes later we arrived at his apartment and had barely gotten my bag
in the house when two young men knocked on the door. They were very wary and
never took their eyes off of me as they talked excitedly with Hamid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My host shut the door and told me
that we had to go to the coast right away; Gail was being moved again. We
grabbed some cheese, bread and wine to consume on the way and got back into the
Fiat. That car honestly sounded like it was going to self destruct. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thirty more minutes found us at the
coast and engaged in negotiations with a boatman to take us across the Red Sea
to Port Sudan. I kept my mouth shut, but listened closely. My hand was on my
pistol under my robes, just in case things got ugly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We would have been in a mess if the
boat owner was more suspicious than greedy. He could notify Saudi police, or the
military, or even local pirates if we didn’t reach an agreement. It was very
fortuitous for him that he elected to take us across the sea that night. I
would not have left him breathing otherwise. He could have gotten me
killed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crossing the Red Sea in the dark is
not a pleasant journey in a small boat. There were many ships and many more
small craft making the journey through these waters. Most of the large ones
were lighted and cruising the north/south routes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other medium size craft were
cruising the coastlines all a glow with dinner guests and music. In between the
commercial craft were a few night fishermen trying to make an honest living. It
was a busy place at night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And then there were the boats like
ours; small, fast and fueled by cash. Many of these ran without lights, some of
them using black market night vision like our captain. Hamid was asleep as soon
as we cleared the Saudi coast, trusting that the deal we made would be honored
by the boat owner. I was not as trusting and while I rested, I did so with my
eyes on the driver and my firearm in my hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Port Sudan was a commercial shipping
city, but also an outpost for Red Sea gangsters and pirates as well. Multiple
languages were spoken there and it became quickly apparent that anything and
everything could be bought and sold there; including people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The new oil pipeline which had just been
completed from Khartoum brought more wealth to the few in control. It did also
bring some work in for the hungry masses that never had enough to live on. A
trade boom was happening and many foreigners were passing through looking to
make their fortunes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was very much an Arab controlled
place, with black labor and Indian and Asian business men. Dressed and behaving
like Arab businessmen we were able to move about without question or
interference. Those engaged in commerce were always welcomed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I learned in my short time in that
city, that humans were regularly trafficked through there. The citizens of the
United States have no idea just how little value is placed on human life in
this part of the world. People were commodities to bought, sold, and used. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There had indeed been a sale of
women in the inner city of Port Sudan, but it was over before we could find it.
Sources we questioned had information that there were three blonde white women
on the auction block that morning but could not identify Gail among them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The men that we spoke to could not
say that she was not there, but were equally unable or unwilling, to say yes
for sure either way. They were scared to death of being found out as an
informant. Death comes to those deemed disloyal to the masters of the city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On My Own</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hamid had used up his day off from
work and had to get back to Jeddah; he would arouse suspicion and possibly lose
his job if he failed to report on time. That left me on my own to pursue the
leads we were given. He was able to give me a list of contacts to help me in
several locations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Armed with the telephone number and instructions,
he was to report my progress to the company. He departed back across the sea to
Saudi Arabia and safety, such as it was at the time. The man was ultimately safer
traveling without me; he was a simple Arab among Arabs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our informant told us that two of
the blonde white girls had been taken southwest to Khartoum, and the remaining
girl, north towards the Egyptian border. Without any further identification or
intelligence, I had to go with the better odds and caught the train for
Khartoum. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was already warm enough with
temperature being in the nineties, but with my gear carried partially in my
bag, and partially hidden under my robes, it was a sweaty journey. I could not
take a chance of showing any of my weapons and causing a search.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though I was carrying no U.S.
identification (or made-in-America labels) the American dollars I had would
start questions that would make life difficult for me. As I found out on that
train trip, nearly every man was armed and I suspect many of the women were
too. I had to keep thinking ahead and as I got more tired that got more
difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Khartoum, Sudan</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Khartoum was three times the size of
Port Sudan and had a more sophisticated feeling. I walked into a coffee house
and found myself a corner spot near the back door where I could see who came
and went. I did my best not to look at anyone -- while I watched them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A couple of hours passed and a man
finally entered who looked around the room and made his way to me. We exchanged
the customary greetings and he asked me about which coffee I preferred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The agreed upon code words had been
given and we spent another hour drinking coffee, so as to not arouse suspicion.
It would be safe to say that everyone was suspicious in Khartoum. I would not
have been surprised at all to have had someone enter with guns blazing… such
was the feeling in that room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sayeed took me to his humble home in
a poor neighborhood and fed me well on lamb and couscous, but thankfully no
more coffee. The tea he served was very sweet, especially after the abuse my
taste buds had been given by the bitter coffee. I was very tired so I took a
chance and caught a two hour nap before it was time to move again. As always, I
slept fitfully and armed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Harem <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Under the cover of darkness (and with
the hope of ending this hunt) we set out to follow up on the leads that Sayeed
had developed while I slept. Both of the blonde white girls had been purchased by
the same wealthy man and were just outside of the city in a small palace. Sayeed
had gained information from a delivery man about the location and the layout of
the property where the girls were being held. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before I continue, I must say again
that I was not on a polite diplomatic mission. The people I faced were more
than willing to kill me, and would do so given any opportunity. The girl that I
sought was only valuable as long as she didn’t present a problem for the buyer.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My orders were to retrieve the girl
at any cost, no rules, no strings. If I failed, they didn’t know anything about
me. The fact that my usual assignments outside of the control tower didn’t
include getting “live results” should have caused more thought on my
part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We parked the truck well down the
road from the palace and walked quickly through the small village of servant
homes, some of which were tents, and all included livestock. Camels grumbled
and dogs snarled and barked at us all the way. We acted the part of unimpressed
Arabs on business. The human life between the truck and the palace was not
concerned with us and didn’t even look up from their cooking pots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once at the compound I located the
security posts and watched them for thirty minutes to establish their habits. My
life and that of the girl I was trying to find depended upon my diligence. There
were no radios, no cameras, and no guard dogs to deal with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The back side of the walled estate
had a three story tall wall with peepholes (or gun ports) at strategic spots,
all unmanned. The main point of entry for vehicles had a motorized double gate
with two men in evidence there, but they were far from the main house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much more troublesome was the huge
fellow with both a giant sword, and an UZI. His robe could cover the Rolls
Royce in the driveway and he wandered the grounds like a prowling cat. I would
not take a chance with that opponent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order to protect Sayeed, I sent
him back to the truck, telling him to catch some sleep but not to leave without
me. It would have been a liability to have him with me. I didn’t want to worry
about him getting hurt as he was our ride out of there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I put silencers on both my pistol
and rifle and put on my night vision gear. I found a spot where I could get up
onto the wall and then waited for the big man to walk by on his rounds. Once he
got far enough ahead of me to cover the sounds of my footsteps on the wall, I
walked along behind and above him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortune smiled on this monstrous
guard dog of a man that night. As I ascended the wall I found a spot where I
could see into the palace rooms on the second floor and as luck would have it,
directly into the <i>hareem</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In that large room with its loud
colors and lots of silk drapery, were not only the two blonde white girls I had
followed, but six more young ladies of various hair colors and skin tones. They
were completely naked and engaged in a group bath while a fat older man sat in
large stuffed chair watching them. By his rich garb and the gold braid <i>agal</i> holding his <i>keffiyeh</i> on his head it was obvious that he was the sheik.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Putting the binoculars on the girls
I determined right away that neither blonde was Gail. I did watch long enough
to get a good look at the other six ladies and none of them had the tell tale
birthmark. I had to be sure that she hadn’t had her hair dyed before I backed
off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were collectors who wanted
physical purity, and others who wanted things to look like they wanted them to.
They would often dye the hair of normally dark haired ethnicities blonde or
red. All of these girls were all natural, and appeared to all be having
fun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Decision time was upon me. I knew
that at the very least, the two blonde girls had been auctioned off at Port
Sudan. It was likely that the other six had been obtained in similar ways. The
question remained what if anything should I do about it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girls did not appear to be in
danger -- there were no handcuffs or restraints on them. All of the girls were
laughing and appeared happy and physically well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My target was not among them, so I
had no reason to kill the guards or the sheik, and it would delay my search for
Gail. I made my decision and departed the palace grounds and walked back to the
truck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would have Sayeed contact Hamid
and forward the information on to the company as to the whereabouts of these
women, with their descriptions, and let them work out the problem of extracting
them from their happy harem. Time was being wasted and I had to catch up with
blonde number three.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sayeed took me to the Khartoum train
station and we called a friend of his regarding the other girl, whom we now had
to assume was Gail. That young girl had been taken north to Abu Simbel in
Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Egypt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crossing the Egyptian border was a
bit more difficult than entering Sudan, but there are always ways to do what
you need. My problem was not only the weapons that I had on me, but the lack of
a passport or official papers. Both problems were solvable with time, but that
was my biggest shortfall, I did not have extra time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I made my way to <i>Wadi Halfa</i> in northern Sudan and hired a
boatman to take me north on Lake Nubia, which became Lake Nasser in Egypt.
Whatever name you called it, this was still the Nile River and had a lot fewer
police and military checkpoints to deal with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My waterborne taxi driver had a
cousin with a truck on the Egyptian side of the border and that would be my way
into Abu Simbel. As always I had to depend upon the trust of my network of
contacts, but wouldn’t hesitate to “terminate” our friendship if my life was
threatened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I watched carefully as we crossed
the “dotted line” (on my map) and made our way up a side channel on the west
side of Lake Nasser, always ready to dump my bag over the side if a police boat
approached. Not only did none approach us, but I never even saw one
anywhere on the water. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a long, dusty, bumpy ride in
the back of what must have been a WWII vintage truck (it had long ago lost its
brand logo), we arrived in Abu Simbel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was tourist land and there were
lots of foreigners and many cars and trucks zooming around. It was a good
environment for me to speak to local contacts. I went to the boat landing and
checked for the first guy on the list that Hamid gave me, but he was out on a
trip with tourists, so I went looking for number two. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was during this walk about that I
spotted the suit following me. I changed directions, doubled back and delayed,
all to see what he would do. He was obviously a company man because he operated
by the book, so why was he tailing me? If we made contact it would be like
pointing a finger at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could take him out, or cause the
locals to attack him, but he might have a message for me. I had to wait until
dark and then lure him to a quiet location and make contact my way. The extra
attention made it difficult to pursue my contact and find Gail. At that point I
was quite willing to shoot the man for putting me and my mission at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While I watched and waited, my Abu
Simbel contact, Mohammed, found me. He also had spotted the very white guy with
a military haircut and American mannerisms following me. Mohammed, as you might
guess, was very well connected in the area and arranged for the suit to be
captured and detained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An hour later we entered a small
house to find the young agent tied up in a chair with a bag over his head. He
was OK and not in danger of being beheaded, but he didn’t know what was going
to happen to him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since I had control over what
happened with this young man, I was not worried about talking to him. He could
not speak to anyone else without my permission, or go anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Company interference</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The agent was following me to find out what I knew and
what I was doing, but not to help me. They got my message about the kidnapped
girls in Khartoum, but did not go after them, instead forwarding their
whereabouts to the countries law enforcement agencies who had reported missing
girls who matched my descriptions. But that was all he was willing to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mohammed spoke to one of his men and in a few minutes he
came back into the house with a car battery and some electrical wire. They
stood the still “bagged” agent up and removed his pants and boxer shorts and then
sat him down again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I whispered a suggestion to Mohammed
that it would be more effective if the agent got to see the battery brought in,
so he signaled his man to take the battery back outside. The other helper then
was instructed to remove the hood. Once the young man’s eyes could focus, the
battery came back in the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are expressions that we refer
to as “priceless” now days, what I saw next definitely qualified. The young
agent processed the appearance of the battery along with his pants being
removed, rather quickly. His face formed the most priceless expression, one
that almost caused the rest of us to laugh, except that we were completely serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The connections and contacts that I
had been working with Hamid, Sayeed and Mohammed, were life and death serious.
Any compromise of this network could and possibly would, result in the death of
one or more members. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something as simple as causing a
policeman to detain or question any of the players, could necessitate the
breakdown of an entire network. Torture is routine in this part of the world
and the only right you have is to scream when it hurts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our guest with no pants, who we
called Sam, was already terrified. So when I stepped in front of him and
touched two wires together and made sparks, it was understandable that he
should pee. I also understood why Mohammed had me do it, the guy peed on
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told him that he had one chance at
the truth before I made his testicles look like Rudolph’s nose and made the
wires spark again; he was very willing to cooperate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The question was posed to him, “What
are you doing in Abu Simbel following me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He stated that he was to delay and
hinder my progress as much as possible, on the orders of the same company
bosses that had briefed me less than three days earlier. The chess game
continued it seemed… was I a knight, or a pawn I wondered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I asked him very quietly and in
desperate seriousness, “Have you reported any of my contacts or compromised
them in any way?” His answer would mean his life if it were the wrong
one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He stated that he had not and was
only ordered to interfere with me. I believed him, his reactions and face told
me that he spoke the truth and had no desire to be a tortured hero.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since I was under orders from my army
unit and not the company, I was not inclined to worry about what they liked or
didn’t. I really didn’t care for their constant politics and lies anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The issue of compromise was so
important, that the young agent’s life was in question for much of an hour. I
was finally able to convince Mohammed that holding young Sam for a week while
they checked for leaks or compromise would give them the time needed to change
their contact information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mohammed was worried about the many
people that he was responsible for and showed a tremendous amount of courage
and faith in what he saw in my eyes. If I had lied or was a double agent all of
those lives would have been forfeited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The week delay would give me enough
time to do my job too. It wasn’t likely that they would send another agent
until they knew where Sam was or what happened to him. I counted on what I knew
about the company and my own gut feelings to be right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was able to sleep until sunrise
while Mohammed’s network worked for me. I had gained major respect with the
locals from the events of the previous night and it was paying off in
information. The sheik who bought the third blonde girl had traveled through
Abu Simbel and had stopped at a local hotel. The local employees would have
loads of information for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Not So Nice Sheik <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was riding in a nice looking
Mercedes, if you didn’t mind the bullet holes in the door, when the sun was
less than an hour old. It was heading northwest away from Abu Simbel on what
were laughingly called roads, toward an encampment near some lakes that I had
never heard about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There we would find the recently
fired driver of the sheik I was looking for. The driver, Abdullah, had returned
to his family camp located just north and east of the biggest lake, and the
only one with good water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We found the lake, and by just
following the road on the east side we located the camp of the desert people we
sought. Stopping in front of the largest tent we got out and accepted the
hospitality of the occupants. Hospitality was a sacred obligation of the desert
tribesmen and not something to make light of if you wanted to live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was travelling with Mohammed’s son
Benjamin (named for Benjamin Franklin, a hero of Mohammed’s) and one of his men
that I called “Ibn”. He was real proud of his lineage and spouted ibn after ibn
until it was all that registered with me. Ibn means “son of” in Arabic and he
was definitely a “son of” something. The fact that Mohammed sent his chief
enforcer (to use a gangster term) along with us showed me that he was worried
about trouble finding us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The camp that we were having tea in
was not the right family but they wanted us to stay and eat with them anyway.
Such is the way of hospitality in the desert. We made our excuses and begged
their forgiveness for having to go, but it was important that we get on with
our search. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meeting the Blue People <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several kilometers north on the same
dirt track (road) we found the correct camp and with it Abdullah’s family. The
camp was well organized with a very large tent in the center and farthest away
from the road. Other tents formed a protective semi-circle extending on either
side. Numerous camels, goats, horses and a few cows were in evidence behind the
tents, with boys on foot attending them. Everywhere I looked as we approached I
saw intense eyes looking back at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The appearance of the gold colored
Mercedes with the bullet hole accents caused a flurry of activity as we eased
to a stop on the road and shut off the engine. Riders on flashy Arabian horses
came from both ends of the camp and cut off any avenue of escape. From the
tents, armed men with blue turbans and veils over their faces walked towards
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Benjamin exited the car first giving
greetings and proclaiming our peaceful intentions. Just like that, the mood
changed; the riders took off, and the women went back to work. When the
potential threat had been reduced to merely traveling strangers, our hosts went
into hospitality mode, preparing tea, coffee and increasing the size of the
meal being planned to accommodate three more. There was no “hurry” in these
matters, especially if you wanted something from your hosts, and we did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I noticed a problem in the body
language of the men who surrounded the chief of the tribe whenever Ibn was
anywhere near their patriarch. There was hate in their eyes and they were
tensed up like cats waiting to strike. They knew that I didn’t fit into the
Egyptian countryside, but there was no hostility directed my way. Getting
Benjamin’s attention, I signaled for him to come over to where I sat and speak
with me. Benjamin had also noticed the friction and quickly filled me in on the
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The entire Middle East had been in
turmoil for years and not surprisingly, Ibn was a soldier during many of them.
His religious leanings were decidedly Muslim and of a sect that was not opposed
to torture and killing to get what they wanted. The unit he belonged to had
been stationed in the same region as this tribe and it seems that Ibn had taken
his knife to the former leader of the clan. The big goon had threatened to skin
the leader’s younger brother (the chieftain we sat with) if he ever saw him
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad to Worse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Things were about to boil over in
that big tent and as perceived associates of Ibn, if it went bad we would have
been targets too. I had my pistol in my hand under my sleeve as I sat
listening, trying to appear relaxed and I had to assume that everyone else in
the circle had a grip on their weapon of choice too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I feared would happen Ibn snapped
under the strain and lunged for the chief with his big dagger in his hand. There
was a loud bang and the round from my pistol knocked him backwards instead. He
had earned a third eye with which to view the world more clearly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The chief was on his back with two
men covering him with their bodies, more than willing to give their lives to
protect him. The other men in the tent had blades in their hands and adrenalin
pumping through their veins. Only young Benjamin was still sitting at his spot
with his tea cup in his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The chief was helped back to his
cushion and his first words were “<i>Masha
Allah</i>” which means “God has willed it.” Young men in blue veils grabbed
Ibn’s arms and drug him out of the tent and out of sight. What they did to, and
with him, I did not know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because of my actions I had gone
from a stranger receiving hospitality to family with that one split second
decision. The tribe saw it as an act of heroism. It was really an act of
self-preservation I must admit, but one that would pay great dividends in the
future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once the drama and hostility were
gone the tribe was a lot more helpful. Abdullah was on his sleeping mat in a
tent at the far north end of the camp. He was ill, which was why he had not
been a part of the greeting party. When I entered his tent I could see, and
smell, that he was both ill and injured. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The illness I recognized from having
seen it before, Sleeping Sickness. It is caused by parasites which are carried
by the Tse Tse fly and Abdullah had been in southern Sudan which was
experiencing an epidemic of the disease. Allah smiled on this camp again
because I had Pentamidine in my medical kit, just for such a problem. I gave
him my bottle and told the woman caring for him, through Abdullah who spoke
English, to give him one pill (and only one!) each day with his evening
meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The injuries that the huge man
sustained were more common to their lifestyle where cuts, scrapes, bruises and
punctures happened routinely. I did not think that they made a habit of putting
out lit cigars on each other’s faces though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah said that he had objected
to the abuse and degradation of a young girl by the sheik and he was attacked
and held down by the bodyguards. The sheik was in a rage and attacked his
driver with the cigar that he had been burning the girl with, nearly burning a
hole through his cheek. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For good measure the bodyguards tied
him up and then beat, kicked, and stomped him. Round two had the sheik cutting
the expensive suit off of Abdullah, leaving him with cuts all over his body.
Then for added humiliation the bodyguards relieved themselves all over the big
man’s face, which earned them praise from their master. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They tossed his naked body in the
bed of the truck which carried the fuel for the three vehicles and left him
there until they departed the next morning. About twenty kilometers out of Abu
Simbel they dumped him in the dirt, still tied and naked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next vehicle which traveled the
road stopped and the driver untied him and gave him a robe to wear. He had been
lucky enough to connect with a large truck going all the way to his family’s
camp. Since arriving home he had fallen seriously ill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pulled out the picture of Gail and
asked Abdullah if she was the blonde girl his former employer had with him. He
said that he never saw the girl’s face because the sheik had ordered her head
covered since before she joined the group in Port Sudan. That was certainly
strange, but so was the sheik. I asked Abdullah how many were in the party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He said that in the lead car were
himself and two girls in the front seat and two girls, two even younger boys,
and the sheik in the back seat. Abdullah laughed and said that the sheik was so
paranoid of assassination attempts that he made the women sit next to the
windows and the young boys sat on either side of him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second vehicle had the four
bodyguards with AK-47s and UZIs on their persons at all times. The last vehicle
was their supply truck which carried fuel for the three vehicles, food and
water, and a large tent for when the sheik wanted to stop between hotels. It
had a driver and a helper who were required to sleep in or under the truck and
were not allowed inside the hotels or restaurants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Normal procedure was for each
bodyguard was to hang onto one of the women and the two boys were always glued
to the sheik whenever they were in public or traveling outside of the vehicle.
Abdullah had to get the doors, fuel the vehicles, take food to the truck driver
and his helper and whatever else the sheik wanted him to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah was able to say the blonde
girl was about 1.6 meters, small breasts, pale skin, maybe 45 kilos, which is
all about the same size as Gail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The biggest break of all was that
the entourage was heading for <i>El Kasr</i>
and would stay there for a month. I would be there as soon as I could arrange
transportation and I would guess that Abdullah has some interest in visiting as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El Kasr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were no grand hotels in which
to stay in El Kasr. The large fortress of a palace that the evil sheik would
call home for a month was three hundred years old. It was made of large earthen
bricks of the same color as everything else in El Kasr, mud brown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside the plain brown dwellings were
more colorfully tiled and decorated and had life to them. There was no sense
wasting time and effort on the outside creating something that the desert sun
and winds would just destroy anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah had a cousin in that small
community and we were invited to stay with them. It was a difficult challenge
to remain as invisible as possible and not create any talk about my presence.
Such talk would have been disastrous to my mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had been able to scout the
location where the sheik and his party had taken up residence. Along with the now
twelve members of the traveling party, there were two housekeepers and several
more girls. I had sent Abdullah to the market place to drink tea with the
locals and find out what the routine of the house was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I traveled in the concealment of
darkness as much as possible and watched and looked for positions of advantage.
There were a couple of buildings nearby which allowed for observation from their
rooftop terraces. It was on the best of those that I spotted a tattooed arm
peeking out from under a robe sleeve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asato</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a surprise! My old friend <i>Asato</i> was on the roof with a spotting
scope pointed at the same building that I was interested in. He and I had
worked together before and he was rock solid and trustworthy. It isn’t often
that can call a member of the Yakuza a “good guy,” but he really was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had made myself known (made
intentional noise) before I approached him and could hear him chuckle. He said
that he had watched me walk up the opposite side of the street and pass the
building. Asato said he was pretty sure it was me when I disappeared into the
shadows and didn’t come out for thirty minutes. When I crossed the street and
circled around the building before approaching it he was sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After my old friend finished giving
me the business about having a predictable routine I was finally able to ask
him what he was doing there. He was tracking a missing girl from the Japanese royal
household at the request of one of the royals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I noted out loud how odd it was to
have the two of us not only trying to keep a target alive (not in keeping with
our usual jobs), but doing so in the exact same location. It made us both
nervous as neither of us believed in coincidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We spent three hours on that roof
with his long eyes and my night vision trained on the rooms that we could see
into. One room was productive, but the others were not. We needed another
vantage point and more intelligence to formulate a plan of entry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the streets were completely
quiet we departed in different directions and met up again three streets away,
satisfied that we had not been followed. Several times we split up and
regrouped as we traveled the unfamiliar territory, always looking for anyone
tailing us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back inside the home of Abdullah’s
cousin we were able to listen to what the big man had found out, besides that
he needed to duck his six foot six height when he entered the house. He had
whacked his forehead on the wall above the door when he came home in the dark.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The marketplace tea room was very
productive as it was the favorite hangout of the “palace” cook and she talked a
lot in the little back room where the women sat. Abdullah has positioned
himself at the table nearest to the backroom and sipped tea all afternoon
listening to her talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside the palace there was an
“outsider” woman who was bossing everyone around and who the cook seriously
disliked. There were also six girls of various descriptions, with the common
factor being that they were all teenagers. Those girls had been there for several
days before the sheik arrived with the four additional girls and the two young
boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a party for some high
ranking military and secret police happening the very next night. The cook and
the housekeepers were to prepare all of the food and drink and then leave. They
had to sleep in one of the outbuildings instead of in the main house that night
which irritated the cook and made her very talkative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most important news for me was
that a blonde girl had been the first to arrive of all of them. She was
delivered by two tall blonde American men in suits and aviator sun glasses along
with the beautiful Egyptian woman who gave orders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had driven the blonde girl
there a week earlier in a closed limo all the way from Cairo. The American men
left early the next morning after sleeping a few hours. The Egyptian woman woke
the household that same morning screaming about the blonde girl being an impure
fake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah said the Egyptian woman had
called the cook and a housekeeper into the room to hold down the naked teenager
while she examined her. The bossy woman was even more agitated and violent
afterwards. The girl was blonde on her head, but dark brown “below” which
started the yelling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the young girl was examined and
found to not be a virgin the woman started throwing things and cussing all the
American whores. It was that same day that she was first injected with heroin
and physically abused by her female captor. The cook heard her yelling
repeatedly that the sheik was going to kill her for being an impure
whore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every day and night since her
arrival she had been kept naked and repeatedly injected with heroin and harmed
in one way or another. I had a very strong and sinking feeling that it was
indeed, Gail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asato interrupted and voiced the
thought that we all had, this is not the way you would treat a valuable
acquisition for a harem, but what you would do to a captive that you intended
to use badly and dispose of. There was no argument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He asked Abdullah if there had been
any mention of the Japanese girl. The big man said yes, she was the last to
arrive before the sheik and his party rolled in. The cook made special mention
of her delicate features and pale beauty. She had been taken to a room and a
bath drawn for her immediately like she was a particular prize. She was there
and OK, so far as he could tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah said that it was well known
that the sheik preferred young boys for sex and he abused and tortured the
young girls he bought until he tired of them. Then they would be sent to the
brothels or, if they were lucky, to a military officer with a lot of pull or a secret
police commandant who could stay out of President Sadat’s party member sights. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The entire group surrounding the
sheik was vocally against Sadat and his plans of peace with Begin of Israel.
They had much worse things to say about President Carter interfering with the
Arab world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Party Night <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah spent the entire day in the
tea room at the marketplace and noticed a lot of traffic from the very
beginning. The groups were arriving in Mercedes limos and military staff cars
from all directions, including Libya, Sudan and all over Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most noticeable to him was that they
were all from the hard line anti-Sadat party and appeared to be mostly all
Muslims from outside of the local sects. Abdullah was Tuareg and as such, not a
strict observer of Islam. His comment was, “They worry me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The housekeeper appeared early in
the day with payment for the many and varied supplies for the party. She
flashed it around before she paid for everything in fresh new American money.
Now THAT worried me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asato was the essence of a ghost
operative. He could walk through a crowded room and nobody remembered seeing
him. Of course if you ever saw him in the bath house and viewed the full body
suit of tattoos on his body, you would never forget him either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My “Japanese Arab” had spent the day
sliding in and out of buildings and found a way up to the top of another
building within viewing range of the palace. He also had the disturbing news of
crisp new American money passing between military officers and the feared
secret police of Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah had to avoid being
identified by or to the bodyguards or the sheik so he had to hide his face from
the palace staff and not make any impression on the recent arrivals. I advised
him to lay low as his imposing frame would certainly cause comment and his
burned face would give him away. He would get his chance to avenge his injuries
and disrespect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the time the sun was low on the
horizon, the little settlement of El Kasr was buzzing with talk and activity.
The number of important strangers and vehicles had the locals stirred up and
gossiping. It was very dangerous for us to move around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abdullah’s cousin had heard that the
sheik knew of his presence in El Kasr. His size and the burn on his face had
given him away just as I had feared. We were not going to be able to rescue the
girls that night unless things changed far more than I thought possible. It
could be bad for the girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had to maintain surveillance so
Asato and I made our way to the new building and through an apartment and up
onto the locked rooftop. My ghostly friend had made us some mud colored cover-ups
during the day and we became part of the mud block building. The view was much
more productive from the new hide and the party was already underway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
It was a political planning meeting or rally primarily, with side “entertainment”
of sadism and abuse. The sights we saw were not pretty or nice. Most of the
action was on the second floor in what appeared to be an interrogation torture
room or modern dungeon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a woman with a completely
shaved head and body being assaulted repeatedly in all orifices by multiple
men. They appeared to be doing their best to damage the poor thing. I was not
sure who it was, but I had my fears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asato gasped, which really shocked
me, I had never heard him make a sound in the field no matter what we were
doing. The Egyptian woman came into view dressed in a Dominatrix outfit,
complete with a huge strap-on penis. She directed two men to suspend the naked bald
woman at waist height. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She assaulted the girl with such
violence and ferocity that it took two more men to hold the victim in one
place. The bald girl was visibly bleeding when she finished. One of the bodyguards
appeared with a syringe, injected the girl, and then they just dropped
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My partner nearly jumped over the
edge of the roof when the also naked Japanese girl was brought into view. She
was bent over bench and anally assaulted by the Egyptian woman. The woman didn’t
try to kill her with effort like she did the first girl. The young Asian girl
was then put on her knees and had to orally service at least a dozen men. By
this time all of the women were in the room and being used by those in
attendance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we attacked then there would have
been little chance of getting the girls out. We could have killed several of
the attendees, but with no guarantee of getting the sheik or the Egyptian woman
either. It was one of the worst nights of my entire life. I know my friend
Asato had died a bit too. We were helpless to save them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The compound had constantly roving
security guards with UZIs or AK-47s and armored vehicles stationed at the front
and rear gates. There were snipers on the roof who would have seen us if not
for Asato’s mud colored tarps. We did consider going in anyway, even though we
likely would have been killed before we reached the girls, such was our anguish
at what we had seen. In the end training and experience suppressed emotion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We waited all through the night for
an opening but the guards never faltered in their duties. The sick bastards in
the torture room never gave up hurting women either. When the sun came up the
girls were collected by the body guards and taken back to wherever they slept. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bald girl was carried out like
so much garbage. Her face had cigar burns all over it, as did most of the rest
of her body that we could see. Asato and I both spotted the birthmark, it was
Gail. I can not express the depth of rage and pain that I felt with that
knowledge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The apartment was occupied when we
had the opportunity to descend to ground level so we had to stay where we were
through the beginning of the work day routine. The military vehicles began
departing and within thirty minutes they were all gone. The Mercedes limos
pulled in, loaded up and departed next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we watched, a limo with
blacked out windows arrived and two tall white Americans got out, took a bag
out of the trunk and went inside. They returned with the Egyptian woman all
dressed up like a Wall Street business executive. The men opened the door for
her, loaded her bags, and drove off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was no doubt in my mind at all,
Company agents. They had delivered Gail to the sheik, along with a huge sum of
American cash. To a group that was dead set against the Peace Talks between
Egypt and Israel. I thought, “What the Hell was I in the middle of?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gail died that night of the party
from the brutal injuries she received and an overdose of heroin. The Japanese
girl broke a window in her room and slashed the femoral artery in her leg, also
dying. The remaining women were loaded up in a Mercedes and driven to Cairo to
be sold into prostitution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That night there were more deaths in
the palace. The sheik was shot in the forehead, and beheaded. All four
bodyguards had their throats cut, after they were beaten severely by someone
with very large fists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside the palace were found documents
with my name on them. The Egyptian Secret Police were looking for me, no doubt
due to whispers in their ears from blonde guys in suits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told Asato to take a chunk of that
American cash and get out of the country as quickly as possible, before someone
tied him to me in all of this. I gave Abdullah another bag full of cash and
told him to get somewhere safe and exchange the money as quietly as possible or
he would be arrested for having American dollars in such quantity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I headed south and got as far as <i>Mut</i> in one of the trucks from the
compound. When I got out of the truck to put fuel in it I was approached by
Egyptian army soldiers with guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deep trouble</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I figured that I was done for good.
Somehow they had already gotten the word out about the sheik and his goons and
the secret police would be using their filet knives on me in an hour or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The decision to not carry any
firearms on my exodus was looking like a really bad choice at that point. At
the very least I could have gone out in a blaze of glory, saving the last round
for myself. That wasn’t happening. I had a bag over my head and my hands tied
behind my back and was unceremoniously dumped into the bed of a Toyota truck
and hauled off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was rather humorous in a stupid
sick sort of way. I was so tanned, filthy and smelly that they failed to
recognize that I was a white American looking person. They questioned me and
then beat me for not answering, in a language that I could barely speak any of.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The instrument of punishment was a
soft leather bag filled with wet sand. They could beat the Hell out of you and
not leave a mark. It was easy on their hands too. I decided to stick with my
not answering routine because from what I could understand, they didn’t have me
for the murders, just stealing the fuel in the back of the truck. I was
obviously too poor to afford that much fuel, so therefore, I was a
criminal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When they got tired of beating me
across the back, just above my kidneys, they tossed me into the large holding
cell with the bag still over my head. I guess they didn’t want to be recognized
because I knew that they were going to steal the fuel on the truck I was
driving for their own use.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The cell was so full of men that we
all had to stand up. There was no place to sit or lie down without being
trampled. I had the bag off pretty quick when I started getting groped as I was
shoved inside the cell. Roughly every fifteen minutes or so, we would start to
walk around in a circle, all together to keep the circulation going in our
legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
After a few hours a couple of men fell down and were trampled by the masses in
the cell. A little while longer and a couple more men hit the dirt. The night
passed and the guards opened the door and I was close to the door as we rotated
around the cell. I was directed to drag the dead men out of the cell and out
the back door and onto what was probably the same Toyota truck that I arrived
in. I was given a shovel and joined three other live men sitting on top of the
dead ones. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truck drove us away from the
settlement into an open area and we were directed to dig a grave, just one, for
all those dead men, and us I suspected. The guards were not the
professional soldiers I had encountered previously. These men were bumbling
local thieves with a convenient job that gave them a way to profit from the
misery of others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My fellow survivors and I dug the
mass grave and were dragging the unfortunate deceased men off of the truck in
the heat when opportunity knocked. The biggest and meanest of the two guards
had gotten lax and turned his back to me. I did not hesitate, I whacked him on
the back of his head as hard as I could with that shovel and pulled his gun and
shot the other guard in the eye. Then I shot the first guard for good measure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the other prisoners throw the
guards in with the dead prisoners and told them to fill in the hole. I motioned
to the prisoners get in the back of the truck and we drove to the next
settlement where I made them get out. They waved at me as I drove off like long
lost relatives, because they knew that we were all going to die that day and I had
changed that. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From there using a map I found in
the truck I headed for Abdullah’s family camp as quick as I could drive. He was
there and had his family put the truck inside of a tent and scraped the
identification off. When it got dark we moved it back out and drove to an
airport where a private plane was available for hire. We both knew that I had
to get out of Egypt immediately and the roads would be watched at the borders.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pilot was a member of the
chief’s family and placed himself at great risk by flying me out, but he knew
what I had done for the chief, and for Abdullah; I was family to them. We
figured if he could get me to the Algerian border I could avoid capture by the
Egyptian secret police or their friends in Libya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We flew across Libya with the fear
of military jets intercepting us all of the way, but they were occupied by the
US Navy along their coast for the entire time that we buzzed across westbound.
Refueling was paid for with crisp new American money (courtesy of Abdullah) at
each stop and not once did the seller hesitate to accept it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a branch of the family
still running caravans across the Sahara and they would take me across Algeria
and into Morocco. The Tuareg are an honorable people and fiercely loyal to
family and friends. No one would know a thing about where I had gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was delivered into the arms of the
Blue People and never felt safer or more welcome anywhere on earth. A story similar to the journey across the western Sahara can be read in “Time of Sands.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once in Morocco I made connections
to get picked up by my Army unit people. The same company Jetstar picked me up
like nothing had ever happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Epilogue: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know that you have questions; what
did the Senator know? Was the search for the daughter actively interfered with?
Did he ever learn the truth? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t <u>prove</u> that the
company snatched Gail from Turkey and delivered her into slavery and worse,
even though I <u>know</u> that they did. That is the way that real world bad
things often happen… no proof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will always feel like they (the
company and its bosses) were trying to derail the Peace Accord that President
Carter engineered with Sadat and Begin. There was an awful lot of money
and information being handed to the anti-Sadat people by “suits.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had my suspicions that the Senator
was cleaning up loose ends with the removal of his love child, because her
grandmother died in a car crash while all of this was going on. How convenient.
It was interesting that his secretary, Gail’s mother, had also died in a car
crash a few years earlier. Yes, I do still know who he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Going on gut instinct I told them
that I never did find Gail, but learned from reliable intelligence that she had
died of an overdose of drugs and aborted the mission and made my way back to
Morocco. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe it was this version of
what happened that allowed me to live on. It kept me separated from the heinous
political doings that would have necessitated removing me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asato caught up with the Egyptian
woman in Cairo and cut her head off with his sword in her office at the secret
police building and nobody saw him enter or leave. If there is ANY justice in
this story I count that as it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P. S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SSG John Q. Adams got his assignment
to Georgia … and left the army at the next re-enlistment opportunity. He had
had enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Character resemblance to anyone alive
or dead is… interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-75274877154319211352013-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:002013-05-05T14:41:17.589-07:00Mo betta luau<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mo betta luau</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Anna and I went to Maui on our
honeymoon in 1996 we had a continuous good time. That was the only way I could
describe it, one good experience after another.
Our hotel, the Aston Kaanapali Shores, was incredible! Everyone was especially
friendly and nice and went out of their way to make us feel welcome, even the janitors
and groundskeepers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our room was on the 7th floor and from
it you could see the gardens, one of the swimming pools, and the Ocean beyond.
We had wonderful cool breezes every night and the sound of the waves to lull
you to sleep. The hotel restaurant was our choice of places to eat, most of the
time. Maui has excellent dining
available; the hotel restaurant was just that much better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We did the usual tourist things;
went shopping in Lahaina every day, went out on a diving boat, went on picture
taking expeditions of our own design, and even drove the Road to Hana. We tried
to see Volcano National Park, on the Big Island, but that is another story, for
another time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the many things that were considered
almost "mandatory" when you go to Hawaii is going to a Luau. We
wanted to go to one while we were on Maui and asked around for opinions about
which was the best one to see. Everyone said, “Go see the luau at the
Ritz-Carlton." The man selling Hawaiian crafts in the lobby said, "It's
de bes one brudda!" Who could argue with that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone who comes to Hawaii with
money in their pockets (and isn't rude to the locals) is called “cuz” or cousin
by the native Hawaiians. If you buy something from a local, then you have
graduated to "brudda or sista." You have become close family by
helping them support theirs. Tipping well works the same way, and we did both.
I think we were related to most of Maui by the time that we left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Maui Ritz-Carlton puts on a luau
every night and is famous throughout the islands for putting on a good show,
with good food to go along with it. It sounded like the ideal one for us and we
planned our schedule around it and called the phone number to purchase the
tickets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Culture shock (or cash flow shock)
may be the way to describe how our down-home Fallon sensibilities reacted to
the price they wanted. They wanted $110.00 each! I told the woman on the phone
that I didn’t want a room; I just wanted to watch one show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the end I paid the price they
wanted; they didn't really care if we did or not, they sell out every show. I
told myself, “Break out the plastic and just do it.” We were only doing this
special trip once and it was more important to enjoy the time than worry about
every penny spent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we went to pick up the tickets
(and locate where the show was, and where to park, etc.) we found out that we
weren't very far from our hotel at all. That was good; a short drive to and
from the venue with us having to navigate in the dark was appreciated. New
adventures were fun; being lost, not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We turned off of the main road at
the Ritz-Carlton sign and on to their "driveway," which we drove on
for about a mile before we even got to the hotel itself. What a magnificent place!
You could smell the money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We parked the car and walked up to
the entrance, where they had a host of valets and doormen, all eagerly looking
for something to do. Since we had already parked, the only thing left to do was
to open the door for us, which two of them did at the same time. I think that
they wanted us to go in… and leave our money there when we left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside of the main entrance room,
was an atrium and display hall with a ceiling that was five stories high. There
were walkways ringing the room from the second floor up. I assume that you
could get a room facing the atrium at a better price than the ones facing the
Ocean, but I didn't check. The art displays were of unbelievable quality and
extensive in number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We gawked our way through (like the
tourists we were) to the front desk and asked about picking up our tickets. In
our turn we were redirected to another office around the corner by a very beautiful,
but harried looking woman. She had people coming at her from all sides and
telephones ringing off the hook. I was sure glad that I wasn't working that
desk -- it was a madhouse! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ticket office was just around
the corner and was quite busy too. As a matter of fact they were already sold
out for that night's show. The lady at the counter was trying to explain to an
obnoxious and obviously wealthy older woman that “No More Tickets” means, No
More Tickets! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We stood by quietly and waited for
it to be our turn, and tried not to butt in, or laugh, at the scene going on in
front of us. That was really hard. I wanted to say, "Hey stupid, what part
of NO don't you understand?" But I didn't, and Anna wouldn't anyway (she's
too nice.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman behind the counter was just
about to reach critical mass and finally told the older woman to please step
aside. She smiled and asked me what I needed, whereupon I gave our names and
confirmation number. A quick glance at her list and she said, "Yes, Mr.
& Mrs. Wright, I have them right here" and handed me our two tickets
for the show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That set the old biddy off all over
again as she started yelling that the woman had lied to her about not having
any tickets left. We smiled and shook our heads in sympathy with the ticket
counter lady with the utmost patience. I thanked her and we beat a hasty
retreat before the old gal in her diamonds, furs, and way too much perfume
launched an attack on us for buying “her” tickets. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The big question then became, “What
to wear to the luau?” A Hawaiian flowered shirt, shorts, and dress flip-flops seemed
appropriate to me. Anna wasn't sure what she wanted to wear and that brought us
to the only logical choice; go shopping! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Away we went to the Lahaina shopping
district and wandered the streets looking for something that would jump out at
Anna and beg to be worn by her to a luau (but, not just any luau; to a
Ritz-Carlton luau.) The search was on
for something that shouted, “Pick Meeee!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We went into a very cluttered and
closely packed little store on the main street and worked our way towards the back,
looking at everything. As we turned, twisted, and side-stepped our way all the
way to the back wall we spotted something. There it was-- a maroon Hawaiian
flower print dress, exactly the same color and pattern as a shirt that I had
with us; that was the one! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The problem was, there was only that
one. And in a size that would fit an anorexic ten year old midget, and nobody
else. Disappointment rained down upon our heads. As we were about to give up
and drag our tails back out into the street a large (OK, huge) Hawaiian woman
stepped out from behind a curtain that hid a backroom from view. She looked me
up and down and said, "Waas amatta brudda, your woman no like dis dress?"
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had been on the island long enough
that her manner of speech made perfect sense to me. In fact if I were there any
longer, I would start talking just like her. I told the nice lady that, yes, my
wife did like the dress, but it was too small and there was no other one like
it on the rack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She said, "Wait one mo minute brudda,
an I find you one." With that she pulled the curtain aside and in the back
room there were more racks along one wall. The woman looked at Anna and pulled
a dress off of the rack and handed it to her. It was a perfect fit. The problem
was solved; we had luau clothes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had taken so much time shopping that
we had just enough time to shower and get dressed before it was time to leave
for the Ritz. We pulled out from our hotel driveway and had a momentary bit of
panic as the traffic on that main road was horrendous! Fortunately it was going
the opposite direction from us and we made good time to the hotel. That time we
took pity on the bored employees and used the valet parking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was still a little while until
the scheduled start time so we wandered around a bit looking at the swans in
the pond, and the stream that went right through the buildings. The
architectural design features were fabulous; the place had an incredible palate
of both color and texture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thought, “It could be fun to stay
here some time.” So, I walked over to the desk and asked the neatly dressed,
but seriously grumpy looking man behind it, if I might see the room rates. He
looked me up and down and with a sneer on his lips said, "Sir, the rooms
start at $400.00 per night and we are booked up until April." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He got a little tight-jawed when I
started laughing and said, "Yeah, right!" back at him; and then
walked off, still laughing. The guy wasn't kidding, I checked through my hotel
later and the old buzzard was correct on the price and the bookings. No wonder
he looked like that when I laughed in his face. It was too rich for my blood. A
week in that joint would cost you $2800.00 plus taxes and fees; by then you wouldn't
be able to afford to eat! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To eat; that was where we were
heading when I got sidetracked. We followed the crowd out a door near the
ticket office into a beautiful patio and courtyard setting. It was a great
spot, but the crowd was still on the move. We kept on through the courtyard and
onto a walkway along the beach just shore-side of the palm trees. The tour was pretty,
but what about the food? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We came to a halt, in line with
everyone else, at a "checkpoint," where photographers were snapping
away. You didn't have to buy the pictures, but you did have to let them take
the photos before you could get through to the food and show area. What the
Hell, we looked Mah-vel-ous in our matching outfits and we had puka shell
necklaces being draped around our necks. So we did our photo-duty and we did
buy the pictures after the show and I'm glad that we did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we were standing in line
waiting for our turn in front of the camera, the wind came up from off of the
ocean and being raised along the Florida coast, it felt and smelled like rain
coming to me. When I said as much out loud to Anna, one of the "panic
control squad" in native garb quickly stepped up and said, "Oh no,
it's not going to rain. But if it does, it
won't last long." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He then swiftly moved to the next
crisis location where I could hear him saying, "No Sir, we will never run
out of Mai-Tai's. There will be plenty when you get there." Then off he
went again down the line, calming the tourist's nerves. They didn’t want anyone
to take their money and run away before spending it all; after that, no
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We entered yet another courtyard,
this one had long rows of tables set at a 90 degree angle to the stage where
the show was to be performed. It looked like it could seat about 100 people in
each of these long rows and there were at least ten rows. A little quick math
showed that there was an enormous amount of money being made from each of these
shows; what a racket! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The conch was sounded, (a shell from
the ocean, about the size of a football, when blown into just right sounds like
a deep toned horn), and the narration began. The monologue told about the
customs of the celebration we know as the luau, and what everything meant. By
that time the wind was blowing a little bit harder. They guys in their native
garb had a devil of a time lighting the torches around the area and they too, kept
looking towards the ocean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pig was pulled up out of the pit
and ceremoniously carried through the tables to the back, where Chefs were
waiting to carve him up. They serve the roasted pork along with regular old salad
and cafeteria looking food. I was glad that they did have some purple sweet
potatoes native to Hawaii and some poi for the adventurous souls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The "panic squad" guy
didn't lie about the Mai-Tai’s; they were being handed out like flyers in a
grocery store parking lot. Many of the folks around us had one in each hand and
would still ask for another one when a waitress came by with a tray full. The
customers were sucking it up, trying to get their money's worth I guess. I believe
that they would all die of alcohol poisoning long before they could ever get to
the “break even” point of that venture. Quite a few were giving it that old
"tourist" try! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We got some food and sat back down
and without realizing it had fallen into a Hawaiian Tourist stereo-type trap.
The gentleman who was the Master of Ceremonies, and professed to be a chief in
one of the tribes of the South Pacific, was chuckling into the microphone as he
looked at the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He said, "OK, all of you lovely
people out there who are wearing matching clothing, pay attention now. How many
of you are celebrating your anniversaries tonight, raise your hands" and
many did so. Then he said, "And how many of you are here on your
honeymoon?" and a few of us raised our hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He looks around the crowd and
spotted one very young looking couple giggling near the stage. The MC came
right out to the front of the stage and says to them, "How long have you
been married?" and holds the microphone down to them. The girl said,
"We just got married this afternoon" and giggled some more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The MC looks around the crowd again
and says to the groom, "I just got one more question... What the Hell are
you doing here?" The crowd roared with laughter and the young groom looked
like he wanted to crawl under the table. The new bride just sat there like she
didn’t understand the question, which caused more laughter. Most of the people
were in the fifty to seventy age range which put us on the younger end of the
group (for once.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The show was just getting underway
as the last row of people sat down with their plates of food and we were about
half way done with ours when it started to sprinkle. The MC said, "Don't
worry, it won't last long. These things always blow over in a couple of minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we looked around I noticed the
performers were moving costumes and equipment under cover. They weren’t taking
any chances with their gear. The show continued along with no delays as we all
sat there in the sprinkles that were gradually getting harder. I told Anna that
we were going to get really wet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Five minutes went by, then ten and
fifteen, the storm not only hadn't blown over, it was raining harder with each
passing minute; we were soaked. The customers were all sitting there with water
running out of their plates and onto the table as it overflowed. I think that
the final straw was when the performers changed out of their costumes and into
their jeans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The management of the Ritz-Carlton
finally made an executive decision and told everybody to move inside and that
the show would continue in the main ballroom. People were carrying their plates
and glasses with them. That cracked me up as the dishes were filled with water.
It was probably because they weren't willing to give up something that they had
paid for. People are funny that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We finally got seated at a table and
we were so far away from the stage that the people all looked small, and I
could hardly hear any of what they were saying. It was very different than what
we had been watching at the outdoor setting. One of the performers explained to
us after the show that the physical set up of the Ballroom stage and backstage
were so much smaller and different that they had to modify what they did in the
show to accommodate the changes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The air conditioning in the Ballroom
was running at a "wind tunnel" setting. We were all soaking wet and
chilled to start with from sitting in the rain that "wouldn't last long,"
so we were freezing. And I knew that if I was freezing, Anna was turning blue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mercifully, the show ended just as
we were about to get up and leave. When I stood up and looked around I could
see that a lot of the audience had already gone. Some of the older people had
walked off when the first rain drops started falling; they would be the warm
& dry ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were directed out an exit that
led us to the picture salesmen, how surprising (not.) The herding maneuver was
OK with us because we wanted our pictures anyway. Some of the crowd didn’t feel
that way and were vocal about it, making a big fuss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were a lot of tables set up with
a sales person at each one. It was surprising how easily we found the correct
table and they pulled our picture right out of the pile as if by magic. We paid
for it and moved on so quickly it was amazing. You would think that they had
done this before… like, every single day of the year. The luau operators were
efficient at getting every last dollar available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We walked through the halls of that
glorious testament to being filthy rich and able to buy anything that you wanted.
You couldn’t help but marvel at the Ming Dynasty vases and priceless jade
Emperor's Dragons, and countless other pieces that any museum would love to
have. Money was their god and their altar was glorious, I will give them that
much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sky was finally clear and as we
looked out into the night we decided to just pick up our keys and walk over to
our rental car. There was no sense in waiting for the valets who were scattered
all over the place. Those guys were rounding up cars for people who were
waiting inside, not realizing that it had quit raining and was beautiful
outside, now that the show was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have great memories of our
honeymoon on Maui. Thinking about that luau, in the rain that wouldn't last
long, never fails to make us laugh. A lot of people (who didn’t read the fine
print) cried the blues wanting their money back because of the rain. To us it
was funny and fun, and that's the way I prefer to remember it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-48300748047713505802013-05-04T00:14:00.000-07:002013-05-04T00:14:06.165-07:00Candy from strangers<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Candy from strangers</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1969 was a very passionate and
confused year in America. It was the time of "do-your-own-thing" individualism
and the Viet Nam war draft. There other mind-boggling events like the moon
landing and riots taking place to keep your world stirred up. I was living in
south Florida and that place was beyond crazy on a good day. For teenagers,
life seemed uncertain at best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A small group of enthusiastic teens formed
an organization that we called the "Davie Rodeo Club" which was not
affiliated with any school (like they are now.) I belonged to a close knit
group of bull riders, consisting of myself, Stan, Dubby, and Pollard (he had a
first name, but we never used it.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The four of us were close and always
watched each other's back. If one had trouble, the others were there... if you
needed money, the others were digging in their pockets. In a time that stressed
individuality, we had unity. And we were glad of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were other bull riders in the
club as well as bronc riders, bulldoggers, and ropers who hung around with us,
but had their own cliques too. The kid whose dad owned the property that we
built our arena on was a team roper, but he spent more time with us than the
other ropers. It was obvious that we were a team and that was attractive to others
who were used to being alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We did all the normal teenager
stuff; if you can call anything a teenager does "normal." There was
the usual dating, dances and school and we did have our own interests outside
of rodeo. Bull riding was the common bond between us and it was strong
brotherhood. To outsiders it was probably considered an insane passion, but to
us it was life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard was a year older than the
rest of us, but in the same grade. A little trouble (probably not so little
really) along the way had interrupted his school career and he repeated a year,
thus ending up with us. He was never rude or disruptive in class but he was
treated like a troublemaker by every teacher in classes that we had together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all thought that being underage
and drinking beer was OK, with the typical misconception that drinking beer
made us cool. The need to seem older and more sophisticated than our peers at
school made us do stupid things like that. Some members of our group had more
trouble than others with growing out of that bad choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our teenage years are difficult at
best, and can be devastating at the worst. Successfully navigating those years
was often dictated by who you had around you. If you had someone to either look
up to for an example, or listen to for guidance, it made a world of difference.
Some of us figured out how we were being “extra stupid” on our own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn't really apparent to us at
first that Pollard had a drinking problem. We were after all still teenagers
and a year younger than him. The guy always had a beer on him when he was away
from school, but he never seemed to get drunk when we were around him. He
started skipping school and going to work instead, more and more all the time.
He said it was because he "needed" more money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard lived by himself in a small three
room cottage apartment in Davie. His father had run off when he was young, his
brother died in Viet Nam during the early years when we were just there as
"advisors," and his mother had problems with alcohol and other
substances of her own. His mother being a substance abuser was the one reason
why we didn't think that Pollard would get "that way." We were wrong.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If he couldn't get beer or hard
liquor, he would drink cough syrup or anything with alcohol in it. Stan caught
him straining Sterno through a cloth to drink because he was out of booze and
money and needed a fix just like a junkie. We decided right then and there that
we were going to put a stop to this before it killed him and/or us (he often
drove the car with us in it.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard wasn't left alone after the
Sterno incident, and we wouldn't allow him to take a drink of anything with
alcohol in it. It was pretty tense for a long time. There were several fights
and we didn't fight fair, we'd gang up on him. We were determined to save our
amigo and beat the booze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a few weeks it appeared that Pollard
was over his craving for alcohol. We were elated, sure that we had won the
battle. He told us that he was OK and didn’t feel the need for alcohol any
more. It seemed like everything had worked according to our plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He had switched addictions and was
chewing Redman and dipping Copenhagen or Skoal a lot more, but we figured that
was a good trade off. No one thought about cancer much back then... well, the
rest didn't. I had lost my grandfather and an aunt to cancer in the previous
ten years and the idea of getting cancer bothered me. We thought we had it all
fixed, but we were wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somehow Pollard had hidden a bottle
of vodka where we couldn’t find it and was "spiking" his tobacco
products with it to get his fix. He repeatedly said that he really wanted to
quit and knew that we loved him like a brother and only wanted to help him. He
felt the same about us and wouldn't intentionally do anything to hurt us. But alcohol
was still ruling his life, in spite of what he wanted... until we found out
about the vodka in his tobacco. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That discovery caused a blowout of
huge proportions. As always we were “plotting against him," (as he saw it)
so he told us all “where to go and how to get there.” We had finally had enough
of spending all of our time on him and angrily stormed out of his place and
went to Stan's house to discuss what to do next. It was decided to do nothing;
the next move was Pollard's. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A week went by and we hadn't seen or
heard from Pollard and we were getting worried; the “what if” scenarios kept
playing out in our minds. Then on Saturday morning about 11:00 a.m. Stan got a
call from Broward General Hospital. He in turn called Dubby and I and we sped
to town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard had gone fishing on the sea
wall by the jetties near Dania Beach. When he went to stand up he reached back
over his head to grab the handrail that went all along the wall, missed, and
fell over backwards. The drop was about ten feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He landed on his head on some great
big rocks that were jumbled up all along the dry side of the sea wall. The
one-point landing split his head open and knocked him completely out. The
witnesses said that he didn’t move after he hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortunately for him there were
several other people out there that day and one of them ran to a phone to call
for an ambulance. The response was very quick as there was a beach substation
less than two miles away. The crew had to climb down into the rocks to get to
him and check him over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keep in mind that this was 1969 and
procedures were not anything like what you see today when a Paramedic or EMT arrives.
They picked Pollard up, sat him upright, and put a bandage against his head
wound to stop the bleeding. While checking his vital signs they noticed that he
had a kind of green pallor about his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He just didn't look right to them so
they hauled him up the seawall bodily and manually carried him to the parking
lot. There they strapped him onto a gurney, loaded him into the ambulance and
hit the lights and siren. They didn’t have a clue why he would be green, but they
were sure that it wasn’t right and that they had to get him to the ER, ASAP! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What they didn't know (and Pollard was
a little too unconscious to tell them) was that he had about half a pack of Redman
Chewing tobacco (non-alcoholic version) in his mouth when he fell. He swallowed
it all, and I promise you, that will give you a green color! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The call Stan got was from Pollard
himself, wanting more chew (or at least some snuff to dip) and he sounded clear
and alert. We met at Stan's and then got into Dubby's Oldsmobile and went to
the hospital. They indeed did have him registered there, but no, we couldn't
see him until after 5:00 p.m. They were running tests on him and would be all
day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, we went over to Leroy's Coffee
shop and drank coffee until we thought the tide had come in and we were about
to drown. Then we took a road trip to Boca Raton to see the new Horse Track and
finally, we thought we had burned up enough time and drove back to Broward
General. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was only 4:30 p.m. and that grumpy
Charge Nurse would rip our heads off if we bugged her again asking to get in
early. So, we sat in the car and listened to Dubby's tapes. He was called
"Dubby" because he had a speech impediment and could not say the
letter "W" correctly. It always came out sounding like "Dubby"
and that was a bummer since his first, middle, and last names all started with
"W.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We waited out our time and it seemed
like forever because Dubby only had country music tapes in his car. He always
claimed that it was because nobody would steal them like they did rock music. I
would have gladly given them away to anyone who wanted them, especially when
Dubby decided to sing along. The guy was tone deaf and didn’t care what he
sounded like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we waited we had been watching
two little boys, around six and eight years old, playing in their car while the
adults went inside. They were obviously brothers and had been fighting most of
the time. All of the windows were rolled all the way down in a failed attempt
to keep them cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boys had been repeatedly jumping
from the front to the back seat and back again. They played with everything in
the car; especially anything that they weren't supposed to touch. The cigarette
lighter, the ashtrays, the horn, everything was fair game to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before too long they were even bored
of fighting with each other. The young boys were just kind of lying across the
backs of the seats with that," been there, done that, too bored to
bother" look on their kissers. The only thing that they didn’t even
consider was getting out of the car; that would have brought the wrath of mom
down on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dubby said that it was time to go in
and Stan and I gave a cheer. It was less because we now got to go see Pollard,
and mostly because it meant that Dubby would quit that infernal noise. He said,
"What? Don't you like my singing?" I told him the sounds he made
would give a Barn Owl hot flashes and he chased me around some cars. That boy
just couldn't take a little friendly critique. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we were running around cars, Stan
had been talking with the two little boys that we had been watching. They
wanted to know if we were real cowboys, and Stan said, "Yep," which
was cowboy talk for, “Uh huh.” Then they asked him what that was that he was
putting in his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I failed to mention that Stan had a
broad mischievous streak. He said, "Candy, do you want some?" The
little brother of course said, "Yeah" (which was little kid talk for “Yep.”)
Stan gave him a big wad of Redman chewing tobacco, which he quickly jammed into
his mouth so his brother couldn't have any of it. I had been the target of his
practical jokes in the past myself, so I felt sorry for the kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were almost to the front door
when we heard the sound of the involuntary expulsion of foreign matter. The
little guy was being dangled out the window held by the ankles by his big
brother. He lost his wad of chew and probably his lunch too. I could hear the
older one saying, "Don't you get any of that on Momma's car, I ain't
getting a beating for you." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We slapped Stan in the back of the
head and called him bad names for doing that to that little guy. He said that
he just wanted to teach them the lesson not to take things from strangers. I
told him that he just convinced those two that all that bad things being said
about cowboys were true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard was wearing one of those
silly open-down-the-back hospital gowns and every time he got out of bed his
entire butt would hang out. The nurse thought it was cute, which really worried
him. She looked like a Marine drill sergeant, and she told him that she was
going to give him a sponge bath later. He wanted out of there! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had smuggled in his chew (which
he wasn’t supposed to have) and he promptly loaded up his jaw and eventually
had to spit. He looked around for anything convenient to spit in, (that the
nurse wouldn't see right away anyway) and settled on the bedpan. It was
stainless steel and held quite a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though he was able to get up
and go to the bathroom just fine, they still put the bedpan next to his bed. It
freaked him out that the nurse asked him if he needed help using it every time
that she came in to check on him. We of course, picked up on his aversion to
her attention and teased him every way that we could think of about their
“romance.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We asked our amigo how he was
feeling, really. What we wanted to know more than anything was if alcohol was
involved in his accident, but none of us would ask. Pollard said that he was fine,
just a cut on his head and they had sewed that up and he was as good as new. He
stressed over and over that he couldn't wait to get released... before “Nursey”
came calling again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a moment of rising bravado I
finally asked about his drinking and was he having any trouble needing a drink
in there? He told us that after we left him on the day of the big argument, he
sat down and took stock of his situation. That day he had come to the
conclusion that he had to either quit drinking or die. Pollard said that he
thought long and hard about which one he wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He reached the decision that life
was worth living and it was up to him to make it work. No one else should have
to be responsible for his actions, and he hadn't touched a drop since. He was
afraid that he would backslide and was embarrassed about how he had acted. So
he wanted to wait until he had a week of sobriety under his belt and knew for
himself that he could do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to him he had gone out to
the jetties to fish and think about what to say to us, and then fell off the
wall. There was a long silence where we thought about what he said and stared
at this guy that we cared about, wanting to believe him. It was fair to say
that there was a lot of doubt in that room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dubby said, "Pretty speech, but
if you don't mean it, we're all through with you." Stan and I stared him
in the eyes and nodded our agreement.... he got the message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was past visiting hours by then,
so we were about to leave when Dubby said that he had to go dump the bedpan
somewhere, so Pollard wouldn't get caught. The little monster took it to the
Godzilla nurse and told her that Pollard had a bowel movement and it didn't
look right to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the nurse looked in that bedpan
and saw the chew spit and chunks of tobacco leaf all chewed and mashed (it did
look awful) she nearly screamed. Dubby had said, "Get out of here quick"
but didn’t say why. From the panicked look on his face we knew better than to
delay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was heading for his room when we
took off down the hall, at a very fast, I-wish-I-could-run-now speed. Pollard
got to stay an additional night while they analyzed his "sample." He
not only got the sponge bath, Nursey gave him an enema as well to "clean
him out."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next day, Sunday, he got
"out" all right... when the sample turned out to be chewing tobacco
spit they practically threw him out the front door. We were there waiting to
pick him up, and give him more chewing tobacco. We knew it was a filthy habit,
but still indulged in it anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The good news was that Pollard got
off the alcohol completely and the rest of us didn't want much to do with it
either. We had seen enough with his struggle to convince us to not let anything
get grip on our lives like that. There was a funny (to us) side effect from
Pollard’s hospital experience; he said that whenever he took a chew after that it
gave him the weirdest feeling, like he had to go to the bathroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My family and I moved to Georgia the
next year and I lost track of my friends. It is true that all of us have to go
our separate ways in life. I like to think that we learned enough from those
hard lessons to make better decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am sure that those other guys are
still out there somewhere having fun; and probably at each other's expense if I
know them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Epilogue:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollard and Stan are gone now, but
Dubby is a wealthy business owner with a stack of kids and grandkids. I would
bet that he is still playing that crappy music and singing along with it while
he plays tricks on his friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-92189372936663942482013-04-25T18:06:00.001-07:002013-04-25T18:06:22.859-07:00The Road to Hana<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Road to Hana</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The title of this story may sound
like it should be a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movie, but it was just a little
outing during our Honeymoon in 1996. We were staying on the beautiful island of
Maui and were trying to do and see as much as we could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When in Hawaii you really should do
as the locals say and, “Hang loose brudda!” That means that it really doesn't
pay to try and do anything at all in a hurry, it's just not going to work that
way. Life on the islands was best lived “Aloha style” which is slow and easy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had been hearing about the
"Road to Hana" in all the places that we frequented on Maui, and had
seen several T-shirts about the road trip. Everyone said it was a beautiful
drive and that "You can't go back to the mainland without going to Hana."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I looked at a local island map and measured
it out using the map legend mileage key; it was less than 60 miles. That wasn’t
very far and it was all paved roads, so we should be able to make the trip
around Maui, see Hana, and get back in time to go out to dinner in Lahaina. The
trip should only take a couple of hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was around 11:00 a.m. when we
left the hotel and started off on our road trip. Traffic was heavy everywhere
we went, especially through the center of activity around the airport and
commercial district; lunch time rush I guessed. We crawled along in traffic
until we passed the business areas and then things opened up and we felt
relieved; we didn't come to Hawaii to sit in traffic all day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we entered the coastal highway (state
highway 360) we saw our first sign for our destination “Hana 54 miles,” and the
road was four-lane and nice. We followed the coast and made our turn southward
going around the eastern side of Maui. Out in the ocean breakers of Maui's
north shore we saw some crazy surfers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I say crazy, because there were big rock
outcroppings sticking up out of the water and a rip tide that would either
drown you, or throw you into the rocks. We watched one young fellow riding in
on one wave and when another broke across it, he kicked over to the second wave.
By doing so he avoided a deadly collision with some very unforgiving rocks by a
margin so close, that everyone on the highway stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were sure that he would be crab
bait, but he never even slowed down. It's good to surf your own break, you know
what's up and what to avoid. It reminded me of shooting (surfing through) the
pier at Dania Beach in South Florida. If you didn't know it intimately, it was
best to leave it alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had just formed the idea in my
mind that we were going to be in Hana in about an hour, when the next several
road signs changed that thought completely. They came at us in such rapid
succession that we could barely read them: ROAD NARROWS, SPEED LIMIT 35, ONE
LANE BRIDGES NEXT 53 MILES, WATCH FOR SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, WATCH FOR TRUCKS
ENTERING HIGHWAY. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What had happened to our cool scenic
highway? With a speed limit of 35 mph it was going to take a bit longer than I
thought. Quickly, the road narrowed until it was only wide enough for two very
friendly vehicles with no mirrors or door handles sticking out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the first sign stated, “ONE
LANE BRIDGES AHEAD,” I had no idea that there were 54 one lane bridges in the
next 53 miles. It became even more “exciting” as we saw that the road was (just
barely) carved out of the side of the mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">State highway 360 followed the
contours of the terrain with absolutely no thought of "level." That
word was evidently not in the vocabulary of the engineer who constructed the
coastal road. If you were into thrill rides it might be considered kind of cool
the way they made it. It was a roller coaster ride of unbelievable length! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was in a way fortuitous that Anna
was a photographer on this road of endless curves. Frequently she would get
"woozy" from the back and forth motion of the car on the curves,
blazing along at speeds approaching 20 mph, (sometimes we would go that fast,
but not very often.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would find a place to literally
jam the car into the bushes and stop, so she could recover. When I did so, she
pulled out her camera and she forgot all about being sick. That camera worked
better than any drugs we could have used for motion sickness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She doesn't have any trouble on
airplanes and nothing happened when we went out on the water in a dive boat; it
just seems to happen in automobiles on curvy roads. For whatever reason, we
knew that it would happen and found ways to deal with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somewhere about the half way point
on "the Road to Hana," there was a Botanical Garden on the inland
side of the road (which even had places to park.) It was the Keanae Arboretum where
there were plant representatives from all the Pacific Rim Islands and other
countries which had influence on the development of the Hawaii that we know
today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were many different varieties
of trees and plants, but the one that impressed me the most was the species of
tree known as the "Painted Eucalyptus." These trees were tall (about
50-60 feet) and very straight in the trunk. There were no limbs until the top (or
crown) similar in that respect to some of the pine tree species of south
Florida. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most interesting features of
this tree was their absolutely smooth surface, and color marks like someone had
gone wild in the forest with different colors of paint. Those marks were mostly
vertical and the same colors were present on all the trees of this type.
However, the marking pattern was individual to each tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a brief stop we left the trees
and continued our journey towards Hana. We discussed our options before pulling
out onto the road and knew that the smart thing to do (time wise) would be to
turn around and go back to the hotel. But, we were determined to reach our
destination and refused to quit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were many more one lane
bridges to go. At each one we were behind slow trucks and invariably encountered
people blocking traffic standing in the middle of the road. They were tourists
(just like us) and wanted to get a better look at each one of the thousands of
little water falls that decorated the hillside. The problem was that the cascading
rivulets were on every hillside, all the way down the fifty-four miles of road.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The tiny waterfalls were pretty, but
they each looked almost exactly like the one before and the one after. I doubt
that you could pick out one from another in the millions of photos taken of
them. But hey, tourists are like that! That was also still in the time of film
cameras and I can only imagine how much revenue those little trickles of water
engendered for Kodak and other film developers. They were liquid gold!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, the tiny community of Hana
came into view. We had arrived, along with the many other "Hana Trekkers"
that had been in a conga line all day. Anna decided that she was hungry, which
was not unreasonable, given the amount of time since breakfast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was around 3:30 p.m. by then and
as we meandered around the little village of Hana, we came to the realization
that there really wasn't much of a choice for dining. There was a little
convenience store with packaged munchies, a couple of food stands (that were
closed,) and then there was the Hana Hilton. So we opted for the Hilton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Hana Hilton was truly a
beautiful place, located on some very breathtaking real estate, both from the
stand point of view, and cost. The clientele was very exclusive and were most
often flown in by helicopter to their private landing pad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of their guests did sail in on
their yachts, dropped anchor in the private cove, and were then picked up by
Hilton speedboats. This place was a secret hideout for the rich and famous, or
infamous as the case may be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were informed at the desk by a
fellow who acted like he needed a bath after speaking with me, that lunch was
over and dinner would not start "seating" until 5:00 p.m. ... and me
without my Tux! I was not impressed by his attitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we were about to leave a younger,
female “junior desk clerk” (according to her tag), spoke up, (a bit hesitantly
it seemed, probably out of apprehension that her superiors would not approve)
and said, "You can get snacks or maybe a sandwich in the lounge."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Lounge” being typical hotel speak
for the bar. That would fit the bill rather nicely actually, a sandwich was
more what we were after anyway. She asked permission to show us to the lounge
and got a back-handed wave from the senior desk clerk. I apologized to her for
any trouble that being nice to us might bring her. She just smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It took forever to get waited on,
and we got lots of strange looks from the bartender and staff, who finally
broke down and got us some iced teas. We were determined to get something to
eat after waiting all that time. A man and his family of six came in and sat down
without any staff escort. They took one look at the menu and got up and left
again; too pricey for that many folks on one ticket I guessed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a good thing that we were
prepared for “ridiculous” as far as price went, because two turkey sandwiches
on sliced wheat bread (like from the grocery store) and two iced teas, with
NOTHING else, cost over thirty ($30.00) dollars before the tip. It was a rare
privilege, that dining in the Hana Hilton Lounge in 1996 … one that I shall not
repeat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After our “fabulous” lunch, we had
one more destination to see. That was a place called "The Seven Pools,"
which was a little further south along the road past Hana. It was reputed to be
a favorite spot of the Hawaiian Royal family in their glory days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We found the spot and it did indeed
have seven (actually more) pools of water, which were rain and run-off filled
on the upper ends, and tidal on the lower part. There was a bridge over the
largest of the upper pools; actually it was highway 360, the same road we had
been traveling on all afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This bridge was notorious for kids
jumping off of it into the pool some 40 feet or so below. It looked like a
great spot for it, providing the pool was deep enough, but I had no way of
knowing that detail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only policeman that we had seen
all day (on the entire trip) was parked on that bridge. He was hassling the
kids and eyeballing the girls in their bikinis (I guess that's the same
wherever you go.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a sign that read “No
jumping from bridge” but it didn’t seem to stop anyone. Frequently we would see
a group of kids gather in front of the cop to block his view while someone
jumped; impressive team work for a bunch of kids. It was a very steep hike back
up the trail on either side of the bridge to jump again, but the kids kept doing
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It had been raining all day off and
on and there were some pretty impressive waterfalls along the road south of
Hana. Unlike the ones north of town, these were high volume gushers. We were
concerned with a couple of those falls because we could feel the road shaking
beneath us while we were in the car. We read later that a section of the road
we were on collapsed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That road really was single lane (as
in one car width) from a point about three miles south of Hana; to much farther
than we could drive in that rental car. It turned into jeep trail within a mile
after Seven Pools. A friend, who rented a jeep while on vacation four years after
we went, drove that “jeep trail” section of the road around the island. He said
that he would never do that again as it nearly destroyed the underside of the
vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had to start back. I was concerned
with our gasoline situation and the thought of driving that crazy road in the
dark was not creating the mood of lighthearted fun that I had anticipated on
this road trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was pleasantly surprised by how
much the traffic had lightened up on our return trip. It was much easier to see
when someone was approaching the bridges that you were trying to cross. It was
very, very dark on that road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was an unexpected plus to it
being dark; Anna wasn't bothered by the motion of the car at all... it must be
a visual thing, like vertigo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We made much better time going back
to the Kaanapali Shores hotel and pulled in to the parking lot at 9:30 p.m. Our
"couple of hours" road trip to Hana had taken us ten and a half hours.
But, we still had time to visit our room and get to the hotel restaurant for
some yummy cheesecake before they closed at 10:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for the trip to Hana, it was a “been
there, done that” and you can bet your last nickel that we got the T-shirts,
which read (and we understood why): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
Survived the Road to Hana!"</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-19001918735866365992013-04-21T16:04:00.001-07:002013-04-21T16:04:21.203-07:00Fourteen and crazy<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Fourteen
and crazy<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
you think of Florida a couple of the things that come to mind are oranges and tourists.
In 1967 I seemed to get the two of them tangled up in just about everything
that I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was fourteen and constantly on the go, in a place where there were hordes of
people who didn't know you or didn't care who you were. You could get in and
out of trouble so fast that you hardly ever knew your present status. Was I in
trouble or not? Who did you say were you again? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Working
the Tourists</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being
teenagers we were always in need of spending money. Having very little in the
way of marketable skills, it was only natural that a few of us ended up doing
manual labor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An
easy job to get was working for one of the orange groves moving bags and crates
of oranges, grapefruit and lemons. Sometimes we got to work in the sorting
area, and sometimes they sent us out to pick oranges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Having
teenagers as pickers wasn't really a good idea on their part as we were too
slow. The migrant workers who usually picked the oranges were very fast and
they resented our being "in the way." Honestly, they could get more
done without us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
were a couple of the guys who were very bold and preferred to hustle tourists.
They would go to a rival grove (you didn’t burn your job “bridges”) and sit out
front, waiting for one of the pushy tourists to order them to "Fetch me a
bag of them oranges boy, and don't get no rotten ones in it either!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
would "Yes sir" them and go around to the sorting area and snag
(steal) a bag of oranges off of one of the tables and take it out to the car
for the tourist. When they collected the cash for it, they just put it in their
pocket and waited for the next tourist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scoundrels
for sure, but they would make on average fifty to one hundred dollars before
any of the employees got wise. When that happened, and it always did, they
would just go on to the next grove and pull the same gag over again. I couldn’t
do it, the stealing and lying was too much for me to stomach. I preferred to
work for what I got.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
favorite money maker of our scam artists was to set up a table and cash box
(that made them look legitimate) at one of the side gates to the groves. It had
to be one that was near to a fairly well traveled road frequented by tourists
going from attraction to attraction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
were two variations to this scam; the least popular was the five dollar walking
tour of the "World Famous Orange Groves." It worked, just not for too
long. When you've seen one orange tree, you've seen it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
better version was the "All of the oranges you can pick for twenty-five
dollars." We knew (and you probably do too) that you could buy a lot of
oranges, already picked and bagged for that amount of money. We also knew that
if those tourists thought that they were getting a better deal than somebody
else, they would pay double the rate... they were nuts! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes
we would ride through the groves after hours on horseback and pick gunny sacks
full of oranges or my favorites, the Ponderosa lemons. Those beauties were as
big as grapefruit and were less tart than regular lemons. They were also a lot
more closely guarded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
grove had night watchmen with dogs and those guys carried shotguns. I didn't
know why, but that was always my choice of places to go on an after dark raid.
Maybe it was the thrill of possibly getting caught or even shot at. That we
could actually get shot didn't even enter our ignorant teenaged minds. We were
incredibly lucky to have escaped unharmed from those forays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Party <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
there was a big outing planned to a very secluded pond, deep in the middle of a
large grove of oranges. It was impossible to drive to without getting caught by
the grove foreman because he kept padlocks and chains on the gates and checked
them regularly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being
local kids we knew a back way in from a spot where we could park the cars
belonging to the two guys old enough to drive. It was about a half mile walk
from there and you had to go through two fences, but it wasn't bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
went on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. because that would have been when
the grove tourist shops would be closed (or in the process of closing) and all
the employees would have gone home. Theoretically there wouldn't be anybody
around to catch us. There was a lot of luck and expectations in most of what we
did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
group that went on that trip consisted of four boys and four girls, aged from
fourteen (me) to sixteen years old. Our intent, which was stated right up front,
was to go skinny dipping in the pond there. Being the youngest one in the group
I could hardly keep the grin off of my face as the others talked about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All
eight of us agreed to take it all off and swim the length of the pond naked. Then
if anyone wanted to put their bathing suit back on they wouldn't be called
chicken or said to have backed out of a dare. We talked a good story and the
hormones were doing most of the talking. The girls definitely did their share of
stirring it up, saying that the guys would chicken out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was a case of beer in a cooler in the trunk of one of the cars, for afterwards
when we thought that we might really get to "party" with these bold
babes. We definitely had hopes and plans for this evening; the other car's trunk
had sleeping bags in it. The girls knew all about the beer and the sleeping
bags and were talking about it all too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With
high spirits and lots of laughter and giggling, we drove to the parking spot
and stripped down to our bathing suits and sneakers. The oldest boy secured our
clothes inside the trunk of his car, which was the one with the cooler in it. His
plan was to have some cold beer ready to offer the girls when we got back and
were getting dressed... planning, along with timing, being everything in his
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
didn't take long for us to follow the path through the groves and slip through
the fences. We were being the most courteous gentlemen and holding the wire
apart for the girls to go through, on our best behavior and all that. The girls
were doing their best southern belle accents as they thanked us for each polite
gesture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
think that the guys were ten times more nervous as we got closer to the pond,
than the girls were. I'm not sure if that was excitement about seeing the girls
naked, or insecurity about them seeing us in that condition... probably some of
both. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was a multi-sport athlete in excellent condition, but I only weighed one
hundred pounds. I felt like I was a skinny runt compared to the older guys.
They were all taller and heavier than I was, but mentally I ran circles around
them, so it all evened up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
stopped at the edge of the trees and took a good and careful look around the
pond, making sure that NO ONE was around. Someone had left a tractor and
flatbed wagon used for hauling orange crates right next to the end of the pond
closest to where we came out of the trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was decided that the wagon would be a perfect spot to put our clothes. The
trailer was only a couple of feet from the water and chest high with a lip
around it, making a safe, clean, and “no bugs” place to put our bathing suits.
You had to be especially careful of fire ants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
we had all gathered by the trailer and were standing there staring at each
other trying to figure out how to proceed, it was suggested that we should all
strip at once. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the guys said, "But the guys all have their shirts off already and the
girls have two articles of clothing on. The guys would be naked first and the
girls could trick us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
oldest girl and the one who had the most developed body said, "OK girls,
let's show these chickensh--s who has guts and who doesn't! Off with the tops!"
As she said it, she did it. The other three followed her lead and while they
were not as developed they were every bit as beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All
of the guys stood there with our eyes bulging out of our heads and the leader
of the girls said, "Are we going to do this, or is this all you wanted the
whole time?" We all stammered and stuttered, "We're going to do
everything we said" and puffed up like so many bandy roosters. The lead girl
said, "On a count of three, everybody drop 'em, One, Two, Three!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
do you think happened? We dropped those bathing suits and stood there staring
at each other. The boys stared at the girls and tried not to look at the other
boys. The girls weren’t as inhibited and looked at each other and the boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm
afraid that the guys weren't much to look at in that scared and nervous state,
if you know what I mean. The girls looked awesome… the guys looked cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
put our suits up on the trailer to keep the bugs out of them (and have them
where we could grab them if we had to run for it) and all headed for the pond. There
was a lot of nervous looking around, searching in every direction for the sight
of trouble as we got into the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Damn
it was freezing at first, but as the girl I was paired up with came up behind
me and wrapped her arms around my neck and hung onto me it got a lot warmer. In
fact as she got friendlier, I thought that the water was going to start boiling
any minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the other girls who didn't really like the guy she ended up with, said,
"Aren't we supposed to swim the length of the pond? Come on girls, let's
show these ‘little weenies’ who can swim!" Ouch, that smarted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was enjoying what was transpiring with my girl just fine, without all the
swimming. But if one girl said something, it was an all-for-one and one-for-all
situation with them. So, we all took off swimming for the other end. I hadn't realized
how long that pond was; it was easily three times as long as an Olympic Pool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were pretty exhausted by the time we got to the other end and the girls had
indeed left us in their wake. But I must admit, the view was excellent from a
following position!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we all reached the far end and stopped where we could reach the bottom and not
have to tread water, we gathered together in a close circle. That way we could
see each other in the fading light and talk about what to do when we left the
pond. The girls were very much in agreement with having a party, but there was
discussion about where.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
wanted to go to the beach to get away from the mosquito's that would be out
soon. Others wanted to go to another remote spot where we knew that the cops (or
anybody else for that matter) couldn't come up on us without our knowing about
it. I voted for wherever there would be the least mosquitoes. But, since I
wasn’t driving, my vote didn’t carry much weight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
we were tossing the ideas around we heard an engine start up and looked around
us quickly. Once the source of the sound was located our hearts sank lower than
the bottom of that pond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was a migrant worker on the tractor and he was driving it (and the trailer
hooked to it) out a gate towards the equipment barn. All of our clothes were on
that trailer, along with the car keys! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
girls sank down in the water up to their noses and started to get teary-eyed
and say, "What are we going to do now?" The guys were “of course”
much more in control... offering various wise things to the group like,
"Aw Sh-t", and "We are going to die!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
that point one of the girls started to cry (there's always one) which started
the chain reaction of tears among the girls; except for the girl who had
latched on to me. She had a wild look in her eyes and I believed that she really
liked this situation. It got her more excited to be in such "danger” and
she clung to me even harder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
thought about heading for the cars naked, we could possibly get into the car
and hot wire it. But, we still couldn't get into the trunk to get our clothes. Plus,
we would have to drive into town naked; the whole group of us completely bare
butt naked! That idea started a new round of tears from the other girls as they
envisioned the trouble they would get into with their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
just left sending a clothes rescue mission after the tractor and trailer. I
volunteered to go saying that I knew the grounds of that grove the best of any
of us, all the while thinking to myself, “I want my clothes!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
girl who was attached to me (literally at that point) immediately volunteered
to go with me. I was sure that was because of the increased chance of getting
caught; it was really turning this girl on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Truthfully,
I was conflicted between being excited about the girl with me being aroused and
hanging all over me, and fearful that she would do something to get us caught
for the extra “rush” of being busted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
agreed that the rest of the group would wait either in the pond, or at the edge
of the woods on the path to the cars, for us to get back. The other girls
didn't share the enthusiasm of mine for possibly getting caught, they were
whining about what their parents would do if this got out, etc. The guys were
pretty much speechless with fear, thinking about what the girls’ fathers would
do when they found out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lady
Godiva and I took off along the wagon road and while I was trying to be
cautious and not be seen, she was walking right down the middle of the path. It
was almost dark by now and chances of being seen were not great, but she was
fearless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
a short amount of time we came to a closed gate and past that we could see the
wagon and trailer parked next to the equipment shed. I couldn’t see the man who
drove it there anywhere around the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
convinced my wild date to stay low and wait for me to come back while I went
for the clothes. As quietly as I could I slipped inside the compound and went
along the building in the dark shadow next to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stumbling
over unseen things I was almost to the trailer where I could see all of our
stuff, right where we left it. And then I heard it... a low growl coming from
somewhere in the shadows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh
great” I thought, “A dog, and I'm naked.” Three guesses as to where my hands
went instantly. Sure enough a big dog popped out of the shadows, but ran right
past me.... straight to the crazy chick. She had silently followed me and was
now petting the happy mutt like they were old buddies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
quickly grabbed all of our stuff and made sure that I had both sets of keys. As
fast as I could I put my bathing suit and shoes on. There was no way of knowing
if the dog had alerted anyone else and they might appear at any moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
girl didn't want to put her clothes on until the others did, which was fine
with me. I liked the way she looked just like she was. The dog followed us back
down the trail and we made no effort to hide going back and so made much better
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we rejoined the others, the party atmosphere had disappeared. After everyone had
gotten dressed and hiked back to the cars, the girls wanted to go home. The other
guys were of the same opinion, but didn't want to admit it. Too much stress with
their orange juice I guess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was still pretty excited about the "prospects" at that point and it
kind of let the air out of my sails for the rest of them to want to quit. My
girl was still hanging on me and kissed my ear or neck frequently, which drove
me crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
the decision was made final and everyone started getting into cars, the girl
that I was with said that she didn't need a ride... she would just walk back up
to the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
thought to myself, “This girl IS crazy!” Then she followed up with, "It's
my uncle's house... he owns this grove." The world spun for a few seconds
as my life flashed by and I thought that I was going to drop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Right
then and there I knew that it wasn’t her; I was the craziest one. If I had been
caught naked with THIS girl, on THIS property... they would have to strain
alligator sh-t to get enough of me to bury. Her family was the craziest bunch
of violent red-necks in the county and all of her brothers and cousins had
police records.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
changed my mind, I wanted to go home right away too; while I still had unbroken
legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Epilogue:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
did go out with the girl on one date to Pirate’s World after that ill fated
swimming adventure, but her three brothers (one younger, two older) went along
too. It was a lot less fun than you could imagine. I didn’t do that again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">About
a year after the skinny dipping party I had occasion to visit that same grove
and pond with my uncle. We went there to deliver a couple of special locking
sixty gallon barrels that he had traded to the grove foreman for something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
we were standing on the path (exactly where the wagon had been parked during
our swim) an eight foot alligator climbed out of the pond and onto the bank. My
uncle remarked that he must have walked a long way to get into the pond. The
foreman said that he (the alligator) had lived in that pond for at least ten years
and everyone there knew to stay away from him because he was, “cranky.” OK, the
girl WAS crazier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-34564582566092105922013-04-15T19:00:00.001-07:002013-04-15T20:31:58.059-07:00As simple as that<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As simple as that</span></u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Driving a cab wasn't a job that I
had dreamed about as a young boy, or even something that I thought of
"moonlighting" at for extra cash as an adult. It was a job that
seemed full of confrontations and the ping-pong game of “can’t you go any
faster” and waiting for the next fare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sudden lack of funds due to my
involvement in the PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) strike
necessitated my finding employment of some kind to pay the rent and put food on
the table. It wasn't the time to be picky about what you were doing to earn
money, as long as it wasn’t illegal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was still supporting the strike by
picketing during the day from 08:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. so I was only
available to work the swing or midnight shifts. Somehow I ended up working both.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the strike happened, one of our
suddenly unemployed controllers applied to a local cab company and got hired. The
owner of the company was leery of what he was getting into because of what he
had heard on the news. Federal government agents had worked hard at putting out
negative information about us to the media and it had employers scared of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The controller, affectionately known
as “Mad Dog,” (a Marine veteran, father, home owner, and decent guy) proved to
be an intelligent and responsible driver. He always showed up fifteen minutes
early to work and never forgot to do his log sheets at the end of his shift.
The boss was so impressed that he asked if there were any more of "your
kind" that were in need of a job and Mad Dog contacted me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My response was immediate; we needed
money. I quickly went down to the Albuquerque police station and got myself
finger printed, photographed, and duly licensed to drive people around. The
police officers were “unofficially” very supportive of our strike, but had to
be careful what they said due to government pressure. The interaction with the
police was a positive experience and I had not expected it to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Albuquerque, New Mexico was a lovely
city in 1981 when I hired on with the Albuquerque Cab Company. The weather was
good most of the time and the streets were well laid out, making travel
relatively easy to anywhere in the city. You didn’t see any “gridlock” on the
streets like in Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Due to my driving shift of 3:30 p.m.
to 08:00 a.m. (scheduled double shifts) the question most frequently asked by
my friends and family was, “When do you sleep?” “When I can” was the only
answer I could give them. If I got off early from driving I would sleep for
however long I could. Occasionally someone would cover my responsibility as
picketing captain for a couple of hours and I would sleep then. It was hard,
but I had to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To make enough money for us (my
family) to survive I had to drive the cab sixteen hour shifts seven days a week.
My responsibility to my striking brothers and sisters was equally pressing.
There was no room for personal weakness or silly things like being mortally
tired. Fortunately, the military had conditioned me for extended periods of physical
abuse and sleep deprivation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the cab company I was assigned ID
number 28 for radio calls and given the keys to a checker cab that had more
room in it than any car that I had ever seen before. The boss did a walk around
inspection on the vehicle with me showing me what to check and write down when
I signed for a vehicle each day. He really was a nice man and proved to be a
good boss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man who owned the Albuquerque
Cab company was a self-made man from India and expected everyone to work as
hard as he did; at least that's what he wanted. He wasn't ignorant to the ways
of the world though, and counted himself lucky when his drivers showed up for
work and didn't steal from him. His rules were clear and those who broke them
were fired. It was as simple as that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Out of a crew of a dozen drivers,
there were only three who had worked for him more than two years in a row (some
had quit and come back.) Those three had been with him for ten or more years
and were decidedly grumpy towards new drivers. Seniority was everything to them
and having the choice of vehicles (which cab you drove) and schedules went by
continuous length of employment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rest were either gypsies
(independents who owned their cab, but wanted the protection of working for ABQ
Cab) or “revolving door” drivers. A revolving door driver was one who quit one
company to work for another every year or two. They were chronically unhappy
and always came back complaining about the “other guys” they worked for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mad Dog and I were a constant source
of amusement for the professional hack drivers who considered us to be “playing
at” being a cabbie. I guess we were, as we had no intention of making the job
our long term career. We always gave 110% at our job though, whatever it was,
and the boss appreciated us for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One dispatcher, Diane, (there were
three counting the owner’s wife) had been a driver herself. She was shot during
a holdup fifteen years earlier, leaving her partially paralyzed and unable to
do that job. She was the one that I worked with the most and liked the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The story of how she went from being
America’s girl-next-door-cheerleader to the permanently disabled victim of a senseless
crime needs to be told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A short side story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diane had been driving a cab to help
pay for her school expenses at the University of New Mexico. Her main focus of
study was Criminal Justice Communications; she wanted to become a police
department 9-1-1 operator and help people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a bizarre twist of fate, the drug
addict who robbed and shot her was a fired police officer from Arizona. He had
been a young cop from a small town who wanted to move up to the “big time” and transferred
to Phoenix when an opening came about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pressure on “the new guy” to
perform like a veteran under fire and his own weakness of character, lead him to
pills. He took pills to help him be more alert and pills to help him sleep. Those
drugs quickly became not enough and he switched to harder stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soon he was stealing drugs from
evidence and pressuring dealers to supply him. He was found out by other officers
and terminated with charges pending. They didn’t want to trust their lives to a
junkie and a thief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing that he was going to end up
in jail, which would be a death sentence for a police officer, he ran. By the
time he reached Albuquerque he was out of drugs and in need. He had to find
someone to rob and then a dealer that would sell to him, or that he could
overpower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spotting a pretty, young, and petite
woman driving a taxi leaving a fairly deserted bus station he figured that he
had an easy mark. He flagged her down around the corner from the terminal,
where no one would see them. She didn’t have a fare waiting so she stopped for
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Catching her completely off guard
with his easy smile and good looks, he calmly walked up to the driver’s side
window. Looking around for witnesses and then leaning in on the open window
ledge he stuck his gun barrel in her eye socket. With the experience and
knowledge of one who had done many traffic stops, he wrapped her hair around
his hand so she couldn’t hit the gas and get away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He demanded her car keys and for
emphasis, shoved the gun barrel hard enough against her eye to cut her with the
front sight. She turned off the car and handed him the keys. The emboldened man
demanded her cash and she handed over what she had in her cigar box next to her
on the seat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn’t as much as he had hoped
for, which enraged him and he hit her across the face with the pistol cutting
her cheek and breaking her nose. She screamed at him for hurting her and the
man went berserk with rage. He shot her in the left side just below the ribs.
As the bullet passed through her it hit her spine, causing bone fragments to
cut into her spinal nerve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A janitor taking the trash out heard
the shot and called the police. Fortunately they had a car in the immediate
area and responded quickly. Within a few minutes of being shot she was in a
hospital being worked on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The shooter realizing that cops were
all over the area ran into the bus station, hiding in the bathroom. He was
spotted going in with blood on his clothes by the same janitor who had called
the cops. The janitor called it in and they were soon there to question him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He didn’t have the gun (it was found
years later on the roof of the bus station) and had gotten rid of his bloody shirt
and washed up. He denied everything and being a former cop himself, he knew how
to play the game. They had little but gut feelings to go on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had no evidence, no witness
besides the unavailable one in ICU at the hospital, and no way to prove what they
were sure was true. The only suspect they had was allowed to bail out (using
the very money he had taken from the cab driver.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The police officers cautioned him to
stay in Albuquerque and had someone following him twenty-four hours a day. They
had hoped that he would lead them to his weapon, or that the victim would soon
be able to look at his photo and identify him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the bus station toilet plugged
up and maintenance recovered a ripped apart blood stained shirt from it, they
went forward with charges. The judge didn’t require more bail citing the
continuous police tail on the man already as being sufficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The evil former policeman found
himself a drug dealer to rob and overdosed on nearly pure heroin (and died)
while out on bail awaiting the trial for shooting the cab driver. Because there
was no longer a defendant the case was dropped, leaving Diane with no judgment
or settlement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That caused all kinds of problems
with the insurance claim. The insurance company tried their best to not pay
anything at all. The owner of ABQ Cab got fed up with them and paid for her
medical bills himself. He then sicced his lawyers on the insurance company for
repayment, which he got, but it took years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On with the story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My first day on the job I was sent out
onto the street solo, with no training other than, “If you have a fare in the
cab, run the meter. When you get where they want to go, charge them what it
says on the meter." It was supposed to be as simple as that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had hoped that I knew the streets
of Albuquerque as well as I thought I did when the boss was interviewing me. Doubts
were creeping in and it began to feel a lot more complicated. The city grew by
leaps and bounds in my mind, as I waited for my first fare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The radio crackled and the
dispatcher called, "Number 28 are you available?" I almost snatched the microphone cable out of
the radio in my haste to answer her. I simply said, "Affirmative."
What else could I say; I was sitting there doing nothing, waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She sent me to the airport to pick up
a fare going to UNM. I said, "I'll be there in five" and she
acknowledged. As I pulled out of where I had been parked I hoped that I hadn’t
estimated my time wrong. I also worried about if I would know how to get to
wherever on the university campus the fare wanted to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such were the thoughts, doubts, and
fears that worked through my mind as I drove to my first ever customer as a cab
driver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was brand new to the business or I
would have known better than to give an estimated time over the radio that was
accurate. As I pulled up to the curb at the airport baggage claim area, a
Yellow Cab was pulling away with my fare. The driver even smiled and waved at
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yellow Cab drivers monitored our radio
frequency and would "jump" (steal) our calls if they thought that
they could beat us there... which he did. I just sat there with a stupid look
on my face, watching my first fare drive away. I did have some choice words for
the parentage and behavior of my now, foe; but I kept them quietly inside of my
cab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But, that's life in the fast lane I
figured, so I called in to dispatch and informed her of what had transpired.
She said to just hang out there by baggage claim until they ran me off. We (cabs)
weren't supposed to be in that area until called for, but I didn't know that
yet, truly making ignorance blissful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was only a minute or so until a gentleman
opened the passenger side door and asked if I was available. I happily said
yes, and before I could jump out and help with the bags, they were inside and
ready to go. That was more like it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of the two gentlemen who entered my
cab one man looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. Not until the other guy
called him "Candy" and then it hit me, my first fare was Candy Maldonado,
the baseball player! The “Candyman” was about to become a Los Angeles Dodger
and a big deal, but that night he was just another nice guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naturally I was thrilled to see such
a rising star but I didn't go nuts on him and ask for an autograph or anything. I paid attention to my job and quickly and
safely navigated through the city to the address they gave me. They must have
liked what I did because they gave me a twenty dollar tip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was fired up from that great
experience. The idea that I would be able to make some money from the tips, if
not the minimum wage pay, was bouncing around my impoverished mind. There were
visions of actually surviving financially until we went back to work (as
controllers) bouncing around before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the reality of driving all night
set in and the usual tips proved to be a dollar, or the change that it took to
round up to the next dollar, my euphoria wore off. I realized that it was going
to be rare to get a tip like that first one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the end of that sixteen hour shift
I had just over thirty dollars in tip money. Right then I was glad that there
was a $3.00 an hour salary involved too or I could not have done it. It took me
sixteen hours (salary) to earn what I was used to getting in just under five
hours. The tip money helped make up the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My second night I was on my own from
the time I clocked in (no instructions or pep talk), but I felt more confident
about handling whatever came up. I was determined not to let those suckers from
Yellow Cab steal any more of my fares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I pulled out onto the street the
dispatcher sent me out to the west on Central to standby. I didn’t have to wait
long at all before I got a call to pick up two passengers at the bus station.
Never having been to the Greyhound station I wasn’t sure how best to approach
the passenger loading area and said so to my dispatcher, who quickly directed
me around and into the terminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I entered the area where cars
were allowed (versus buses only) my fares were right there on the curb waiting;
two teenage boys with backpacks, as described. Two white kids with brown hair
and big grins on their faces who seemed nice enough. They were very chatty when
they first got in the car, but got quiet as we neared their destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took them to an apartment building
in an older section of town which wasn’t all that far from the bus station.
When I stopped the car and turned around to tell them how much it would be,
they bolted out the doors and ran in opposite directions. I jumped out and
yelled at them, but they were more experienced at this game than I was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a great way to start my shift;
in the hole. The driver was responsible for paying the meter charge, whether he
collects the money or not. I called it in and got a, "Tough Break 28,"
from the dispatcher. “Yeah, Right” I thought. My attitude was certainly dark
and getting worse. I wanted to rip somebody’s head off about then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My next assignment was to go to the
airport “bullpen” or waiting area for cabs. It was a vacant gravel covered lot
close to the airport entrance road with room enough for several cabs. That lot
was constantly under a territorial battle between ABQ Cab and Yellow Cab for
the prime spots closest to the narrow driveway (entry/exit point.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The calls were sporadic as the
flights came and went. The Yellow Cab drivers were playing “daisy-chain-drive-by”
where several of their taxis would drive around the loop into the baggage claim
area. They would delay there until chased off by airport security. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another of their cabs would be in
the entry drive creeping along as slowly as possible until the security guy
left and then they would park at baggage claim. That made it highly likely that
if someone needed a taxi, they would be the closest. Eventually security caught
on and chased them all off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If Diane was on duty she would watch
the flight schedule for known producers (needing transportation) such as
international inbounds from Mexico. Sometimes she would then put out a bogus
call for the Hyatt saying that it was for “a man in a hurry.” We knew that
ruse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every driver knew that a man in a
hurry would tip well if you got them to wherever they were going in time. The
Yellow Cab guys would all go screaming out of the airport trying to beat us
there. Meanwhile, our cabs were lined up for the arriving flight and got all of
the fares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had been taking my turns and had made
about six dollars in tips when I was called to go to a restaurant on east
Central Avenue to pick up a fare going to the hotel in Old Town. I left the
airport and made good time, wondering the whole way why one of the cabs on the
east side didn’t get this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I drove along Central Avenue
looking for the restaurant entrance, I passed driver #15 waiting on the side of
the road with a very flat left front tire. That explained why I was called and
I was glad that it wasn’t me stuck there making zero tips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My fare looked like a Midwestern
traveling salesman with a bad haircut and cheap plaid suit. I thought it funny
that he was waiting at the opposite end of the restaurant building from where
the entrance door was located. There was a strip club right next to the
restaurant on that side, which is probably where he really was, but I didn’t
care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I dropped him off at the hotel
in Old Town the fare was ten dollars. He handed me two fives and two ones and
told me to keep the change as he faded into the crowd of tourists. Briefly, I
had a two dollar tip… until I realized that the fives between the ones was
actually one bill folded over. The smiling creep had shorted me three dollars
and I had thanked him for doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along about 9:00 p.m. the dispatcher
called for me again with the usual “Number 28 are you available?” I held my
sarcastic response and just answered “Affirmative.” It wasn’t the dispatcher’s
fault that I was a rookie cabbie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I was dispatched to a residence for a trip to
the hospital. “This can't be good” I thought as I drove “there are no doctor appointments
at this time of night. Why didn't they call an ambulance?” The streets were
clear of traffic and the route was easy so I was there in no time at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I pulled up to the address a
woman and three kids came out right away. Fearing the worst I was out of my cab
and around to them in a flash, but I didn't see any injuries. I started looking
around quickly for an irate husband or boyfriend, fearing that I had gotten
into the middle of a domestic squabble and violence was coming my way, but that
wasn't it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We got everyone inside and I took
off for the hospital, driving the speed limit and obeying all of the traffic
lights and stop signs. I had yet to see any reason for urgency so I asked the
woman if everything was all right and she said, "No stupid, or I wouldn't
have called for a Fxxking cab!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just as soon as those words exited
her mouth I hit the brakes and screeched the car to a stop. I was not
interested in being abused when I was trying to help and told her so in no
uncertain terms. I probably would have been fired had the boss heard what I
said, but I was already angry from the earlier problems so it didn’t take a lot
to set me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She backed off on the attitude
instantly and said that the twelve year old boy had "accidentally"
consumed some perfume and she was worried about poisoning. “OK, I can go with
that” I thought, “It sounds pretty dumb even for a twelve year old boy, but not
everyone is a genius.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I radioed in that I had a possible
poisoning and asked the dispatcher to alert the Emergency Room at the hospital
that I was inbound with a twelve year old male who had consumed perfume. She
said, "Ah ha, OK. I'll call them." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That kid had a wise guy look about
him and kept grinning at me in the mirror. I knew that something wasn't right
with that story. And then the truth came out... all over the back of the front
seat, the rear floorboard, and the rear seat. He vomited just about everywhere
in the rear section of that cab. The two younger kids were climbing up into the
rear window to get away from the mess that their brother was making, while his
mother just sat there in it; she had nowhere to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before you get to feeling too sorry
for this kid, let me clue you in on an observation that came to discerning
nostrils immediately... that mess didn't smell like anything other than BEER!
There is nothing like getting sick to bring the truth out. The boy confessed his
“evil” deeds to his mother who had him by the hair, holding onto his head while
he redecorated my cab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He had stolen his dad's warm beer
out of a locked wooden crate in the garage and he and a friend had sucked it
all down as fast as they could. Getting too smart for their own good, they then
wiped some perfume on their faces to cover the smell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not convinced that the perfume bath
would work well enough, the friend suggested that they take a little drink of
the perfume so that their breath wouldn't smell like the illicit brew. So they both
did that, drinking a small bottle of scent between them. It must have seemed
like a good idea at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman asked me to turn around
and take them back home at that point, but I asked her to wait a minute and
contacted dispatch to ask if she had gotten through to the ER. The answer came
back in the affirmative and she stated that they were standing by. I asked her
to call them back and then stay on the line to relay for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When that was set up I informed the
ER crew what had transpired and asked them for guidance. They said to bring him
in and they would check him over, some perfumes have chemicals that will damage
the stomach, especially when combined with alcohol. I looked at the mother and
she nodded her agreement, so I advised my dispatcher and completed the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I unloaded that poor woman I
couldn't help but feel sorry for her; she looked awful and smelled worse. It
took both of us to get the younger kids out of the back window, they were
afraid to get the "yucky stuff" on them. You really couldn’t blame
them for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The meter read $16.35 and the woman
gave me a twenty and said to keep the change. She had an embarrassed look on
her face as she surveyed the mess and started to say more, but I just held up
my hands and shook my head. The poor lady just nodded and turned to enter the
hospital with her three children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I said, "Good Luck!" which
I meant for her, not the twelve year old knucklehead. She kept on walking but
replied, "He's going to need it when his father gets home and finds out
about his Antique Beer Collection." Maybe justice would get served after
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Too bad I can’t have the kid clean
my cab” I thought as I drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I spent the tip money she gave me,
in the car wash cleaning the car as best I could. There were very few calls
coming in that night and none for me. The dispatcher had me move to another
location to wait every couple of hours and I drove the rest of the shift with
my head hanging out of the window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the dispatcher called me to
“bring it in” at 3:30 a.m. my thoughts truly were sympathetic, “I pity the day
shift driver who draws this cab and has to drive it in the heat.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was no reason to worry, it
wasn't a new thing to the garage guys and they had a cleaner that deodorized
really well. They made it all as good as new again by starting time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe it was just as simple as that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-82749567234682048232013-04-07T12:59:00.001-07:002015-01-19T19:58:33.447-08:00Things not spoken of<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life is not always full of unicorns and rainbows, there are also the things not spoken of, that are part of what has to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I was
young boy I made friends with elderly neighbors of my grandparents, aunts &
uncles, and cousins. I say it that way because they all lived on the same
street in Hollywood, Florida. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The couple
was older than my grandparents (who were born in 1900 & 1915) and had a
grown son who was about thirty-five. The son, David, was a giant of a man (it
seemed so to a small boy) with the mind of a child. I never knew the reason for
his mental deficiency as such things were not talked about in those days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">David and I
got along very well, in fact much better than he did with my younger cousins
who were his close neighbors (I lived a mile away) and teased him sometimes.
They didn’t see his problems as being beyond his control. Nor did they
comprehend the danger of angering a man who was 6’3” and over 200 lbs and
didn’t have the capacity to control himself. They were just children too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I would guess
that David had a mental age of between four or six, but also had to wear a
“diaper” (such things were very unusual in the early 1960s) under his pants because
he sometimes had accidents. He was incredibly strong and often picked his
average size parents up in his arms when he got excited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All three of
the members of this family were born in Germany, David in 1925 and his parents
before 1890. The couple had waited until after Henrik (David’s father) had
completed University and Graduate School to marry and then until his position
was secure with the company he worked for until they had a child (in their
middle thirties.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They left
their native country in 1938 as Hitler’s influence began to cause them to fear
for the safety of their special needs child. There was also fear of involuntary
military conscription (even at his age) due to Mr. Klaus having an advanced
degree in mechanical engineering. So, they sold everything they had and sailed
for America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Arriving in
New York City with a promise of employment (from a friend of a friend) they ran
into strong anti-German sentiment at the firm he was supposed to join, and they
were made to feel very unwelcome. Grace (David’s mother) spoke very little
English and the other wives shunned her and their son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A neighbor
(also a German immigrant) in the apartment building they were living in told
them of a company in Hollywood, Florida that was hiring machinists. Henrik said
that it was better to be welcome and employed as a machinist than spit on as an
engineer. Within a week the two families took the train to Florida.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mr. Klaus
worked as a machinist and then manager for the same firm for thirty years,
retiring right before Christmas in 1968. During World War II they manufactured
precision metal parts for military hardware from aircraft to tanks. After the
war they switched to mainly heavy equipment parts but also made something for
space rockets (like the Saturn V.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By the time
that I met the family, Grace and David had learned to speak English and had
almost no perceptible accent remaining. Henrik had spoken English since he was
a school boy and came from an educated multi-lingual family. He did have an
accent that was interesting, but not confusing. You could easily understand
everything that he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When they
spoke to each other they spoke in German so that David would retain his native
language, but switched to English whenever anyone else was present. I told them
that I didn’t mind if they spoke German to each other as long as they let me
know if I was supposed to know something. They smiled a lot and laughed at what
I had said to them. I didn’t really know why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grace always
spoke to and of Henrik as “Herr Klaus” (or Mr. Klaus if others were present)
and waited on him as women did in that time and generation. He always treated
her with respect and love and opened doors and held chairs for her, even at
their own dining room table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Henrik always
wore a vest and tie from the time he got up, until he went to bed at night. If
he left his property he had on a suit coat and hat and carried an umbrella that
doubled as a walking stick (cane.) He was a slender man, about 5’ 8” tall, had
silvery white hair and what was called a “Van Dyke” beard in those days. There
was an air of class and dignity about the man that others could only hope to
emulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1964 (it
was after the Kennedy assassination) David had gotten a bit more belligerent
when he wanted to do something and his mother had said no. He would protest
loudly and throw a temper tantrum like children do; only this child was a big
and very strong man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I went to
their house one day to pick kumquats from their tree and found Grace sitting on
the back patio crying. Henrik was at work and David was supposed to be taking a
nap (yes even at 39 years old) but he had gone out of the front door in
defiance of his mother’s orders and was walking up and down the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The old woman
was very distraught and even though I was only a boy, she confided that she was
worried about not being able to take care of her son for much longer. I wasn’t
sure just what “putting him in an institution” meant, but it didn’t sound good
to me. She pulled herself together and smiled and told me that the kumquats
were ripe and tasty and that I could pick as many as I wanted. I think she
really just wanted to change the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">During a
birthday celebration for me in the end of June, my youngest cousin ran around
to the back of my uncle’s house where we were all gathered in lawn chairs
yelling that David had thrown his mother down the steps. The entire family,
except for my great grandmother who walked with crutches, jumped up and ran to
help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">David was
beside himself with frustration at what had happened. Everyone seemed to be
afraid of him because he was yelling and waving his arms but I knew that he was
just upset and unsure of what to do. I had seen him like that before. My father
told me to stay away from him, but I took his hand anyway and he calmed down
and then started to cry. It was a bizarre sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grace was
conscious and told us from her still prone position on the ground that David
had “bumped” her and she fell down the steps. We were pretty sure that her leg
was broken and I was sent inside to get the telephone number for Mr. Klaus at
work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I remember
asking if they wanted me to just call him while I was inside and got slapped on
the back of my head for asking. My dad was already angry at me for disobeying
the order to stay away from David and said, “Just do what you are told for
once!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">David and I
went inside to get the number and I wrote it down on a piece of paper while
sitting at the telephone desk between the dining room and kitchen. On the desk
was a piece of paper from the South Florida State Mental Hospital. I wasn’t
sure but I thought that might be an “institution.” We know it was now of
course, but then you didn’t speak of such places, especially around children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">David was
calm again by then so I asked him what had happened. The big man said in a
little voice that “Mama said that I couldn’t go outside, but I wanted to go
outside.” “So what did you do?” I asked him quietly, looking over my shoulder
at the front door to make sure that no one else was in the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The huge man
made a shoving gesture with both arms while saying “Yes Mama!” and then hung
his head saying, “Mama fell down and cried.” I made the decision in my newly
eleven year old mind right then that I was not going to volunteer that
information to those outside. I was sure that they would tie David up and drag
him off immediately to that “institution.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Henrik
arrived home in a few minutes and away they went to Hollywood Memorial
Hospital. David rode along and actually carried his mother into the Emergency
Room and then back to the car once all of the medical care was completed. Grace
now had a new cast and some pain medication, along with a broken heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Women from
their church were already bringing food over by the time they got home. Once
Henrik got Grace situated in her bed, with David assigned to sit by her bed in
case she needed him to get her something, he came looking for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Henrik took
me aside and asked me what David had done really, because he knew that I had
been with him the whole time since the accident and now the “boy” wouldn’t
talk. I had told David not say anything about what he had done, that was true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As we walked
back to their house I explained to the very kind old man what his son had done.
He broke down and cried for just a few minutes, which rattled me to the bones.
I had no idea what this meant for their lives but I cried too, because Henrik
was so sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A few days
later my grandmother sat with Grace while Henrik and David took a ride to visit
“the nice place.” That nice place was the South Florida State Mental Hospital
and Henrik was checking it out in person. He took David with him to be sure
that he didn’t hurt anyone while he was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
grandmother said that when they came home again David told her that the nice
place smelled like “the medicine hanging on the back of the bathroom door.”
Many of you may be familiar with that rubber bag and hose arrangement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His was just
a statement of fact and not a social comment, but the story was told forever
more between the women of that neighborhood and spread by those who overheard
their whispers. The hospital smelled like either an enema or a douche,
depending upon who told the story. It was known as the “_____ (fill in your
choice) bag hotel” from then on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I went
there in 1969 (See “Getting Inside the Bin”) and experienced the place for
myself I decided that I would cast my vote for “enema.” It certainly was no
“Summer’s Eve!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the
Saturday after that visit, David hit his father in the face with a dinner plate
during a tantrum at the table and knocked him out. He had broken his cheekbone
and Henrik’s left eye was swollen closed and turned purple. That sealed his
fate and arrangements were made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After church
on Sunday, a panel truck (like a van) from the hospital came and they led a heavily
sedated, but still mobile David out to the truck and strapped him into the
seat. I have never seen a more defeated looking couple than those two wonderful
old people on that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They waited
the requested week before they went to visit their son and when they arrived
David went wild, throwing an orderly across a table and against a wall. A
doctor had to give Grace a sedative and they helped Henrik get her back into
the car. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Henrik tried
to visit David several times after that, but Grace never went back. I don’t
believe that she ever smiled again after that day. The doctors had to increase
the dosage of medication that David was on just to control him. He had badly
hurt the orderly on the first visit and had hurt another patient since that
visit. At the doctor’s request Henrik quit going to the hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They had no
choice in what had to be done, David would have seriously hurt, or even killed
one of them (or someone else) if he had continued to live at home. Henrik
continued to dress, act, and work exactly as he had always done, but the smile
was gone from him too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grace’s
broken leg healed but still bothered her a lot, causing her to need to use a
cane to walk for the rest of her days. She was soon showing some form of
dementia (probably Alzheimer’s) and didn’t remember what happened to David. I
suppose if it were ever a good thing to have dementia, this would have been it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Henrik
retired and spent his time taking care of Grace and puttering around in his
super organized and spotless shop. The last time I saw him he sharpened a
German World War I bayonet with a saw back (he did the saw part too) for me. I
still have that bayonet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Their
personal dilemma taught me that even when you do the right thing, it can still
feel wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grace lived
to be 89 and five years later Henrik went at age 94, both passing in their
sleep at home in their own beds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">David died in
the hospital from a brain aneurysm fifteen years after being admitted. I did
not try to see him when I went there on a psychology class trip. I was afraid
of what would happen if he recognized me. I did not want to cause him more
suffering and pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-26957776302875125392013-04-04T22:48:00.000-07:002013-04-04T22:52:14.938-07:00Avoiding a Greek Tragedy<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avoiding a Greek Tragedy</span></u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1982 I was in the United States Navy and stationed
aboard the U.S.S. America CV-66, home ported in Norfolk, VA. Being stationed on
the east coast of the USA, the usual six month deployment involved sailing the
Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, a trip through the Suez Canal, and the
Indian Ocean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This story is about just a tiny fraction of that trip, a
liberty call (port visit) in the ancient land of Greece. Due to my relatively
advanced years (being twenty-nine to the average sailor’s nineteen) I had a
completely different expectation of what to do and see in Greece. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was thrilled by the opportunity to see the city of
Piraeus of “Never on Sunday” fame, then move on to the fabled city of
Athens, of which I had read so much. To be able to stand on the Acropolis and
see the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, and below the Acropolis, the
theater of Herod Atticus, was like being able to live the books I had read. To
the others from my ship, it was all about ouzo and hookers, if they could find
some.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The flight operations immediately
prior to our port call were a stressful mess of airspace restrictions and
peacock demonstrations by both the Greek and the Turkish military forces. I had
to invent methods to stack and hold aircraft so that I could keep them close
enough to not run out of fuel, yet not violate the imposed (and exaggerated)
foreign no-fly zones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My name for the spot, “the Aegean
Triangle” became the standard and even appeared on briefing maps (although I
saw no monetary gain from my creativity.) I heard that it was a beautiful
location, but I never got to see anything but a radar screen for the entire
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say that my liberty expectations
were high would have been an understatement. My enthusiasm had spread to other
members of our group, although I had a sneaking suspicion that bottles of ouzo
danced in their dreams... not Melina. That was OK with me, they could have all
the ouzo that their little hearts desired; I didn't want any of it. I would be
happy to settle for the antiquity of the port city and Athens. I was going to
get to see the Parthenon with my own eyeballs, and maybe even touch it, if that
was permissible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could hardly stand the wait to
board the liberty boats. It took more than an hour of standing in line, and we
were almost at the front (of the line) when we started. I could not for the
life of me, figure out what was taking them so long. The boats had been in the
water for hours already, so it wasn't that. They kept letting the officers go
ahead of us (normal practice) and they seemed to be able to get on a boat and
leave right away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally the line started moving and
we got onto a liberty boat, but only half of the normal load was allowed to
board, usually a sign of rough water. When I looked out across the harbor from
the top of the ladder, it was smooth, no waves, not even a ripple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were on our way at last, so the
reason for the delay didn't matter anymore... or so I thought at the time. The
fact that it wasn’t raining (as had been forecast) was a happy bonus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we neared the beautiful port city
of Pireus, I could make out more and more people around the docks. “How cool” I
thought, “the people were turning out to welcome us. What a great place this
was going to be.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey, wait a minute, isn't that a hammer
and sickle on that sign?” I said to the group in general as we neared land. We
all started looking and spotted another one, and then more as we got closer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boat driver broke out his
binoculars and looked the situation over and said, "Guys, them signs say
Americans Go Home and Death to Americans, with Greek Communist Party logos all
over them.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all said in unison, "Get us
out of here" as the crowd pushed forward to the point that a few of them
went into the water, pushed by the masses behind them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boatswain’s mate put the helm
hard over and we took off across the harbor for the other side, where there
wasn't any crowd. He docked without incident and we could still see the crowd
gathered on the main landing shaking their signs and waiting for the next boat.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That little landing that he took us
to was where the officer’s all came ashore and they were nowhere to be seen.
Usually there were a few (officers) waiting for their friends or wanting to go
back to the ship but it was a ghost town all around that dock. There weren’t
even any local residents in sight. The absence of people did nothing to ease
the feeling that trouble was stalking us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The radio in that liberty boat was
inoperative for some reason so we couldn’t call back to the ship. To expedite
things those still going ashore (most of us) got out quickly, while the
remaining few who were fearful of trouble and wanted to go back out to the
ship, eased aside (or kept their seats if they were out of the way.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We shoved the boat off and the boatswain
turned it towards home and kicked it hard (accelerated quickly.) He needed to
get word to the duty officer aboard ship about the impending danger before
someone got hurt by the mob at the primary landing site. They appeared to be
worked up into a frenzy and ready to attack without provocation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I told the group (I was the senior
person present) that I felt it best to get out of Pireus as soon as possible,
to which they all agreed and started trying to hail a taxi. It wasn't going to
be that easy we were finding out. Any cars that came by, taxi or otherwise,
sped off at first sight of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I asked one of the guys to give me a
cigarette and he said, "I didn't know that you smoked cigarettes"
while reaching into his pocket for his pack of smokes. "I don't,” I said,
“but I do speak, trade." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Upon receiving the cigarette I
walked over to a slender young man (wearing what looked like a waiter’s
uniform) waiting at a marked bus stop, to see what I could learn. After
conversing with the gent for a few minutes, I returned to my friends armed with
new information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The group of angry people on the
main landing area was indeed the Greek Communist Party and there were over ten
thousand members in attendance at this rally. They were armed with instructions
to do harm to any and all American "dogs" that they could find. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The smoke that we could see behind
the mob was coming from the burning overturned taxis that didn't obey the
"party's directives" fast enough. Those directives were to not pick
up Americans and to get out of Pireus until the American ships departed a few
days from then. Those that argued, or didn't leave quickly enough, became
examples for the others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That information certainly removed
taxis from the escape equation and we were aware that it would only be a matter
of time before renewed interest in our whereabouts caused some of the mob to
come looking for us. Without liberty boats coming in the organizers would have
to do something to keep the emotions high and the crowd stirred up. We would be
that impetus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Walking out of the area was do-able,
but would not be fast enough to put the kind of distance between them and us
that we needed. There was no liberty boat inbound that we could see (and we had
a clear view all the way to the ship) so even if we had wanted to there was no
getting out by sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just as we thought that we were
going to have to choose between running and swimming, a bus with
"Athens" on the destination placard rounded the corner. I was already
moving towards it when it stopped at the bus stop where the young gent I had
spoken to had been just moments before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The young man who had waited so
patiently for the bus was no longer there, which made us all look around for
where he went. One of the guys stepped up to the bus door and asked, "How
much to Athens?" The driver replying in English said, "I don't speak
English." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was very plain to see that the
poor man was scared, with sweat pouring down his reddened face and his eyes
pleading for understanding. He did show great courage by waiting with his
vehicle’s door open to us while we hesitated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After explaining my plan
"B" to the others, I approached the driver and tried speaking to him
in Spanish. He cheerfully responded to that language and told me that the party
had spies everywhere and if he spoke English with anyone at all (the man
visibly shuddered) well, he didn't want to think about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our group quickly boarded with our
bags and I cautioned them all to not say anything in English until we were
clear of the protesters. The locals on the bus sat in their seats like stone
people, staring straight ahead and behaving as if we did not exist. We knew
that they were also very afraid of what might happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bus followed the road around the
harbor and I got very concerned with our direction of travel, as it took us
right to the angry mob. I moved up right behind the driver and whispered in
English where only he could hear, "You aren't doing something that we will
both regret are you?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The look on his face told me that he
understood my meaning, and he said, "No Sir, NO. The road to Athens lies
there” and pointed to an intersection just before the crowd's edge. He said,
"Please Sir, make your friends to be small... that they are not seen and
we all die." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I turned back to the others all
of the American eyes were focused on me. I motioned to the guys to get down and
they did it without noise or question. There were definite benefits to being
trained military personnel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other folks on the bus remained
as they had been. As they sat rigidly upright in their seats with their eyes
staring straight ahead, not a sound came from any of them. It did occur to me
that several of those people were old enough to have experienced WWII and I
hoped that we weren’t causing them flashbacks and renewed distress (PTSD.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we passed the intersection, I saw
the young man that I traded the cigarette to for information. He was obviously working
the other side of the street this time, talking fast and pointing emphatically
as he spoke, in the direction that we had just come from. The little weasel was
most assuredly selling us out to look good to the Party. He did have to live
there and try to stay alive after all, so you couldn’t hate him too much. Well,
maybe we could. No one likes to be sold out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We got by the intersection and the
road turned towards Athens. When we got to the very next bus stop, all of the
locals (to the last person) got off the bus. They all wished us good luck, in
English, as they got off of the bus and walked away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I went up to the driver with my hat
in my hand and told him in English that he had done a very brave thing by helping
us get away from that mob and if he wanted us to, we would get off of his bus and
find another way to Athens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I had hoped, hearing that made
his chest swell up and he said that he "Had to get us safely to
Athens." Those Greek men were worse than the Italians when it came to
Machismo. I almost felt sorry for playing him that way... almost. I had no idea
how else we would get to Athens or anywhere else for that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bus drove on with the driver
singing a Greek song for us that we all nodded and smiled our way through, none
of us understanding any of it. The driver was happy to have done a brave deed,
but did caution us to stay away from the bus windows as much as possible. He
didn’t want to get caught by traveling communist party members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We arrived in Athens with no further
incident and checked into “The Grand Hotel,” right on the main plaza of town. As
I looked out my hotel room window, I could see it; The Parthenon! But actually
going there would have to wait for one more night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It had gotten dark and the Bell
Captain advised us urgently that it would not be safe for us to be on the
streets with all of the Party activity going on. The headquarters of the
Communist Party for all of Greece was located across the square and people came
and went from there twenty-four hours a day. We did discuss whether we should
stay there or leave the city at first light to avoid causing some kind of
international incident, but those were sailors and they loved trouble, so we
stayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We ordered room service and watched
TV in Greek; every show on that TV had at least one girl without her top on...
which made us all wonder if we could get them to put Greek shows on our cable
at home. There was also a lesson learned about deceitful practices perpetrated
by hotel telephone operators. Know your connecting rates and all fees before
you place a call from a Greek hotel. I ended up with a bill for $170.00 for a
three minute call from Greece when I got home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The following day we went out for
breakfast at a recommended nearby international café where the food was good
and reasonably priced. Then we walked over to the Parthenon, which was even
more inspiring in person. I would not describe it as like the Sistine Chapel
kind of eye-candy “wow,” but rather as an enduring kind of awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It had stood for all this time,
enduring weather, wars and political changes and was still the unchanged masterful
piece of Architecture that it was. You could not fail to be impressed as you
walked up the road to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
favorite feature of the whole complex was the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, which
was a theater (built by the Romans in 161 AD) located off to one side of, and down
the hill from, the Parthenon itself. It was carved out of the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> hillside, right down into a bowl shape that created a
natural acoustical amphitheater. A whisper could be heard plainly, everywhere
in the bowl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The features of the theater were
carved out of stone too. It even had stone seats and a stone stage. A lot of beautiful
marble tile had been used originally and was replaced during the repairs made
in the 1950s. When it was built it had a cedar roof that had no visible
supports to block the view of the audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Historical entries claim that the acoustics
were so good that a single instrument being played would fill the building (which
sat 5,000 people) with sound. It was incredible and unlike anything that I had
ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a
local theater company that regularly performed Greek tragedies on that stage.
Once a month they would do a Shakespearean tragedy, just because it was so awesomely
cool to perform there. All of those plays were free to attend. Unfortunately
there were no plays being performed the days we were there, or I would have gone
and damn the Communist Party!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The following
day several members (including me) of our party were signed up for a tour out
into the countryside, if the upset </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">protesters</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> didn’t cause it to get cancelled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">OPA!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the least expensive ways to see a lot of a country
and experience some of the culture was through organized tours sponsored by the
ship's Morale & Welfare department. They made group purchases and arranged
everything way ahead of our arrival so really good deals were able to be made.
There was no way an individual could get the same price breaks, which I had learned
the hard way in a previous port.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The tour that I purchased was to the Treasury of Atreus, also
known as the Tomb of Clytemnestra. This remained the largest beehive shaped
tomb for over one thousand years after its construction in 1250 BC (until a
larger one was built elsewhere.) It was quite a long bus ride out there and
back, as we had to go to Panagitsa Hill in Mycenae which was a long way from
Athens, especially given the conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The most difficult “condition” was of course, that the
Greek Communist Party was extremely active and had thousands of members well
connected and willing to mobilize at a moment’s notice. They also hated Americans
with a passion for reasons that I did not know. That disturbing dislike of our
group could have ended our trip in an ugly way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our tour guide was a tiny lady named Delphina, who was in
her thirties, maybe 4’ 10” and eighty pounds soaking wet. She was elegant, well
mannered, impeccably dressed, and spoke multiple languages. Delphina also had
an MBA from Harvard Business School. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The diminutive woman had been married right out of high
school and was widowed after just a few years. She worked and went to
University in Athens until she had saved enough money to achieve her dream. All
of her teachers had said that the best business schools were in America and if
you wanted to be the best, you had to go there to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Armed with her savings and an intern job arranged by a
friendly professor, she had gone to the US in order to go to what she felt was the
best business school; Harvard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Upon completing her MBA she returned to Greece (as was
always her plan) to give the benefit of her degree and training to her country.
The communists didn’t see it that way and labeled her a traitor for going to
America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She had lost her job in Athens when the rallies and
rioting started because her company was afraid their building would be burned
because she worked there. Her name was on the “enemies of the party” list
circulated to all business owners and managers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delphina was quickly hired by the tour company the navy
had contracted with due to her language abilities and detailed knowledge of the
country. They made their money from tourism and they loved American dollars
even more than Greek drachmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We loved Delphina; she understood American slang and was
unruffled if an occasional cussword slipped as the guys talked. If only the
communist guys would leave us alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fortunately for us she had many relatives and friends in
the area we toured, as we actually played hide and seek with several vehicles
full of potentially violent protesters during our travels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We toured the Treasury of Atreus and it was very
impressive as a structure, but I was still as puzzled about it when we left.
They had no idea who was supposed to have been buried in the tomb, or what had happened
to whatever had been inside it. It apparently was cleaned out before the
contents were recorded. This had to have been one of the quickest grave
robberies on record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not far from the tomb site we parked the bus under a
grove of trees and walked over a hill to the site of a small palace. That
palace wasn’t on the tour list and was seldom seen by anyone other than the
locals who lived around the area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delphina said that it was the ancestral home of her
family which dated back hundreds of years. By keeping it off of the tours it
suffered less damage from souvenir hunters. She was very worried that the communist
group who was looking for us, would vandalize it terribly should they find it.
We all stated to her emphatically that we would defend it should they arrive
while we were there. That moved the tiny lady to tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The palace was not really a “structure” at that point.
There were a few standing walls, several partial walls, and a complete
foundation. Oddly enough their water systems seemed intact including wells,
irrigation channels, indoor plumbing, and several baths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The toilet and bathing areas attracted the most attention
from the sailors and many wanted to sit on an ancient toilet. It was hard to
comprehend what was so exciting about sitting on a stone slab with a hole in
it. The young guys took each other’s photo sitting on the marble “thrones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delphina explained the idea of the <i>vomitorium</i> to them, where the party goers would stick a feather
down their throat, (or have a servant do so), to induce vomiting and thus be
able to consume more food and drink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The young men were mightily impressed with the “party
attitude” of the old days. She asked me if she should tell them that it was
just a misconception, and she had only told them this tale as a joke. I told
her no; let them have their grand idea of partying people to remember. She just
covered her face and laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The scheduled meal stop had to be eliminated due to a
large contingent of troublemakers waiting for us there. One must remember that
this was prior to the advent of cellular phones being in everyone’s pockets. Tremendous
effort was being expended by both sides to call land lines and then send
someone out to notify the interested party. We were lucky that Delphina was on
her home turf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delphina had been so taken by our offer to defend her
family estate from harm that she called a cousin and arranged a meal for us at
his restaurant; a business which was normally closed on that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We deliberately turned away from our destination on the
main road in the area and then traveled via back roads to the house in the
trees where said eatery was situated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Immediately upon arriving the passengers offloaded
quickly and were herded inside by a scared woman who turned out to be the
owner’s wife. The bus was then taken around behind the buildings out of sight
and the kids took brooms out to sweep away the tracks of the bus in the dirt.
They had learned well from their grandparents who were Greek Resistance
fighters in WWII.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once inside we were seated at nice tables with linen
table cloths and napkins, nice place settings, and a bottle of red wine on each
table. The aromas coming from the kitchen were making us crazy with hunger even
though we had no idea what we were being served. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The incredible meal they prepared for us was lamb and
stuffed grape leaves with green vegetables and bread. Plus the aforementioned red
wine which seemingly had no bottom to the bottles. Our hosts were very attentive
and brought us new bottles of wine as fast as we drank the others empty. The
Greeks loved their wine and so did we!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we finished our meals, the owner and all of his family
came into the dining room carrying musical instruments. As some began to play,
the owner and his grown sons began to dance with their arms linked and shout, “OPA!”
They switched directions back and forth and danced wonderfully well to the music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The music stirred us and the wine removed what
inhibitions “might” have been found in young American sailors. Everyone was
singing (who knows what) and clapping their hands to the rhythm. Excitement was
at its peak as the family tossed plates into the air from the stack they had
brought from the kitchen and as they came crashing down everyone shouted “OPA!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It should have been expected; it had to happen as sure as
rain falls down. As the loudest “OPA!” yet was yelled out, the room immediately
filled with plates flying through the air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every occupant (myself included) of the tables around the
room had tossed their plates into the air like the other plates had been. When
we looked up from the sight of piles of broken china, the music had stopped and
the owner looked like he had just been shot, such was the expression of
disbelief on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We didn’t know that the family had put their best dishes
on the tables in honor of our visit, nor did we know that only those
participating in the dance were supposed to throw plates. They had brought out
old, chipped plates for the entertainment and never anticipated our
reactions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">American military men were not ones to let anyone else
suffer for their actions so all was set right with them in short order. Their
good dishes had cost them the equivalent of about sixty U.S. dollars which was
a tremendous amount to them in 1982, and something that they could not afford
to replace. We not only paid cash for our meals, which gave them tremendous bargaining
power in their market (and black market), but left them over two hundred U.S. dollars
cash in tips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man and his wife were both crying when we left and
Delphina said it was because they were so happy. I’m not sure if that was happy
for all of the cash, or happy that we were leaving. Either way, it was an
experience that I’ll never forget. OPA!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After leaving the restaurant we
arranged (with more off the record American dollars) for the tour bus to swing
by our hotel in downtown Athens. We were very wary of trouble and made sure
that one of our group stayed on the bus at all times (so the driver didn’t
panic and take off), just in case the communists spotted us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We successfully rounded up the other
guys and our bags and departed the beautiful city of Athena. The return bus
ride to Piraeus was quick and uneventful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Arriving at the landing we surveyed
the scene carefully for problems, but the crowd had all departed, leaving only a
few burned taxis to tell the story of what had happened. We were assured by the
driver that even those cremated cabs would soon be gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A liberty boat soon arrived to take
us back to the ship where we reluctantly returned to duty. We were underway by
01:00 a.m. and steaming for Beirut.... again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So that was Greece, where they
wanted our American dollars, but not our physical presence. And it was old...
very, very old. I wish that I had been able to spend more time there and see
and learn more about their great civilization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Epilogue</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I never did get back to either Piraeus
or Athens, Greece but I did learn part of what had upset the local population. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S.S. Nimitz (CV-68) had preceded
us into Greece and had two substantiated major incidents of harm/damage caused
by American sailors. A sexual assault had taken place, and a hotel had been
burned down by drunken sailors partying. Both incidents made the Greek national
news but got very little (if any) mention in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We (the crew of the U.S.S. America)
were allowed to walk into the aftermath without warning. It is possible that
the officers had been briefed (which would explain their vanishing acts) but
the enlisted men were not. I only learned about it upon return to the U.S. and
subsequently speaking with counterparts in the Nimitz crew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To their great credit, the people of
Greece that we met (other than the crazy communists) treated those of us in the
group I traveled with, with respect and kindness and never once mentioned what
the other sailors had done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have to wonder if in the moment
where we destroyed their best plates those kind people were second-guessing
opening their home to Americans and wanting to side with the communists who
were hunting for us. I am glad that we made things right with them and I hope
(thinking back) that those dishes were not family heirlooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must never forget that there are always
consequences to everything that we do. Even if we do not realize the fallout,
those who follow in our footsteps may be harmed by what we have done.
Compassion, tolerance, and understanding never hurt anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-2711401810315159682013-04-02T20:05:00.004-07:002013-04-02T20:05:47.884-07:00Junior<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Junior</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We lived in an unofficial community
of small”ranches” called Rolling Oaks, which was a wondrous land of no hills
and no oaks, obviously named by someone with a sense of humor. It had been the
Bailey Ranch until the old man died and his grandchildren (who had been raised
rich and wanted no part of working a ranch) sold it to a real estate developer
for some fast cash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was South Florida in 1970 and I
was living in the middle of grasslands next to the Everglades and loving it. Life
was still pretty simple and uncomplicated in those days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The prelude </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My trusty companion Thor the Wonder
Dog, was always with me when I went out and about. There were times when I was
either gone to school or doing the rodeo thing, or inside doing homework, or
for whatever reason, not around for him to watch over. At such times he was
left to find his own means of amusement and he was quite good at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were times when you could quite
literally smell Thor coming up the road before he even got to the gate, which
was one hundred and sixty feet from the house at the end of the driveway. He had
a real penchant for killing skunks. Of course, he paid for it every time by
getting sprayed by the poor creatures. Then I had to scrub him down with tomato
juice and/or vinegar and Tide laundry detergent and anything else that I could
find. None of which deterred him from going after another skunk at the first
opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only thing Thor hated more than
skunks was cats. A big tom cat had attacked him inside of his doghouse when he
was only twelve weeks old and he never forgot or forgave the species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you could have seen this great
beast at his full one hundred and twenty pounds with his shiny coat and energetic
manner of moving, you would have been impressed. At the time of this story he was
three years old and all male in his habits and attitudes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was a German Shepherd with a nose
like a Bloodhound and could smell a female dog in heat for miles. Which lead to
his other consuming passion, (which I’m sure you can guess) besides killing
skunks and cats. I once drew up plans for a male “chastity belt” for him but
couldn’t figure out how to secure it on him to where he couldn’t chew through
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were a lot of dogs in our
spread out mini-ranch community, everybody had at least one and some had their
own packs. It was often necessary to have Thor along just to be able to safely
walk to some areas of the "neighborhood." He knew them all, and they
all knew him and stayed way back from us, not eager to test their mettle against
this black and tan warrior. I was glad; I hated dog fights and hated getting
dog bit even more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the north of our place was a
gentleman who was either the first or second person to settle in the area when
they split the old ranch up and he considered the rest of us
"squatters" or intruders of some kind. He was not the friendliest
sort of guy and was prone to temper tantrums and yelling. You could hear him
over the half mile between our houses like he was standing next to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He did have one redeeming feature (as
far as I was concerned anyway) in that he owned a beautiful silver and black
German Shepherd female who was not only registered, but had her Champion title
from the dog shows. She was a sweet girl, always friendly and would try to come
and visit us when we worked on the fence bordering their property, or rode by
on the horses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the man was home when she visited
us she got severely chastised, at times even whipped with a belt. The man
hitting her made Thor very angry and he would growl way down deep in his chest.
I knew that the big dog was just hoping that I would give him the word, so he
could "deal" with this abusive human, but of course I never did; I
wanted to, but I knew better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When dogs run free in any area there
will inevitably be an accidental breeding, or shall I say an unplanned
breeding, or an “oops litter” if you will. Being the owner of a dominant male
dog who ranged far and wide in his solitary travels, quite a few fingers could
be pointed in our direction. Most of the sensible people who had female dogs,
had them spayed to prevent this problem. I don’t know why the idea of neutering
our male dogs never came up. It would have helped too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our neighbor to the north did not
have his female spayed as she was a valuable breeding commodity to him. His
female German Shepherd came into heat and before he could arrange for a
suitable stud, one was provided for him, or several possibly, we never knew for
sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a lot to be said for adage,
“Where there's a will, there's a way." The man had locked his dog in the
garage while he went to town thinking that she would be unreachable there. On the
side of that two car garage there was a "jalousie window" type of
door that would prove his theory wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">For those of you who don't know
about “jalousie windows,” this door had a center section of three inch glass
panels running horizontally across the door and installed in a framework which
allows them to be opened or closed for ventilation, similar to </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Venetian</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> blinds,
and with a screen to keep the bugs out. The windows were cranked all the way
open at the time of the "dastardly doggie deed." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't know if it was Thor, or
another dog who figured out the way to do what they wanted to do. I do know
that the female was very much a willing participant in the "act."
They somehow removed two window panes at the correct height, and then chewed a
hole in the screen. The female backed up to the open spot and the male dog
stood up on its hind legs and copulated with her through the door. It was quite
ingenious if you think about… and she wasn’t your dog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The owner of the female came home in
time to see Thor next to the garage, not in the act, but suspect none the less.
He snatched his shotgun out of the gun rack in his truck and attempted to fire
at the, “I’m going home now, but I'll call you, I promise..." Thor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luckily for the dog (and the man)
there wasn't a shell in the chamber. By the time he figured it out, cycled the
pump action, and then got off a shot, the dog was out of range and only
suffered from the noise of the blast... Thor was terribly afraid of loud
noises. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enter Junior</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Skip ahead in time now to about
fifteen weeks later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The grumpy neighbor from our north pulled
up in our driveway in his truck and slammed it to a stop by putting the truck
in park before it has stopped moving. That was something that he did frequently
and then grumbled about the “lousy quality of truck transmissions these days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He piled out of that truck in his
bullish way and with his usual scowl on his face. Thor was standing next to me,
on guard and silently shaking with anger (not fear) waiting for me to turn him loose
on the man. I wondered if this was going to be the “big showdown” or something.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was never any concern that the
man would hurt me, but I did have a real fear that if he reached for me my dog
would seriously hurt him. That would cause the police to come and they would
take Thor to the pound for quarantine and there would be lawsuits, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The big bully reached into his truck
bed, turned, and then he swung a beautiful silver and black ball of fur into my
arms. Before I could get a grip, he let go and turned around to get back into
the truck... and the worst thing happened. That squirming puppy went right on
through my arms and fell head first onto the concrete. It landed on the crest
at the back of its skull and died from the impact, just like it had been
clubbed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man said to me, "Why did
you do that? It was your damn dog that got me into this mess...." and then
he shut up. I guess the look on my face told the story plain enough. It was an
awful heart wrenching event; a real sick to the stomach, going into shock
experience. I could do nothing but stand there and hold onto Thor’s collar as
his growl became audible and his intentions became clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My neighbor reached into the back of
his truck, grabbed another puppy and handed it to me, making sure that I had a
grip on it this time. He picked up the dead one and tossed it into the bed of
the truck, like so much garbage. The man then said that “he should just dump
the whole damn litter on our doorstep” and ground the starter and the truck
once again came to life. He stomped the gas pedal and fired his vehicle backwards
out of our gate, barely missing a pole that I promise he could not have moved.
It would have killed his truck deader than that sweet puppy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This new puppy (when I could stand
to look at it) was just laying there in my arms. It had the dopiest look on its
face and then blasted me with a welcoming "green cloud" that would
peel paint. He was colored similar to Thor, but had more of a rust brown (vs.
tan) color to his "markings" and he had short hair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, “OK” I thought, “if Thor was
partially responsible or whatever, I guess we were kind of honor bound to take
this little monster.” In a hopeful moment, I named him "Junior." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the very beginning, Junior
spent every day proving that he was NOT a chip off of Thor's old block. His
coat never grew any longer, something very odd for a puppy supposedly from two
German Shepherds; in fact he looked more like a hound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then one day I saw a large male
Doberman trotting over to the neighbor's house and he went straight to the side
door of the garage and sniffed at the spot where the hole was before. The
neighbor had replaced the entire screen and the two glass pieces immediately after
the incident took place. That dog didn't hang around for very long, but long
enough for me to grab a horse and follow it to the house nearest to the
entrance to Rolling Oaks. His home was straight up the road from the
"scene of the crime." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now that I was fairly sure as to the
real parentage of this knucklehead puppy, I wasn't nearly as embarrassed. He
wasn't Thor's puppy, of that I was convinced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Junior was an opportunist in the
extreme. He found out how to get the dog food barrel open and drug the entire
unopened fifty pound bag out of the overturned barrel and onto the concrete
parking area in front of the garage door... about twenty five feet away. He
then proceeded to rip open the bag and eat until he looked like a dead cow that
had been out in the sun for days. It was hard to believe that his body could
stretch that far. Thor wouldn't even come near the bag of food; he knew trouble
when he saw it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn't know that the little
troublemaker of a pup had done all of this until Dad got into his truck and
backed out of the garage, not even thinking to look behind the truck. You didn’t
have to worry, dogs got out of the way when you started the truck... at least
normal ones did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truck ran over Junior with both
tires on the driver's side, naturally making a bump each time, which clued Dad
that something wasn't right. And he was correct. That should have been the end
of the story and of Junior, right? Wrong! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not only was the dog not killed, he
didn't even bother to get up. Junior had definite tire tracks across his
middle, just like you had painted them on; black zig zag lines. He just lay
there burping and farting from eating most of 50 pounds of dog food and would
occasionally wag his tail a couple of thumps and moan and groan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only thing that we could figure
was that he was so packed with food that it supported the approximately 3,500
pounds of weight of the full sized half ton truck going over him. Junior showed
absolutely no ill effects from the “parking block” imitation that he did, and
we often remarked that his real parents were obviously aliens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Junior chewed everything that he
could get a hold of. He was so different from the well behaved dog that Thor
had conditioned us to expect, that he was not a favorite of any one in or
around our house. He not only ate all of the dog food, if you weren't watching
he would eat the horses sweet feed too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We made the mistake of allowing him
to chew the pieces of hoof that the blacksmith had removed when shoeing the horses.
When he ran out of those trimmed pieces he would try to chew on a horse's hoof
while they were sleeping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My cousin's old cranky palomino
kicked him square in the forehead once for doing just that, and again we were
ready to start digging a hole for his last remains. The horse had kicked him so
hard that we figured that his skull was crushed. After flying through the air
for about twenty feet, he parted two 55 gallon drums full of feed and ended up
against the fence pole behind them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was all I could do to move those barrels;
they weighed more than I did. He crawled out from between the barrels and the
post and staggered over to the shade beside the house; where I looked him over.
Junior had a horseshoe impression on his head that never really went away. But
the idiot was fine, no lasting damage from a kick that by all rights should
have killed him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My buddy (and neighbor, two miles
away) David had animals of all kinds running around his place. His parents were
a bit different than most I knew at the time. They were not your basic
conservative types... more of the anything goes variety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t know what hippie parents
were like before meeting them, but they were. The father was kind of half and
half, having to keep his hair short and wear a suit to work in the conservative
business world and then switching gears when he got home. David’s mom was 100%
hippie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At times their house would smell of freshly
smoked weed and frequently there would be adults (not just David’s parents) walking
around without clothes on. It was a teenaged boy’s dream world. David and I
never spoke about any of this at my house. Don’t get the wrong impression, their
house was always very neat and clean. David’s dad was a very well paid executive
so they had plenty of money to live on. They just did things their way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David had all the usual animals; a dog,
cats, birds, fish, a horse. Then there was a raccoon, and a pig named Nancy
that followed us around and was well trained and very smart. He also had a
monkey that they couldn't handle anymore. It had matured and figured out that
it was a monkey and not a human, and wouldn't play nice at all. The monkey cage
was always kept padlocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His dog had gotten run over by a
delivery semi out on the main road through our area and now he was short one
critter. Being the good buddy that I was, and having two dogs of my own I
offered to give him Junior. I could share and Thor would not get along well
with all those other animals crowding his space... so it would have to be the puppy.
I was not sure if my ulterior motives were transparent or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I really expected his mother to say
no, but shockingly she said, "That's really sweet, of course David can
have the puppy." We departed immediately for my house and gathered up
Junior and his collar and tags, and hauled him to David’s house where he would
reside for the rest of his days. My parents must have been happy to see the dog
go, but they never said so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It didn't take long for Junior to “endear”
himself to his new family. And it wasn’t much longer than that for both of
David’s parents to stop speaking to me unless they had to. Junior had a knack,
a gift even, for causing trouble. He would open the animal cages and eat their
food, while the creatures wandered about, some of them deciding to relocate
permanently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If there were little baby animals
around he would round them up into a corner and not let them leave or get back in
their pens. He would even go to the neighbor's houses and steal kittens and
bunnies. The goofball didn't hurt them, he just corralled them and wouldn't let
them go anywhere until a human came and freed them. One positive thing that I
can say about him is that he never hurt any living thing in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Junior also liked to turn on the outside
water faucet and sit under it with it running on his head while he leaned against
the house and fell asleep. And, just like a kid, he never turned it off again.
There would be a veritable lake on whichever side of the house that he decided
to take his bath. Once it ran for an entire weekend while they were gone to a
festival. I can still hear David’s dad yelling about the bill for that pump running
non-stop all that time. They removed all of the faucet handles after that
episode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thought for sure that Junior had
finally done it when he decided to drink green house paint. The enterprising
dog found a one gallon can in their “supposed to locked” shop and of course immediately
turned it over and it got all over everything on the floor of that building. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being crazy, the dog licked up a
bunch of the normally toxic liquid and rolled in it. He then had a new green
coat, which he used to go on a painting spree around their place. The dog
rubbed up against their white car, the tan stucco finish on their new house,
and of course the laundry hanging on the line and the rugs on the porch. Somehow,
for some reason that defies rationality, he survived again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Junior came close to getting blown
to smithereens for being a thief. He was an uncontrollable and unrepentant shoe
thief (and doormats too.) The dog would go around the entire area at night and
steal whatever shoes were left outside on the porch, which was very common in
mud country. He would then go back around and nab all the doormats and little
rugs that might be on the porch. He brought all of this contraband back home
(to David’s house thankfully) and hid it in a recessed corner behind a big bush
on the side of the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Junior was seen leaving a
house with a man's new leather Florsheims (which he had gotten muddy and sat on
the front porch to clean later) and had a blast from a shotgun come close
enough to leave a little "proof" embedded in his backside, the mutt
was followed to his hideout and the goods were discovered. Some of it had come
from as far as four miles away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I liked Junior more and more as time
went on… I was exceptionally fond of the fact that he wasn't my dog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I left Florida, Junior was
still residing with the same family, and still beating the odds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I talked to David in 1973,
Junior had been shot twice and stuck in an electric fence all night once (by
accident I'm sure) and was still going strong. David’s dad finally got his way
and Junior had to wear a muzzle when he was out of their sight. The muzzle
wasn’t because he might bite someone, but so that the dog couldn’t pick
anything up with his mouth and carry it home. Knowing Junior, he would find a
way around that too... I had faith in him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If someone were to tell me that
Junior was still alive, forty plus years after his birth, I would have to
believe them. Maybe his parents really were Aliens after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-55555549718341713582013-03-30T18:29:00.001-07:002013-04-04T19:05:28.624-07:00A Walk on the Wild Side<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Walk on the Wild Side<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Did you ever
have one of those days where everything you tried to do went wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mitch, Scott,
and I did in Alaska in August of 1976 and we accidentally discovered what to do
about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our radio
repair specialist, Scott, was pacing back and forth across the control tower
floor threatening a piece of equipment that he had been trying to fix all day, with
destruction. Mitch, my controller trainee, was fighting with unusually heavy
traffic and stressing out because he had to continuously make decisions at such
a rapid pace. As the supervisor on duty I was responsible for everything that
went on so I was listening to Mitch, watching Scott, and answering telephones
that wouldn’t quit ringing. That was when the idea hit me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At face value
the idea was completely ridiculous. I proposed that we catch a ride up to the
ski lodge for Arctic Valley, get off at the 2500’ level on the mountain, and
hike down the other side into the valley. We would descend until we reached
Ship Creek and then follow the stream farther into the mountains until we found
a logjam where a friend said that he had built a log lean-to. That particular location
was supposed to be unequaled for fishing and peacefulness according to this
friend, Neil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Granted, Neil
was drunk most of the time that he was not at work, but he did know the area.
He had a different outlook on life than most (OK, All) people and even the
Alaskan trappers who wandered the bush thought that he was odd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It could have
been his constant drinking and loud singing as he walked the back country of the
state that spooked them. Or possibly it was because Neil refused to camp within
three miles of any other human, even to the point of breaking camp and moving
in the middle of the night if anyone camped near him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He hated
being “crowded” and spent all of his free time away from humans. It wasn’t
unusual for him to walk from Anchorage to Palmer (about 40-45 miles) through
the wilderness, by himself. I had driven to Palmer to pick him up more than
once and he always came out on the day he said that he would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When couldn’t
get away due to his work schedule or having duty, he would spend all of his
extra time working out. The man was a living contradiction. A drunken physical
fitness nut and a singer who couldn’t stand to have an audience. I liked him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Neil had a
single eyebrow that went from temple to temple and some people would call him “Neanderthal”
but never to his face. He could walk up and down the steepest mountains like he
was strolling down a sidewalk and it took no effort. His singing voice was a
beautiful tenor (almost baritone) and he was really quite good. I had heard him
singing (always under the influence of a bottle of whiskey) various things from
opera to Irish ballads and was amazed. He just couldn’t tolerate being near
people. I could only guess that his childhood contained the answers, but I
never asked him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We considered
that anything was possible and Neil’s recommendation to go camp there was
certainly a better option than staying locked into the rat-race of our jobs
where even being off duty didn’t stop the telephone from finding you. The cycle
needed to be broken and only getting to a place where we were unreachable would
do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The thing
that made this idea so ridiculous was the fact that we only had twenty-four
hours between shifts to accomplish the entire trip. There were also minor
problems such as not knowing specific details about the area, being unsure if
our directions to the logjam were real or hallucinated, or how long it would
take to get in and more importantly, out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our source of
information (Neil) had never entered or exited from the point that we chose to
leave “civilization” (that’s funny in Alaska) and enter the wild areas. He
couldn’t tell us what to expect for a time table as he worked in days (not hours)
when he hiked. It wasn’t really very far into the bush but in 1976 the bears
and wolves walked through the airport and into base housing on a regular basis.
You didn’t have to go far to get into trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I believe
that it was the absurdity of the situation that sent us up the mountain that
afternoon in August. We should not have done it for any number of common sense
or rational reasons. I am sure that it was just that kind of break from routine
and rules that made the journey mean so much to us; it was breaking free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By five
o’clock in the afternoon we had started down from our jumping off point at the 2500’
altitude marker on the mountain. The three of us were hiking down an animal
trail that we had only just learned about and hoped that it went where it was
supposed to. There was quite a bit of discussion about what we had gotten
ourselves into as we walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We descended
rapidly through a cool meadow littered with tumbled down trees until we reached
the first creek and our first decision. There was an unexpected fork in the
trail and we faced that age old choice of whether to take the left or right
path. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Instead of
simply opting for the Robert Frost choice of the one less traveled, we made the
decision based upon what felt logical. Following the right path as it continued
to descend in the general direction we had been going, made more sense to us
than the left which stayed level and appeared to wrap around the hillside.
There was no fear of getting lost; we could back-track our own footprints in
the soft earth of the trail if we needed to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Continuing
downward on our chosen path we soon passed through an area covered with more
red berries (rose hips and high bush cranberries) than we thought existed in
the entire state of Alaska. It was among those berries that we came to the
second rapid drop in elevation. The trail was so steep that we had to run down
it to keep on our feet and feared for a misstep that we were sure would cause a
most spectacular tumble. Only Scott came close and slid the last few yards on
the seat of his pants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By that point
we had crossed two small bubbling creeks containing clear, cold water and
descended approximately twelve hundred feet into the heart of Arctic Valley. It
was hard to decide whether to watch where you were stepping or gawk at the
surroundings. I tried to do both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As we
descended the third steep drop we noticed that the tree leaves had changed to
purple, gold, and crimson, and that the trees themselves were larger. The size
change probably would not have been noticed in the lower forty-eight (U.S.
states) but in mainland Alaska the trees were so small that any change was
noticeable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The biggest
change to me was the quiet. The silence was not only external, but internal
too. Quiet was no longer just the absence of sound coming to our ears, but the
cessation of the voices in our heads. Even though our trek was strenuous we
seemed to be resting as we walked. I realize now that it was relief from stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We crossed
three creeks, a boot grabbing marsh, and descended about two thousand feet in
elevation in the course of about six miles. By all rights by the time we
reached that elusive logjam we should have been worn out, but we were not; in
fact we felt great. The three of us had just done a forced march over rough
terrain carrying forty pound packs that lasted two and a half hours without a
break; and we weren’t tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The lean-to
was right where our friend had told us that it would be and in far better
condition than I expected. It was just a crude shelter of logs but it served
our purpose well and I managed to quickly fix the few spots that had fallen in.
Mitch and Scott gathered spruce boughs for cushioning under our bedrolls and
then easily collected more firewood than we could burn in one night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our campfire
was built on an open rock surface between the lean-to and the stream and there were
already logs to sit on or lean against in place. It was a dream of a camping
spot and we sat around the fire getting high on good company and fresh air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Scott was
suffering a little as he had lost his cigarettes somewhere along the way and
the idea of not being able to smoke for several hours was working on his mind.
Mitch told him to just sit downwind of the campfire and breathe deeply. We all
laughed at the idea but I did notice that before long Scott had shifted his
seat to a position where the smoke hit him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The location
was incredibly beautiful and the word “serene” comes to mind as a good
description of our surroundings. The air and water were so pure and clean it
that it amazed us and we hesitated to put our hands in the water for fear that
we would “contaminate” it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When we
finally gave up and went to our bed rolls the tiredness of our bodies won out.
I don’t think more words than “goodnight” were spoken before we were dead to
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The next
morning we discovered that a good-sized bear and a huge moose (judging by their
very fresh tracks) had battled their way past our camp without even disturbing
us. We guessed that it happened during the early morning hours (by the dampness)
and were both amazed and concerned that we hadn’t heard a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The tracks
told quite a story as it was evident that the moose had slid backwards at one
point and the bear had dug its claws in for traction, possibly pushing the
moose. Other places showed that the moose had dug up chunks of soft earth with
its antlers. We were really sorry that we had slept through the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Scott was
raised as a concrete jungle city kid. After seeing the large animal tracks he
spent a great deal of time muttering about wishing that we had a “bazooka” in
case one of them came back to “eat him.”
No amount of reassurances could convince him that the creatures were not
interested in us. Mitch was from Hilo, Hawaii and while he laughed at Scott’s
fears, I did catch him looking over his shoulder frequently. I hoped that we
would see them again, but it was not to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We had awoken
just after sunrise and that was supposed to be the magical time to fish our little
stream so we quit looking at tracks and got our hand lines (no poles) into the
water right away. The stories were true and in just two hours we had caught
thirty Arctic Char big enough to keep. We caught more than that but we released
the smaller ones to grow for another year before jumping into our frying pans.
It was rather mystifying to me to be able to catch fish on nothing more than a
shiny hook with a reflector (spoon) attached, but that was all we used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We quickly
reached the point where we had to quit so I cleaned the fish we had and packed
them in plastic bags to go into our backpacks for the trip out. While I cleaned
the fish, Mitch and Scott made sure that there was absolutely no trash and as
little evidence of human interference as possible. Thinking that it might prove
useful to some future traveler we stacked the collected firewood under the
lean-to to keep it as dry as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our exodus
went faster than we anticipated (with it being all uphill) and we walked into
the parking area at the lodge in just two hours. I can only guess that knowing
where we were going and feeling the pressure of having a definite deadline made
us walk faster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The three of
us were early for our shift and slept very well for a week afterward. You might
attribute that to fresh air and exercise if you hadn’t been with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whenever
things got hectic and demanding for any of us after that we would just take a
mental journey back into that beautiful valley and the smile would soon return.
That hike had definitely been worth it. We had each learned how to be at peace
with ourselves and that was the most important lesson of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The fish that
I had so carefully cleaned, bagged, and packed out didn’t fare well. There was
no ice to keep them cool and the heat from our bodies caused rapid
deterioration. But, the local wildlife on the airport was happy to have the
spoiled fish so all was not lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We learned a fishing
lesson from that experience too. Only catch and keep what you can eat on site,
or have a cooler with enough ice to make it home again. We did the latter when
we fished for salmon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">P. S.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The area we
hiked 36 years ago is now easily accessible from Anchorage and part of a trail
system. It is currently very popular with people who weren’t born yet when we
walked that ground. I hope that they respect it and do their best to leave no
evidence of their passing, just as we did way back then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-86445975242818856532013-03-26T22:19:00.002-07:002013-03-27T16:50:38.200-07:00From Innocent to Veteran<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">From Innocent to
Veteran</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This is a fictionalized account of a
true story. Names* have been changed where necessary to protect individual’s
privacy. The information contained within is as true as I can make it, given
that it did not happen to me. The tales were told to me by Sam White* himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">==================================<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam White didn’t always want to be a
photographer, but then he wasn’t sure just what he wanted. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not having many job prospects beyond
manual labor when he graduated from high school, Sam got sweet talked into the
U.S. Navy by a smooth operator of a recruiter. The recruiter promised a girl in
every port and barely enough time to rest in between ports. It sounded like a
dream job to Sam.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drinking beer and chasing women filled
his thoughts and free time throughout navy basic training. It was pretty much
like his high school years, only with more money and some status as a military
man. Not that being a sailor opened doors for him, but it did give him an
identity. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of the choices offered to him as he
prepared to complete basic training, photography sounded like a better job than
being a cook or engineman to him. It was certainly less physical and you would
get to see the outside world more than the other swabbies stuck below decks. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam did well at photography school and
finished at the top of his class, earning him his Photographer’s Mate
designation and a step up in rank at graduation. Earning that designation put
him in line to be promoted again if he did well at his first duty station. That
was the story given to him by his head instructor at school, who encouraged Sam
to immediately volunteer for sea duty. That was the real key to success he told
him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Full of plans to be promoted to Chief
Photographer’s Mate by the time he was twenty-one (less than two years away),
Sam filled out his request for sea duty and was sent to the U.S.S. Mister
Rogers* right after graduation. He was on his way up the ranks; he was sure of
that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The number two in his class went to
shore duty in beautiful Hawaii, the most sought after assignment in the navy.
Number three also got shore duty, but in exotic Yokosuka, Japan. All of the
rest of his classmates went to sea duty on various ships. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam spent a lot of time thinking about
how much either classmate number two or number three had paid the instructor to
convince him (Sam) to ask for sea duty, thus moving them up to the choice they
wanted. He even talked to himself out loud about it when he was swabbing the
decks of the photo lab or the adjoining passageway. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When test time came around, Sam proved
himself capable and “sewed on” (got promoted to) Photographer’s Mate 3<sup>rd</sup>
class. PH3 White had become a naval Petty Officer and once again had a spring
in his step. There was now someone else to push that mop around as he took on
more responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Flight operations aboard an aircraft
carrier were always dangerous and everything that happens is filmed by either
video camera or still photography. PH3 White had proven himself adept at
running the flight deck camera and captured many critical images of aviation
problems and accidents. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He had once filmed the wheel of a
fighter aircraft coming off during a bad landing and had it (the wheel) take
the camera tripod right out from under his camera while he continued to roll
with the camera in his hands. Those images were extremely useful in solving
problems and briefing aircrews. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Armed with shining recommendations
from his superiors, he once again took his rating exams and advanced to
Photographer’s Mate 2<sup>nd</sup> class. That latest success nearly got him
booted out of his job as he (along with friends) made some celebratory “hooch”
from alcohol and other items in the photo lab.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After drunkenly serenading some senior
officers in only hula skirts and their sailor hats while underway from Hawaii
to Japan, Sam and his friends were placed in custody until they sobered up and
then faced the captain for punishment. They were all docked a month’s pay and
would not be allowed liberty in Japan. Sam was also given extra duty (like high
school detention, only with chores) because he was the senior person involved.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That cruise with Admiral in charge of
the 7<sup>th</sup> Fleet aboard proved to be a problem for many of the crew and
by the time they reach the “land of the rising sun” the entire floating city
was restricted to the ship. Many of the senior ship’s company tried to
intercede for at least a couple of days of liberty, but the Admiral wouldn’t
budge.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There is a saying that bad things
happen to those without compassion. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Admiral traveled with his own
personal military Cadillac sedan stored on the ship in the hangar bay. His aide
had sailors assigned to wash and wax it at least once a week and then cover it
back up with its fitted car cover. It was said to smell like expensive Cuban cigars
and single-malt whiskey inside. When the car was uncovered to be cleaned and
polished, the Admiral insisted that his flags be displayed on the fenders. They
even had wires in them so they would stand out and show the star.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The entire crew hated that car. It was
a symbol of everything that they couldn’t have being flaunted in their faces.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What happened next was only natural
given the fact that the ship was on its way to extended sea duty and this was
their last chance at a liberty before the grind began in earnest. From the
captain to the lowest seaman they were all frustrated and upset.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was scrubbing floors (extra duty)
with a Marine guard watching him when the event took place, or it would have
been easy to point the finger at him for what happened. It was still believed,
and told in whispers behind closed doors, that he engineered the whole thing.
He had a reputation for being creative like that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A naval vessel is never really idle,
even when parked in a port. The flight deck crew was doing drills and working
on a forward catapult. The catapult (or cat) is a steam powered device used to
help aircraft reach speed sufficient to fly off of the flight deck. Without the
boost from the catapult, airplanes would drop off the end of the ship into the
water.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When they test fire the cat it is done
either in a no-load, or loaded status, meaning that it either has no weight to
move, or weight equal to a particular aircraft type. Like a firearm, it is
generally not seen as a good thing to dry fire it (no bullet in the cylinder).
To that end “dummy loads” are made up with equivalent weights for the aircraft
aboard. We could spend a lot of time discussing dead weight vs. rolling weight
and representative equivalents, but rest assured that they knew what they were doing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On that day the number 1 cat had been
taken all the way down (disassembled) for a new steam cylinder installation and
that always required firing at least one dummy load to recertify it as safe for
real aircraft launches. During the early morning hours the dummy load had been
prepared and while it was still dark it had been moved to the elevator just
forward of the island. That elevator was still in the down position making it
level with the hangar bay.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At approximately 08:00 with great
fanfare (and certainly numerous one finger salutes) the admiral accompanied by
his aide and the ship’s captain departed for meetings on the base. That these
“meetings” would be full of fine food, quality drink, and most likely pretty
girls, was not lost on anyone stuck aboard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Executive Officer, the Navigator
and CAG 9 (commander of the embarked airwing) announced over the ship’s 1MC
(P.A. system) that all department heads would meet in the officer’s mess for a
working breakfast at 09:00. The ship’s “Chief of the boat” (or senior enlisted
man aboard), broadcast a similar meeting for all ship and airwing department
Master Chief Petty Officers to meet in the Chief’s mess, also at 09:00.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Next up was the Flight Deck officer
announcing an “all available hands” F.O.D. (foreign object debris) walk down on
the flight deck. That would normally only be done in the case of flight
operations, which were not scheduled as far as anyone knew. But, being sailors,
they just grumbled and did as they were told. Men poured onto the flight deck
from every hatch (door) and ladder (stairs.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Meanwhile “forces unknown” were busy
in the hangar bay preparing the dummy load for its ride up the elevator and
subsequent flight through the air. By 08:45 the flight deck was full of sailors
walking around looking for a stray piece of anything and finding very little. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The announcing system once again
sounded asking the men to remain on the flight deck, but clear of catapult #1
for the test firing. The deck crew brought the large covered mass off of the elevator
and using one of their yellow tugs, dragged the palletized load into position
on cat 1 and hooked it up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Since there was little else to do and
it was nice outside, the sailors moved forward on the flight deck to watch the
show. As the checklist was run between the flight deck crew and the operators
below, the person on the P.A. system gave time updates, which in itself was
odd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At 09:00 on the mark the call came to
stand clear of catapult #1 and then a second announcement of “maximum power,
all eyes on cat 1!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With a rush of steam and the thumping
sound of the catapult firing, the load very quickly went forward and into the
air. Instantly there were thunderous cheers from everyone on the flight deck,
and then the yelling from the rest of the crew below decks was heard throughout
the ship. Those on deck had a front row seat, while those below decks watched
on the ship’s TV. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The fact that they set a new distance
record with that shot was barely noted, indeed almost forgotten. The odd
circumstance of having a tarp secured to tie downs and remaining behind when
the load fired off was brushed aside completely. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nothing known to man could have been
better, or sweeter, to that crew than the sight of the admiral’s Cadillac sedan
flying through the air as it sailed far out into the blue water of the bay. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The cheering went on for several
minutes on the flight deck and the camera operator ran the video over and over
on the ship’s TV. That few seconds was undoubtedly the happiest moment of the
cruise so far. The only thing better would be homecoming, and that was many
months away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When the admiral returned and learned
the fate of his beloved car he was apoplectic. He tried to scream at his
orderly and could only squeak such was his rage. The ship’s doctor was called
to stand by, in case of a stroke. Those within view said that they had never
seen anyone turn that particular shade of purple before, and that the man tried
to speak but could only spit and drool on himself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The prepared dummy load was found
“parked” in the same spot as the admiral’s sedan usually occupied. When the
cover that normally protected the automobile was pulled off, the flags that
traditionally adorned the car’s fenders popped up (via springs) into full
salute. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There was an investigation conducted
to be sure, but everyone with any authority was in a meeting and didn’t know
anything about the launch. Everyone else seemed to have been on deck, except
for PH2 White and his Marine watch dog. To a man nobody knew anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The crew stuck to their stories and
since A) The admiral wasn’t really supposed to have a personal automobile
aboard and B) There wasn’t anything he could do to them. The cruise went on as
planned.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">1961 Vietnam</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Newly elected President John F.
Kennedy was still holding to the idea that the puppet South Vietnamese Head of
State Ngo Dinh Diem, would have to defeat the communists on his own. Kennedy
had too many irons in the fire to add solving Viet Nam’s internal strife to the
list, but he also feared what was called the domino effect if he did nothing.
The domino effect stated that if Viet Nam “fell” to communism all of the
surrounding countries would as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At the time of this story, Diem who
was a fanatical Catholic, and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, who was head of the
secret police, were busy killing off Buddhists and destroying their temples. He
believed that only Catholics would truly resist the communists. The problem was
that the vast majority of both North and South Viet Nam were Buddhists. It was
these murderous attacks more than any political agenda from the communists that
created the NLF (National Liberation Front) aka the Viet Cong.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In May of 1961 Vice President Lyndon
B. Johnson visited Saigon and made the famous enthusiastic statement that Diem
was the “Winston Churchill of Asia.” This convinced the people of Viet Nam that
America supported and condoned the murderous activities of Diem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When asked later why he said that
about Diem, someone that they all considered weak and ineffective, LBJ said
“He’s the only boy we got out there.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Immediately following V.P. Johnson’s
visit the clandestine insertion of “flood relief” and “aid workers” tripled.
The promise of military and financial aid had been made but officially the U.S.A.
was still side-stepping direct involvement. Everyone knew that the situation
was about to change.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After leaving Japan the top brass
didn’t identify Viet Nam as a destination for the carrier battle group
(aircraft carriers don’t go anywhere alone), just putting out a generic
“Westpac” (Western Pacific ocean) on the itinerary. The feeling was that they
didn’t want to call attention to the American war ships lurking off of the
Vietnamese coastline.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mekong Delta and the easy boat ride</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The south (there are two: north, and
south) monsoon season was just ending in the southern end of Viet Nam and the
days were hot and sticky, but the sun was out most of the time. During the
rainy time there could be get ten inches of rain or more in a single day making
life miserable for those who wanted to be dry. Ph2 Sam White liked to be dry.
In fact, he liked to be clean and dry; it was one of his favorite things in
life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When they had crossed the equator and
did the famous “Shellback” initiation, conducted by none other than “Davy
Jones” himself, his PHC (Chief Photographer’s Mate) had made it a point to make
Sam crawl through the nastiest and most vile concoctions he could find. Sam
took three showers after the ceremonies were over and then wiped himself down
with alcohol from the photo lab.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There was great debate as to why PH2
White drew the assignment to go on the boat ride up the Mekong River. Some said
that it was because he was the best man for the job… others believed that it
was because his chief knew that he would get hot, sweaty, and indescribably
filthy on the trip.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The mission was supposed to be a piece
of cake; just a simple boat ride up the Mekong River to photograph the power
plants for “flood control” assessment. It was all in keeping with the stories
in the international media (written by the U.S. State Department) about helping
with flood relief for victims of the huge monsoonal flow of water that had
inundated the area.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam saw the task as a way to get off
of the ship for a little while and see something besides grey walls. He gladly
accepted the job when he was volunteered by his PHC. That was the way things
were done in the navy, you could voluntarily go along with assignments… or you
could do them anyway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A young Ensign from Naval Intelligence
came to the photo lab right away to get Sam and handed the chief a written
order that said for the duration of the mission PH2 White belonged to them.
That put the chief in a bad mood as it meant that he would have to fill in
wherever his petty officer had been scheduled to work. He hadn’t planned on his
underling being gone for more than a day when he volunteered him. Who will
eventually get the last laugh remains to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The briefing for the mission wasn’t
exactly like what the PHC had said. Sam was briefed by several enlisted men and
a few different officers who each seemed to have a specialty. He was allowed to
take notes during the briefings, but those notes would not be making the trip
with him; they were classified.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The bottom line was that he was to
photograph anything of a military or industrial nature, including any power
plants, but to even include such things as overhead power lines where there was
no plant. It had become clear that the navy (and others) wanted a ground level
view of everything on the Mekong River.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Petty Officer White was coached each day
on his role as an assistant for flood relief operations whose job was to
photograph the power plants to assess them for flood protection. He was told to
forget any words of Vietnamese that he might have picked up and when in doubt
play dumb. Sam waited for a few seconds expecting to hear his chief’s voice say
that he wouldn’t be “playing” dumb, but of course it didn’t happen, the man
wasn’t in the room.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To continue his cover story and not
draw any more attention to the aircraft carrier than possible, he would be
flown by helicopter from the ship to the area of Soc Trang during the pre-dawn hours. From
there he would be taken by local fishermen (really ARVN soldiers in civilian
clothes) in native fishing boats up river to Can Tho.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At Can Tho he would switch to a transport
truck and be driven to Vinh Long where he would meet BMC (Chief Boatswain’s
Mate) Black and his crew at the main channel of the Mekong River. Chief Black
usually had a crew of five ARVN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam) aboard his
converted sport fishing boat. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black was also really a Navy
Seal working on missions of his own and Sam was cautioned not to ask him any
questions about what he was really doing there. Their joint objective was to
get through the Hong Ngu District and briefly cross the border into Cambodia,
and return. Extraction point at the end of the mission was Bien Hoa airport
near Saigon. Chief Black would get him there, somehow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Departure day arrived quickly and Sam
was glad. It meant that they would quit giving him shots for this disease or
that fever and there wouldn’t be any more tests to take regarding briefing
materials. He was ready to go in his own flight deck gear fifteen minutes
before show time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This was supposed to be a simple run
on fast boats and with few stops to make along the way. It would only be forty
miles by native boat, twenty miles by truck and then another eighty on a fast
boat. Of course, Sam was thinking American speed boats and trucks, and had no
idea about “Asian time.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The big ship had arranged to be close
to the shoreline at departure time to cut down the flight time and distance.
When the helicopter launched it rapidly dropped down to the surface of the
water from the height of the flight deck. That reminded PH2 White that he
really should have gone to the head (bathroom) one more time before take-off. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A fast thirty minute flight (that
seemed to be low enough to pull water-skiers) had them flying over the coastal
fishing fleet and then “feet dry” (over dry land) in no time. The crewman
flying with him kept his goggles on and his hands on his machine gun, even
though the door was closed to hide the weapon. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam had been told that there would be
many people reporting their flight and if he delayed at the airport he would be
approached by government officials or even the NLF. Everyone would want to know
what he was doing there and detain him until someone told them what to do. He
was not to hesitate.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The naval intelligence guys had given
him an additional camera for night shots, which made a total of three in his
borrowed army backpack, along with waterproof bags and film. He wasn’t sure why
they had insisted on extra socks and antifungal ointments along with boots,
fatigues and field jacket he had been given by the Marine detachment aboard his
ship. This was just supposed to be a fast run on a fast boat and then he was
out of there!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The helicopter barely slowed down to
let him out before they took off and flew farther inland before turning towards
Saigon and from there back to the ship. Sam supposed that they didn’t want to
help anyone pinpoint where they might have dropped him off, assuming that
anyone would think that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The monsoon might be in its waning
days but it still had some water to drop, as he found out half way to the
nearest shelter. He had not seen it rain so hard since he was in south Florida.
Visibility was less than ten feet<u>,</u> which was a good thing as two
soldiers walked out to where he had just stepped off the helicopter. They had
their heads down and missed the decidedly white Sam White, as he ducked into a
shed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After the soldiers made a half-hearted
(and thoroughly wet) look around the pavement they went around the building out
of sight. Sam took the opportunity to quickly walk the other direction and caught a ride on a passing delivery truck. He wasn't sure where it was that he had been dropped off, it certainly wasn't the airport, but he was sure that it wasn't safe there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He spotted the river during a short break in the rain and banged on the side of the truck to be let out. There tied to a stick
jammed into the bank was the fishing boat with two men waiting for him as
planned. Sam was proud of himself for making his first connection and avoiding
detention. This mission was quite the thrill so far.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once on the fishing boat and underway
Sam had checked his gear to make sure that all was still dry and undamaged. It
was all still safe and ready. He wished that he could say the same for himself.
The rain had drenched him from under his hat to inside of his boots. His
clothes were so wet that he felt like he was sitting in hot mud, and it was
still morning. It would get hotter. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His guides spoke to each other but
never made eye contact with Sam. He wondered if that was so they could say that
they had never seen him. He desperately wanted to ask them when they were going
to speed up as it seemed that they were only going at about a fast walk (4
mph). That rate would barely get them to Can Tho by nightfall. He was learning
about Asian time the hard way. They would get there, when they got there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Back at the ship the admiral had
directed the captain to turn seaward and put some distance between them and the
country of Viet Nam. He did not want to be the reason for any more
international press coverage. It was said later that he expected the worst from
the mission that young PH2 White had been sent on and never expected the man to
return.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam made the decision to save the
military ration chocolate bars for later and just share food with the
Vietnamese men. Had he tasted those candy bars he would have traded them at the
first opportunity. That way at least he would have gotten some revenge.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To say that the food of Southeast Asia
can be hot is like saying that gasoline can catch on fire. The simple appearing
meal of rice and fish with green and red “seasoning” that they willingly shared
with the young photographer had “consequences.” The immediate short term effect
was intense searing pain on his tongue and lips as the peppers burned his
mouth. It was the second, long term problem that nearly did him in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam wasn’t sure how long he rode with
his butt hanging over the side of the boat as the explosions in his insides
happened over and over again. He didn’t immediately catch on to what was going
on when one of the men flipped the tail of his shirt over his very white
posterior. He was flying the pale butt flag of an American, which anyone along
the river would recognize as a foreigner. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Arriving at Can Tho around 18:00 they
were met by two more ARVN soldiers driving what Sam understood to be a stolen
truck. Those men were very insistent that they depart for Vinh Long
immediately. He hoped with all of his remaining body fluids that the ride would
not be bumpy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As he tried to thank the men who
brought him up the river he was grabbed and pulled into the truck by his new
guides. Panic nearly consumed him at that point as he thought that he was on
his way to interrogation for sure. Once they had sped away from the river he
was told in Queen’s English that the men he had just left were NLF and were
about to hand him over to their superiors. He once again felt the urge to be
sick but held on and it passed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam told the man sitting in the
non-driving spot (he was in between them) that he had eaten food with the river
men and he had been in distress ever since. The man reached into his bag on the
floor of the truck and pulled out a piece of root of some kind. He said, “This
will help you. Chew it up and then spit out rest.” Then he bit off a piece,
took it out of his mouth and handed it to Sam. By then Sam was ready to die
from the cure, rather than continue to suffer. To his surprise his problem was
gone before he spit out the chewed up mass of root. He never did learn what
that root was.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once within sight of the river they
drove parallel to it for a short distance until they spotted the converted
sport fishing boat. They had Sam get out on the road and they kept going, again
hoping to disguise his movements. He was able to say his thanks before he
hopped down from the running board of the truck and nearly broke his ankle
stepping into a pothole.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black looked like a grizzled old
fisherman with his short grey beard and Greek fisherman’s cap. The hard steel
gaze that met Sam’s eyes belied the soft voice that came from his mouth. He grabbed
Sam’s bag and helped him aboard, while simultaneously calling to his crewman in
Vietnamese to get underway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As the young photographer looked
around the boat in the fading light he could see .50 caliber machine guns
mounted forward and aft, plus machine guns stowed on either side abeam the
steering wheel. He began to worry that maybe this was going to be more of a
challenge than he wanted.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam asked the chief if they were going
to keep going up river as the darkness fell, noting that they couldn’t see anything.
Chief Black then pulled a pair of Russian night vision goggles out of a cabinet
and said that night was his favorite time as he could see everyone and they
couldn’t see him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There were only four ARVN crewmen
aboard as the chief wanted his crew number to stay the same. Villagers and
fishermen reported the number of people on his boat every time they saw it and
adding an extra would arouse suspicion. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief had his first mate take Sam
below to put camouflage paint on his face and hands, to hopefully help disguise
him. They couldn’t do much to hide his 6’1” height and 180 pound frame, so he
would have to go below when they encountered people.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They moved cautiously up river under
the cover of darkness with a crewman on the bow, one on the stern and one each
on the port and starboard sides. Chief Black said that he knew the river in
this section and there was nothing to photograph so he suggested that Sam go
below and sleep while he could.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That was where Sam was at 05:00 when
the fire fight began.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chatter of the 50 caliber gun
going off above his head rolled the young man out of his bunk and onto the
floor. It was fortuitous that he had reacted in that way as a round came
through the hull of the boat and knocked the blanket roll that he had been using
as a pillow off of the bunk. He most certainly would have been shot in the head
had he not moved.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The twin diesel engines roared as the
chief pushed the throttle and spun the boat to the opposite bank and then
quickly back down the river out of range. The boat had taken damage and would
need repairs before they could try again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Finding a side channel that looked
good about thirty minutes downstream, they pulled in and assessed the damage.
No one was hit, which was a great thing as far as Sam was concerned. He had
survived his first fire fight and was scared and exhilarated at the same time.
It was like the time when he rode a motorcycle off of a pier and realized that
he wasn’t dead when he bobbed up in the ocean. His adrenalin was still pumping.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black barked orders to his crew
in Vietnamese and had them scrambling all over the boat checking things and
fixing holes that were low enough to possibly leak. The river was pretty high
and fast with the monsoon drainage still running hard. He didn’t want to chance
taking on water.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When all was in readiness on the boat,
they stopped what they were doing long enough to eat a small cold meal. Two of
the crewmen were gone for a few minutes going to the bathroom and looking for
some kind of plant to either eat or use for medicine. Sam wasn’t sure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black sat watching the men, the
sky, the water and smoking his hand-rolled cigarette that smelled awful, until
he felt that the time was right. Whatever he had been waiting for happened and
he gave a couple of quick, gruff orders to the men. They pushed off and the
diesels came to life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everyone was on full alert with
weapons at the ready as they approached the place where they had been attacked
earlier. Sam felt the need to go to the bathroom but doubted that he could get
anything past his clenched butt cheeks if the opportunity to go presented
itself. It was then that he realized that he was actually shaking.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As they passed by the farthest point
they had yet attained on this journey Sam felt a sense of relief and said so
out loud. That was one of those times where you think back and say, “I never
should have said that; it jinxed everything.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The words had barely cleared his lips
when the engines began to sputter and cough. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief cussed and yelled to his
first mate to take the helm while he checked the engines. For some reason the
other, crewmen didn’t seem upset or even look back at what was going on. Sam
thought that they must just be staying alert for an attack.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Before Chief Black could even get the
engine housing open the motors conked out, causing a lot of excitement. More
orders were barked out and the first mate spun the steering wheel bringing the
craft around to go back south with the current. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was told to grab a machine gun
from storage and to watch the river bank on the starboard side. His
instructions were to shoot anything that moved. They were really vulnerable as
they drifted along without the power to get away or even maneuver. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Crawling back to his feet, the chief
went quickly forward again and tapped the fuel gauge dial with his finger. It
was sitting on zero. Flipping a toggle switch on the dashboard next to the
gauge he again tapped the dial and got the same results… zero. Both of their
fuel tanks were empty.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The boat drifted with the current and
everyone maintained their positions of watchfulness while their leader
continued to investigate why they had no fuel. Only he (Sam) seemed nervous, he
thought, as he looked around.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was sweating so much that he got
dehydrated and nearly passed out. He didn’t even realize that he was thirsty.
The older American told him to eat a couple of salt tablets and drink some
water from his canteen. That helped a lot and he felt better.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief eventually found a puncture
in one tank that he thought was a bullet hole. But, as he thought about it he
changed his mind. “Bullets don’t make square holes” he said to himself. The
discovery of a fuel line that was not only disconnected but routed so that it
poured the fuel out through the back drain, made the old Seal see red. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Both tanks had drained into the muddy
brown waters of the Mekong and the smell of diesel fuel had been masked by the
ever present stink of the river. There was an automatic crossover between tanks
to avoid running the engine dry and it had worked. The distance they had
covered was on what they got from the leaking tanks together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The river was running swiftly and
there was no further incident as they drifted back to a place where they could
get diesel fuel from a large farm that actually had a tractor. Most farms used
either people power or had a water buffalo that they harnessed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The farmer was not very trustful of
the several 1 dong (currency of Viet Nam) coins that the American gave him for
the fuel, as he was afraid that the government money wouldn’t be any good. The
chief being an experienced horse trader brought out a good steel axe from the
tool box on the boat and the old man was all smiles. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam saw that the navy man treated the
elderly farmer with respect and that the farmer seemed to like him very much.
He also noted that for some reason the ancient man would not even look at the
boat crew. Again he figured that it was so he could say that he never saw
anyone. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He said that he felt odd sitting
exposed at that small dock out in the open, like everyone could see them and
was reporting them as they sat there. He was no longer sure who they would
report to, as he was not sure who the good guys and bad guys were any more. It
was all very confusing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once again they found a side tributary
to hide in and the chief cut a piece of wood to roughly fit the hole in the
second tank and hammered it into place until it sealed the puncture completely.
Then he had a crewman pump diesel from the 55 gallon drums into the tank with a
hand crank device. He explained that the fuel would cause the piece of wood to
swell inside of the tank and it would be locked into place and completely leak
proof.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They decided to spend the night at
that location and try again at first light the next morning. The Vietnamese men
went ashore and made a fire to cook fish that they caught and smoke what
smelled like hashish or something to Sam.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The old farmer had given Chief Black a
cloth with some cheese and peppers and other vegetables that Sam didn’t
recognize in it. He thought it odd that the old man had specified that it was
for the chief and Sam only. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The young photographer wondered if
they should be afraid to eat it, but trusted his leader with his life and so
just followed the older man’s lead. The chief was kind enough to warn him away
from the peppers which would have burned him up, again. Sweat poured from the
Navy Seal’s head and face as he ate the hot morsels proclaiming how good they
were. Sam was happy to pass them up still remembering the suffering he endured
from the first meal he had in Viet Nam.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was awakened by a nudge from the
chief’s boot as he lay sleeping on the deck of the boat. It had been too hot to
sleep below decks in the bunks, and he still had visions of that bullet
knocking his pillow off the bed. He was just fine on the deck.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With the sun just beginning its climb
into the sky and the chief confident that his fuel tanks were full, they once
again powered out into the main stream. The chief had Sam take a turn at the
wheel of the fast boat as they cruised at about half speed. He liked it and
felt good about their day; everything was falling into place finally.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black made the rounds of the
mounted weapons, checking that were loaded and ready and speaking with each
crewman briefly. He wanted to be sure that none of them were still high from
the previous night. The man seemed to Sam to be smiling more than usual. What
he really didn’t understand was why that made him so nervous.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After they cleared the narrows where
they attacked the first time the chief told Sam to see to his camera gear while
he took over the helm and increased their speed. He felt that there could be
photo opportunities a few miles ahead and wanted to be ready. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">No one saw the log submerged just
below the surface, or the green ropes or vines that held it in place, until
after they hit it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All four Vietnamese crewmen were
thrown from the boat by the impact. The chief was knocked over the side but had
a rope around his wrist which was tied to bulkhead next to the steering wheel.
Sam had been standing in the cabin below decks facing aft towards the opening
and was thrown towards the bow. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everything happened in a split second
but seemed like slow motion to Sam. He was trying to get up when the second
bump hit as the boat went over the log and struck the propellers. That jolt
sent him face first into the ladder coming down from the main deck. Once more
he got to his feet and was dizzy but recovering. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As the fog cleared he had an image
stuck in his head of the crewman at the rear machine gun standing on the rear
wall of the boat and jumping off right before the first impact. He couldn’t
make any sense of it and kept shaking his head trying to clear it out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam and Chief Black made it back to
the main deck of the boat at the same time. His Navy Seal training had served
him well as he held onto the rope that secured him to the boat and was able to
clamber back aboard with only minor bumps and scrapes. Once standing he looked
at Sam and threw him a cloth. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The younger man had no idea what it
was for and said so. The chief actually laughed and said, “You’re bleeding on
my deck son.” Sam had struck his nose and lips and had no idea that he was
losing blood. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As the younger man saw to his injuries
the chief scrambled forward to the machine gun and held onto it as he scanned
the river banks and the jungle beyond. He quietly called out to his crewmen in
Vietnamese but got no answer.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was a little faint as he realized
how much blood he had lost, but felt alright in general. What amazed him was
that he wasn’t scared. He really should have been, they were in a nasty spot if
the bad guys attacked. As his eyes were able to focus he could see their four
crewmen still swimming with the river and moving farther away from them. “Why
don’t they make for the bank?” he recalled thinking to himself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The log had lifted the rear of the
boat clear of the water as they balanced there, still hung up on it. That
precarious position gave the chief a chance to inspect the drive shafts and see
that while their propellers were damaged, the drivelines were still good.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It looked like another drift down the
river was in order as they had to get replacement propellers in order to make
it to their destination. They would be able to fire up the motors and use them sparingly
to control the boat, but wouldn’t get much power from them as they were.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When Chief Black stripped off his
boots and shirt to get in the water to check the boat Sam saw scars on his
chest, back and arms. The man had been through Hell and never spoke of his
past. He gained more respect and understanding for the older man’s sometimes
gruff ways that day. He was a survivor; he did what he had to do.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief had Sam go all the way
forward to the point of the bow to use his weight as a counter balance while
the extremely strong old veteran stood on the log that had stopped them and
lifted and pushed on the stern of his boat. In just two tries he had them clear
of the log. Once they were clear he took a machete and hacked through the ropes
holding one end of the log. He had thought of just cutting the rope before but
he was afraid that the freed log would strike the propellers again and make
things worse.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam watched the log swing to the side
of the river and thought again about what he had seen just prior to impact. As
the chief swung the craft into the current with little bursts of power from the
engines, Sam told him what he had seen. He added, thinking out loud, “He
couldn’t have seen the log from where he was all the way aft. The boat would
have blocked his view.” A very dark scowl came over the old veteran’s face as
he nodded and remained quiet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">About a mile down the river they
caught up with the four crewmen who were just climbing out of the river onto
the bank. The men called out to us in Vietnamese and moved to a good spot on a
sheared off bank. As the chief maneuvered the boat next to the bank the men
jumped back aboard and they were able to continue on down the river at drift
speed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief was strangely quiet and
seemed to be doing a slow boil. When they reached his private dock up a small
hidden side tributary well clear of the villagers, the ARVN crew got off the
boat and got in smaller craft and paddled off. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black brought a bottle of
whiskey up from below decks and a canteen cup. The older man poured Sam a
healthy amount of the brown liquid into the canteen cup and then tilted the
bottle up and drank deeply.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once that ceremony of survival was
completed the chief said what was on his mind. “It could be bad luck or just
freak accidents, but I got a bad gut feeling” he said. Sam asked what he meant
by that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The man continued, “No one but my crew
knew that we would be going up the river that first night and the attack came
at the narrowest part of the river.” He added, “I think my crew was shooting
high (intentionally missing) too.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The fuel line and the hole in the tank
were no accident; he had found a pick that matched the square shape of the hole
in the tank.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black had been up the river past
where they hit the log just a few days earlier and it wasn’t there. The crewmen
jumping off the boat before they hit the log and then swimming away from either
an explosion or an attack that they expected to happen clinched it for him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These were not random occurrences,
they were sabotage. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam had orders to complete the mission
and there was no time limit set. He just thought that it was because he would
be done so soon it wasn’t an issue. The latest developments proved that theory
was out the window. He wasn’t sure when he would finish his task, but he wasn’t
as fearful as he had been. The bad guys had thrown a lot at him and he was
still in one piece. He could do it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black took Sam below decks,
opened a locked chest and withdrew a Colt automatic pistol and handed it and a
box of bullets to the young photographer. “Keep this on you at all times,” he
instructed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They set about replacing the bent
propellers and repairing some bullet damage as best they could with the
materials on board and salvaged from a nearby similar boat. Sam had no idea if
the other boat belonged to the chief and wasn’t about to ask. The older man
brought a couple of pieces of plate steel from a shed and installed them on
either side of the engine housing as a kind of armor plating. Sam was thinking
that he might like some of that plating to get behind if bullets started flying
on their next attempt. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Occasionally a small boy would come to
the boat and speak to the chief in Vietnamese and then leave again. After the
third time Sam had to know and asked the chief what the boy was doing. The
older man smiled and said quietly that the boy was his adopted son and was
keeping watch on the road for anyone coming their way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Prior to that Sam had not entertained
the idea that anyone might be actually coming after them. He wasn’t at war with
anyone, but he was no longer sure that the other guys knew that. The young
sailor really didn’t have a clue about the politics of Viet Nam.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black satisfied with his repairs
and alterations, took a small canoe out to the main watercourse to send a
message to his crewmen via a passing fisherman. It was a system that they had
used many times over the last year that he had been in country.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The message was simple: come to his
landing in three hours. All the way back the old veteran was upset because he
had that nagging gut feeling again. He had stayed alive for his entire
twenty-two year military career by always trusting his instincts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam had decided to take it easy while
the chief was away and lay down on the grass above the boat dock to take a nap.
It was nearly a permanent nap.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The chief glided back towards the dock
silently on the water, easing around the larger boat and stood up to throw his
knife. Standing over the sleeping photographer was an assassin about to drop a
poisonous snake on him. As the Navy Seal threw his knife he leapt from the boat
and ran up the dock pulling a machete from behind his back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam woke up when the big knife hit the
ground next to his head, severing the head from a Krait, also known to locals
as a “step-and-a-half,” because that is how far legend said that you would get
before you died if bitten. The bite was always fatal; how far you could walk
was unimportant.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The younger man could barely speak as
the veteran stepped across him to retrieve his knife from the body of the man
he had just killed. “We need to get ready to go,” the chief said calmly. All
Sam could do was nod his head and scramble to his feet. He barely dared to look
back as the Chief Black drug the dead man into some tall grass out of sight.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When he had pumped his fuel tanks full
and topped off his extra 55 gallon drum on the deck the chief gave Sam a flak
vest to put on. He also told him to make sure that his Colt was loaded with one
in the chamber and ready to go. The younger man could only nod his head as the
feeling that something drastic was about to happen lay heavily on him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black went out of sight around a
bend in the trail and was gone several minutes before returning at a trot with
his adopted son Nyuen running along behind him. Both of them grabbed lines and
cast off as they jumped aboard the boat. Sam sat on a bench seat on the boat
with his Colt .45 in his hand awaiting orders.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was nearly time for his crew to
arrive and the old chief decided to go across the main channel and tuck the
boat into the reeds out of sight and wait for them. A few minutes before the
ARVN boat crew would be at the landing they heard a tremendous explosion,
followed closely by two more.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nyuen smiled at his father as the
chief said, “I thought so” and nodded at the boy. Sam was at a loss as to what
had happened and started to question his benefactor but kept quiet as the chief
held a finger to his lips.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Around a bend in the river came a
motor launch filled with NLF soldiers towing a smaller boat with his crewmen in
it. As they reached the tributary the head man in the launch said to the
crewmen (in Vietnamese) “If anyone is still alive join them like nothing has
happened and report to us later tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black watched the motor launch
go out of sight down the river and then idled his powerful boat out of the
reeds and into the tributary following his crewmen. Once he had all four of
them in sight he whispered to Sam that they were going to have to kill those
four traitors or they themselves wouldn’t make it through the night. It was a
terrifying prospect but events left them little choice if they were to succeed
and survive.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not wanting to make any more noise
than necessary in case there were reinforcements nearby, the veteran Navy Seal
once again used his weapons skills and killed the back two men with thrown
knives. While he did that Nyuen shot a third man with his crossbow killing him
instantly. When the last villain turned with a gun in his hand Sam had no
choice but to fire his pistol. The bullet ripped through the man’s head and he
fell from the boat. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam was in shock and scarcely believed
what he had just done. He had shot guns all of his life, but never at anyone.
Chief Black and his son were scrambling to strip the men of their soldier
uniforms and throw the bodies in the river. They threw the clothing into the
bushes where the body of the assassin he killed earlier lay bloating in the
heat. There was no time to spare; they had to get away from there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As the boat eased out into the river
current in the afternoon sun, the chief was able to push the throttle and make
good speed away from the area. Sam still sat on his bench with a blank
expression on his face, not comprehending what had just happened to them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Feeling safer now, Chief Black had
Nyuen take the wheel while he readied the machine guns both forward and aft. As
he did so he explained to Sam that he had rigged his own living quarters with
explosives in case he was correct in his gut feeling that his crewmen were
actually NLF (Viet Cong) and had informed on him. First the assassin, and then
the explosions they heard, were the proof that the bad guys were after them.
Had they not acted as they did, none of them would have survived.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When they reached the point where they
had been fired upon on their first attempt, Nyuen was manning the forward gun
and Sam was stationed on the aft weapon. Chief Black was all eyes as he scanned
the river itself for log traps, and the river’s edge for assailants. Nothing at
all happened.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Beyond that point Sam was reminded
that he was there to take pictures and he got out his camera and stood by. The
young photographer used all three cameras before he was done on that trip and
shot all of his film.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He never really told me what all he
photographed but he did say that there were power lines across the river in
weird places and concrete landings on both sides of the river like heavy
military amphibious vehicles might use. There were power plants and strange
installations in the middle of nowhere and he shot them all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chief Black left the boat briefly
inside of Cambodia and when he returned he was carrying a black bag the size of
bowling ball. As they left the area heading south again, several loud
explosions were heard. When Sam looked at the older man questioningly, the
chief said, “Don’t ask.” So he didn’t. He didn’t really want to know anyway. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sam just hoped that all of his
photographs and whatever the chief did, were worth the lives that they taken.
He justified the killings by saying to himself, “It was them or us.” But he
never really convinced himself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Navy Seal had completed his
assignment and worn out his welcome in the area so he was leaving too. He was
able to arrange for a truck above Vinh Long and sold his boat, machine guns and
all, to another American who was helping the Buddhist refugees escape from Ngo
Dinh Nhu’s secret police.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wars have always done unseen damage to
people. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That quiet American with the shy smile
that Chief Black gave the keys to the boat to was a Korean War veteran who
never went home. He said that he couldn’t, not after what he had seen and done.
The man felt that he wasn’t fit to be among innocent, unsuspecting people who
would think that he was a decent human being. Sam understood what he was saying
and wished that he didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The old chief jokingly told his friend
that he should probably paint the boat a different color and avoid the area he
used to live in as it might prove “unfriendly.” The other American said that it
wasn’t a problem, he was used to not being popular.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It took them nearly four hours of
driving as fast as possible on roads with huge holes and clogged with farmer’s
carts, to reach Bien Hoa airport. Within thirty minutes, an all black C-130
showed up which was to carry Chief Black and his son (all though they didn’t
know that part) to Thailand. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A message had been sent to the
aircraft carrier by some means unknown to Sam and a mail plane was sent to pick
him up and return him to the ship. He and his precious cargo of film were safely
extracted from Viet Nam and returned to the relative safety of the big grey
floating city. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As soon as he stepped foot off of the
aircraft he was divested of his bag by the same young Ensign from Naval
Intelligence that had first contacted him in the photo lab. He was allowed to
shower, eat and sleep for eight hours before he was taken to a viewing room to
be debriefed on every photo that he took. They kept at it for several days
which angered his PHC to no end because he still had to cover the duty roster
without PH2 White. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In a ceremony held at sea and with no
press release or notification of next of kin, Sam was awarded the Navy
Distinguished Service Medal. He was also instructed to never discuss the
mission he had been on and what he had photographed there. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We didn’t discuss it…he talked and I
listened; there was no discussion. He never said a word until twenty-three
years after it happened and the war was long over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">P.S.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the next deployment (of his
carrier) that was heading towards Viet Nam, PH2 White managed to get himself
drunk enough to pass out on the beach in Hawaii and get badly sunburned. He
missed ship’s movement and didn’t get out of the hospital for six weeks (that
took a lot of sweet talking.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Subsequently he was in big trouble and
got demoted to Photographer’s Mate 3<sup>rd</sup> class and did 30 days in the
ship’s brig upon arrival back on the carrier. He managed to miss all of the
Viet Nam duty station activity and wasn’t sad about that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rumor had it that Sam and a certain
Marine Sergeant that had a fondness for flying Cadillacs, were running a
nightly crap game in the brig. I don’t know for sure as I wasn’t there… but I
wouldn’t doubt it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-3358801524646188522013-03-22T16:21:00.002-07:002013-03-22T16:21:58.110-07:00Hate is not the answer<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I have edited this story for grammatical errors and added a few more words to help clarify meaning. If you like what you read and agree with what I have said, that "Hate is not the answer" feel free and please do, share this story with friends.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Truth about the
KKK </span></u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me begin this tale
by posing two true or false questions for consideration:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is every Southerner a
member of the Ku Klux Klan? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does every Southerner
believe that the KKK is really out to do good, and is simply misunderstood? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was 13 years old
in 1966 I needed to know what the real story was in regards to the
"Invisible Empire.” The two questions stated above were two of many that
were going through my mind far too frequently for a young boy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In light of the events
of the 1960s with riots, abductions, and murders happening all over the country
(not just in the South like some people seem to remember it) it really wasn't
strange for a young person to be trying to figure out what was true, and what
was false.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">South Florida was not
the hotbed of racial tension that other areas were at that time. Not like
Montgomery, Birmingham, Cleveland, or just about any large city with sufficient
media coverage to make national news. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I still think that
political advantage and profiteering had more to do with the riots than we
knew. It wasn’t just about anyone’s civil or human rights. Injustices were
happening, and change was coming slowly, but there was too much violence.
Violence wasn't the way that the church going, God fearing people that I grew
up with would even think of behaving. It certainly wasn’t what Martin Luther
King, Jr. was preaching.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grew up with kids of
every color, nationality, religion, and income level that you could imagine. If
you know South Florida, you know that is not an exaggeration of the society
found there. Black, white, brown, red, yellow... only meant colors from a
Crayola Crayon box to us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I knew three boys
named Larry, and we had to call them something slightly different to tell who
we were yelling at to throw us the ball, etc.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One was called "Lawrence", one was
called "Larry", and one was called "LT". OK, you got that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now add to the mix;
one was Catholic, one was Jewish, and one was Baptist. To further confuse the
issue; one was black, one was white, and one was Seminole. Can you tell by the
names, which was which? Does it matter anyway? It didn't to us; they were just
three guys named Larry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If curiosity is
killing you; Lawrence was black and Catholic, Larry was white and Jewish, which
made LT a Seminole of the Baptist persuasion... and none of this mattered, and
it shouldn't.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enter
Curiosity</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why did these people
(the KKK) gather together and hold rallies; and what's with the burning cross?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These questions are
what prompted four of us to go out into an orange grove in Davie, Florida, one
Friday night when we were supposed to be at a school dance at the Junior High
School.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a foolish thing
to do and a much greater risk for my three Seminole Indian "brothers"
than it was for me. Seminole Indians have "mixed" with slaves at
times in their history and the KKK has a special hatred for those of mixed
ancestry.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At least that was what
we had heard and that was a big part of the problem. We didn't have any
first-hand knowledge and the opposing sides were extremely opinionated in their
own behalf. So who should we believe? What was the Gospel in this matter?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Rally</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Friday night in “X's”
orange grove, ceremonies to start at 8:00 PM, sharp. Come early and bring your
own supplies. The Exalted Grand Dragon will Honor us with a speech and sermon.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was more to the
flier, but you get the tone of the message. That was how we found out where and
when the rally was being held. We were determined to find out the “why.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Larry, Ralph, Sam and
I really did start out at the dance. We didn't lie (to our parents) about going
to it, we just didn't stay long. One of their cousins had agreed to give us a
ride out to the orange grove for a half-pint bottle of Vodka. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had already taken
care of the payment, and obtained his promise not to drink it until we were
safely back at the dance and he had driven home. The “no drinking” restriction
was necessary because we had to be back at the school before 11:00 PM when the
dance got over and we didn't want this cousin getting into a wreck or getting
arrested (or leaving us out there with the Klan.)</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rally location was
a big shock to me. It was in a grove owned by a prominent family of church
going folks with a very good reputation. I recall saying that “Maybe they
didn't know that it was being held there.” “And maybe pigs fly,” was the
response and general consensus of opinion about that idea. I knew that the guys
were right…I just didn’t want them to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We knew that the main
road into the grove would be watched and they weren't likely to let us in to
satisfy our curiosity. They might have let me in by myself, if one of their
number would speak up for me. But, I wasn't interested in being alone with the
Knights of the KKK, betting on them being understanding "Good Ole Boys."
So that approach was out. There was another road which connected this grove to
the next, but it was a long way to the other end where you "might" have
been able to enter, and it could have been padlocked too.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only logical choice
for us was to cross the big canal next to the paved county road that bordered
the grove. Then hike in through the trees in the dark without flashlights, and
hope that we didn't encounter snakes, etc. There were also the man made
obstructions like barbed wire and irrigation hardware. Yep. It was the best
way, they would have to figure that nobody would be crazy enough to do that and
not worry about posting guards or lookouts on that side.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We found a place for
the cousin to park the car and go to sleep. He promised to wait and not drink
the Vodka until the agreed upon time and if we weren't out by 11:00 PM he was
to go get the entire tribe to rescue us. We didn't think that the cops would be
of much use for some reason... a hunch that proved to have merit later.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The water was deep and
cold, and there were alligators and Water Moccasins in those ditches,
especially big canals like that one. Those minor details made it even more comical
that we had to get naked and wade across with our clothes held over our heads
to keep them dry. The running joke was about where you might get snake bit; and
that nobody was going to suck the poison out, etc. We were very loony,
that much is obvious now, but at the time it was just another thing that we
did. We could see an alligator farther up the canal, but we were too large for
it to bother with.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We found a good spot
to get out and quickly got dressed again. There was a minor planning problem; we
had to use our underwear to dry off with. Not wanting to put wet underwear back
on, we left them hanging on the bushes to dry. I wondered for a long time if
they were still there. We didn't go back for them, that's for sure!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We actually made good
time through the trees and were being very careful where we put our feet, both to
avoid hazards and to prevent making unnecessary noise that might alert the
Klansmen. We wanted this to be a "private" viewing of their rally and
not for us to be "part" of it. The thought of what would happen to my
Seminole brothers if we were caught made me very careful. The idea that I would
be the reason for harm coming to them suddenly terrified me.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was 7:45 p.m. when
we got to the edge of the clearing where there was a bonfire and a lot of
"White Robes" moving around. That meant it took us 30 minutes to cross
the canal and hike in to that spot. We moved along the trees, keeping them
between the crowd and us until we found a likely site to watch from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The four of us then
climbed a tree almost all the way to the top. Orange trees were not my choice
for climbing with their thorns sticking out everywhere. I was scratched and
bleeding from several places by the time I reached my perch.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we had hesitated at
all, we would have been history. We had no more stopped moving than two guards
in white robes and hoods, carrying shotguns, walked right up to where we were
and stopped. I was afraid to even breathe!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rally was called
to order and the ceremonies began at 8:00 p.m. on the dot. Those boys were
punctual, I'll give them that much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The head guy of all of
them, the “Exalted Grand Dragon,” was sitting in a lawn chair behind the stage,
out of sight. He didn't get up or even appear to pay any attention when the
"Wizard" was on stage working the crowd into a frenzy. I supposed
that it was much like what the opening act did for the headliner at a concert
or a Las Vegas show.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This hooded bozo (the
Wizard) had already answered a lot of our questions concerning the attitudes
and intentions of the Invisible Empire of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. If
you weren't just like them you were wrong for their future and a danger to
their children; and you had to be eliminated. Peacefully if possible, but
however was necessary, if that was what it took.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The speaker professed
to be a God fearing man on a mission to save his race from contamination and
extinction. He said that he was doing it all for his children and their
children. Using children and God were his main hooks to work the crowd, and
work them he did! These robed figures were agitated, animated, and aggressive (just
to use the "A's".) However you wanted to describe it, they were
pumped up and ready to receive the message from their "main man!”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As good as the Wizard
was at stirring the crowd up, he was nothing compared to the Exalted Grand
Dragon! That man had people crying, shouting, and dumping money into a barrel.
The donations were to keep up the fight against the government and all the
others who would deny them their God given right. Of course, maybe a little of
it would have to be used to pay for the stretch limousine that the big guy had
arrived in; and would go on to the next rally in, riding in comfort.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I got the feeling that
I was witnessing Adolph Hitler working on the plan for the Aryan race. There
was no longer any doubt in my mind that genocide was too singular for what
these crazies had in store for the rest of us.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was able to
take my eyes off of the stage and look around us, I just about spoke out loud.
Damn! The rally with all those fanatics was in front of us and their cars were
parked behind us, with armed guards patrolling all around them. There was no
"sideways,” the bonfire was so large that it illuminated everything around
us. We were in an ugly fix, but still safe in the tree top for now.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ceremony of
lighting the cross would usually have begun the rally I was told later on in
life. On that night it had special significance and had been delayed until that
critical point. I had never seen so large of a cross before; it was made from
telephone poles and was at least 40 feet high. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Grand Dragon said
a prayer that got a lot of “amens” all through it and had everyone focused on
him. At a wave of the hand signal from him, one of the attendants lit the cross
with a forty foot burst of liquid fire (like napalm) from a flame thrower. The
screams, squeals and applause of the masses gathered there were thunderous!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The KKK will tell you
that the lighting of the cross is a sacred religious tradition honoring the
Light of God and Jesus for dying for our sins. All completely Christian and
only meant as a good example of their faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So why then did their
leader say, "All of the unclean, and the mixed curs had better take
warning from this cross burning brightly in the night. We will take what is our
right by any means necessary and they can perish in its flames if they get in
the way." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The crowd again
responded with riotous and righteous clamor, not unlike a hound pack hitting a
strong scent trail. I feared that the Dragon was going to send them out to harm
people right then. In their present state of mind I believed that they would do
anything that he ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man with the flame
thrower was so moved that he unleashed another burst of fire on the already
burning cross, causing more screams yet.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That “re-lighting” of
the cross served a better purpose for us. It brought the guards in from the
parking area to witness the burning and increasing level of excitement. Their
movement drew them in far enough that we felt that it was our best chance to
get out of the tree and slip out through the cars. Again we went with the logic
of doing the least expected. No one would expect us to come out through the
cars and down the main road of the grove.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those trees ate us
alive with scratches and cuts, but not a sound was made, at least not out loud.
I was truly screaming inside my head from all of the pain. I almost fell out of
the tree, but a hand reached out and grabbed me. Larry was looking out for his
"brother," as always.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We made it to the
ground and staying low, moved as quickly as possible to get to the cover of the
vehicles and darkness. Fear was a great motivator and we had plenty to be
afraid of from those nuts, especially in the frenzy that they were riding on
right at that moment. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As shocking as the
words had been, and as disheartening as the supposed "moral
conviction" of these robed figures was; the real pain and hurt lie ahead.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When these Knights of
the Klan were just anonymous figures in robes, it was bad enough. But, when we
got among the cars and recognized the vehicle of our Sheriff, the personalized
plates of the Mayor's car, the car of a banker who was the father of one of our
friends, the truck belonging to the owner of the local hardware store (complete
with the sign on the side), and other vehicles of people that we knew by the
car or license plate... it went past bad, it was gut wrenchingly painful. How
could they act this way here at this rally, and then smile to our faces when
they met us on the street?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And then came the real
crusher. The unmistakable car of the preacher whose church we had been
attending! It serves no purpose to identify what religion he represented; none
of them would condone what he had done here tonight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sinking
realization that we now knew why the Wizard who "opened" for the main
speaker sounded so familiar, and why he could talk for an hour and a half
without letting up. We never set foot in his church again after that night. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We moved quietly
through the cars and down the road towards freedom and fresh air. It smelled
like sulfur and brimstone where we just were.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Escape</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a checkpoint
to pass and even though it was dark, we could smell their cigarettes and hear
what they probably considered a whisper, a long way from them. We just slipped
off to the side and went through the trees until we were clear of them and then
got back on the sand two-track road and in no time we had reached pavement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Upon gaining that
asphalt pavement, we allowed ourselves (for the first time) to run, and run we
did, all the way to the car about a mile down that county two-lane. We ran like
the Devil himself was behind us, and I’m not so sure that he wasn’t.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we woke the
cousin up from a sound sleep in the back seat of his car, scaring him with our
emotional insistence to hurry up, he no doubt thought that the Klan was after
us. It was worse, it was demons in our minds, screaming about what we had seen and
heard!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The clock showed 10:30
p.m. when we walked back into the dance; we had been gone a lifetime. It was a
sad, hard lesson to learn that things are seldom what they seem and people are
capable of unbelievable extremes and such hatred that I couldn't yet
comprehend.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It would take many
years and experiencing war to make me know the depths of the human soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Right then, at
thirteen years old, I was in shock. If this was what it meant to be white, then
I was glad to be a "brother" to the Seminole People, maybe they would
claim me and I wouldn't have to be white anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was sure embarrassed
by what we had experienced on this night and apologized to my brothers for the
color of my skin. They were wiser than I was, and told me not to worry, that I
had a good heart and would always know the right path to take. I don't know if
I lived up to that, but I was glad that they were still my brothers.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever color,
nationality, or religion that you may be... whatever differences that you may
have... whatever problems may arise in your life... we learned that night that:
HATE IS NOT THE ANSWER.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-38236354340619209042013-03-19T14:55:00.001-07:002013-03-19T14:55:21.234-07:00Drill me!<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drill me!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 1.8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put your hands over
your head!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, it was not a stick
up, at least not of the regular kind. It was the 1960 version of
paranoia, visited upon elementary school children daily in their
classrooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the time period of 1960 through 1962 those of us attending
West Hollywood Elementary School, of Hollywood, Florida, were
daily participants in the "Stop, Drop, and Cover" drill, as well as
the "Duck, Cover and Wait" version. Both drills were the result of adults
being afraid of "The Bomb" and that Castro was going to shoot
missiles at us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking back now I can have a bit more sympathy for the
adults of the day. They had experienced the horrors of the bombings of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the continued bomb testing going on in Nevada and at
Bikini atoll. They were also the first generation of adults to see disasters on
television, happening in more or less real time. We must not underestimate the
shock value those images had, nor the emotional distress they caused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In my opinion, falling
to the ground and curling up in a ball, with your hands over your head, did
nothing but frighten young children and created a generation of "Doomsday
Children," always waiting for the "Big One" to drop. That was
the era of building bomb shelters and stockpiling supplies in them. In Florida
we couldn’t dig without hitting water so shelter building wasn’t as big of a
deal there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the time of this
story I was in my second grade class with Miss Wright (no relation) as my
teacher, and we were being instructed in how to properly "take cover."
They were afraid to say what we were really doing because it would cause panic
for sure, so they called them tornado drills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had lived in south Florida for
years and had never seen a tornado by itself, except on television—happening
somewhere else. They sometimes spun off of hurricanes either over land or
as waterspouts, but those are not the same size and intensity as the monsters
that plague the rest of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were young and
inexperienced, but we were not stupid. Kids weren't generally deaf then either.
We heard our parents and other adults talking about what was going on with Cuba and
the Russians, and we overheard the teachers talking among
themselves. What little television we were allowed to watch usually
included the evening news and at that time, especially in south Florida, the
missile crisis was always being talked about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were some
advantages to these drills, besides the obvious disruption to the education
process which kids were always ready for. We usually had to work at getting the
teacher off track, so as to break the monotony of all of that learnin’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My desk was at the
back of the row by the windows, located farthest away from the door to the
classroom. It was an alphabetical arrangement to make taking roll and lining up
to go anywhere easier for the teacher. Sometimes I thought that it was really
done that way in an effort to keep me from escaping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the drill began,
the teacher had to first go over and shut the door. After securing the door she
had to take roll again. “Duh, she just did that an hour earlier!” I thought,
but the rules were the rules. Then she had to sit down in her chair and put her
head down on the desk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think that modification
to the “Duck and Cover” drill was just because she was so old that she couldn't
get under her desk without getting hurt. She was eligible to retire long before
I was born, but she didn't want to give up teaching. Her wanting to stay was
really funny thinking back on it, because she always called us brats and was
grumpy each and every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When they rang the
bell to start the drill on one particular day, we all hit the deck just like we
had been shot, much to the displeasure of Miss Wright. She shook her finger at
us and made noises with her mouth to indicate to be quiet. We thought that what
we did was hilarious and started laughing, incurring further wrath from the
drill sergeant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girls really
didn't like lying down on the floor and getting their dresses dirty, and yes,
in those days all of the girls wore dresses. Remember also that these were
seven year old girls. If they were having a bad day anyway for some reason,
they were likely to start crying. Depending on which girl it was, it could start
a regular chain reaction. Just like going to the restroom together, if one
cried, they all cried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was during one of
these drills the very next day that we decided to see how long we could make
the drill last. We wanted to see just how long the teacher would play the game
until she had enough and called a halt to it on her own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the drill signal
sounded we all hit the floor and stayed there, watching the teacher, but very quietly
this time. She thought that we were being good because of her fussing at us
last time. When she was done with roll taking and satisfied that we were down
and in the proper position (curled into a ball with our hands over our heads) she
sat down and put her head down on her desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As soon as her head
came to rest on her desk I slipped out of the window next to me (the windows
went from the floor to the ceiling with no screens) then ran around the
building to the other side. I was going to slip back into the classroom through
the window, but the windows were all closed! A girl that sat by the
windows had closed them because she was cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even as a child I wasn’t
one to panic easily, and I saw another option. I walked around to the door to
the classroom and went in, just like it was the most normal thing in the
world. The teacher never moved a muscle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I walked all the way
through the room to my desk and as I was about to get back on the floor, I
thought, "Why not?" So going with my now plan “B,” I walked over
to the other side of the room, stepping carefully over the bodies sprawled all
over the place (you could only stay curled up in a ball for so long.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once there I moved a
chair over very, very quietly, climbed up on it and unscrewed the nut on the
center of the red alarm bell enough to loosen the bell. Then I stuffed the bell
full of paper towels until no more would fit and screwed the nut back in place.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just as I got off of
the chair I heard the muffled rustle of the striker inside the bell, but
nothing that could be heard from more than a couple of feet away, so we were in
business. I went back to my spot and lay down with a book under my head and my
arms crossed to wait out our “how long?” game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The "random and
spontaneous" (as written in the teacher’s instructions) sounding of the alarm
always happened at 9:00 a.m. on the dot and was over just as precisely at 9:15
a.m. every single day. You could set your watch by it, except that I didn't
have a watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all struggled to
suppress the giggles and were each determined not to be the one that ended our
"drill." I was truly surprised that the girls went along with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:30 a.m. came along
and still no movement from the teacher. At just fifteen minutes into the overtime
part of the game we were getting restless. Kids can only be still for so long
and then they have to do something or explode. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By 9:45 a.m. one of
the girls, who was pretty bold for her age, came over to me and said that two
of the girls had to go to the bathroom. What was "I" going to do
about it? I said, “Who made me bathroom monitor?” She said this thing was my
doing so I had to tell them what to do. Boy, it was lonely at the top!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I figured that Miss
Wright probably wouldn't remember if she did it or not, so I eased the "bathroom
pass" (a key connected to a piece of wood with "Miss Wright"
burned into it) off its hook on the side of her desk and gave it to the two girls.
I could only hope that they wouldn’t encounter anyone who would challenge them
and scare a confession out of them as to what we were doing. Kids under duress
were often spontaneous confessors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FFF9EE; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The game had suddenly gotten
serious. Recess was approaching swiftly, and we weren't going to miss our
favorite "class" of the day. Normally we went out at 10 a.m. and
returned to class at 10:30 a.m. It wasn't looking good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My mind finally clicked
and I thought,”Hey wait a minute! What’s wrong with me?” I whispered to
everyone to be completely quiet and line up on the sidewalk and we would march
out to the playground just like we did every day, only this time we would be
ten minutes earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh yeah, extra play time
and first dibs on the baseball field and the basketball court. I had no idea why
didn't I think of it sooner. Everyone did as I said and out they went, quiet as
happy little mice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miss Wright had been
lying there for a long time, and she was VERY old. A momentary flash of
newspaper headlines, "Teacher dies at desk, while children play joke..."
crossed before my eyes. The thought, “How would I get out of that predicament?”
started churning in my over active brain as I stood there staring at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just then she let out
a raspy, gurgling snore that would do a bear justice, and I knew that she was
just "sawing logs" and not "joked and croaked." And out the
door I went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the playground the
teacher that usually snuck out early to recess (and always grabbed the fields
for HER students) was pacing up and down. She was obviously not happy that
someone had beaten her to the punch for once. The angry woman wanted to speak
to the teacher responsible for those children who had "violated the recess
starting time". What a big hypocritical baby!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She approached several
members of our class, but the kids kept moving, afraid to have to answer any
questions. It was getting to the point where she was going to blow the whistle
at us... and you couldn't disobey the whistle. It just wasn't done! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I moved to
intercept her without being obvious and "let" her capture me and
demand to know where our teacher was. That would be OK, I had a plan and I
hoped it worked, because plan "B" for this one was run like mad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I said to the grand
inquisitor, "Oh, Miss Wright wasn't feeling well and had to go to...",
and gave it a little turning red and bashful look, "to the..." She
said, "Out with it, son!" And I answered, "To the
facilities." Yeah, good and vague, no real direction given and I never
said to the bathroom. And followed up with, "And we are worried about her,
she didn't look well, kind of all sleepy looking and red in the face."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that's exactly
what she looked like when the teacher and Mr. Sullivan (the principal) found
her still asleep, face down on her desk, with her hands still over her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was so flustered
and confused about being asleep, and getting caught that way by the principal, that
the subject of the bell not ringing (or the early recess) never even came up,
not on that day or any day afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The principal escorted
Miss Wright down to the school nurse to have her temperature taken and get her
a glass of orange juice. Miss Queen of Angry hustled back out onto the
playground to regain her dominance over everyone there. I used the few minutes
where no one was in the classroom to remove the paper towels from the bell and
throw them away. I was happy to have survived the game, but definitely sure
that I wouldn’t do that again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As far as their stupid
drills were concerned, I'd much rather have gotten blown up by a missile or
bomb while I was playing ball instead of hiding under a desk. Have you ever
seen what is on the underside of a school desk? Not a pretty sight!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that's the way it
was in 1960, when the known world was "smaller" and so was I.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-7225508032124104852013-03-15T23:15:00.006-07:002013-03-15T23:15:35.819-07:00Potholes and Attitudes<br />
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Potholes and Attitudes</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">We have all experienced a violent storm of
some kind; torrential downpours, sandstorms, violent electrical storms both wet
and dry, hurricanes, and even tornadoes. One thing that they all have in common
is their humbling power. Humans are so puny in comparison.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">When I sailed to the North Atlantic Ocean
aboard the USS America (CV-66) in 1982 for joint NATO exercises United
Effort and Northern Wedding 82, I had already experienced all of these
described storms. I would say that I was admittedly jaded in my opinions about
what a storm in these waters would be able to show me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I was comfortable with the rocking of the
ship, which being 1,047 feet in length and a displacement of 89,000 tons wasn’t
much, most of the time. Growing up I had bounced around the Florida coastal
waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico in every conceivable kind of small
craft. Motion generally didn't bother me, whether it was in a swaying tree, or an
airplane, hanging from a parachute, or on the water. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My shipmates related
tales of “big water” and violent storms that rattled the ship on previous
deployments, but I had not experienced any of it, yet. I had heard many of
their varied stories on a range of topics as we worked our way across the “pond.”
It was hard to tell what was BS meant to rattle new guys, and what was just
exaggeration. They were quite good at both.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The men (and now women) who serve on the
"small boys" (which is naval slang for anything smaller than a
battleship or aircraft carrier) are amazing. The crews on the guided missile
cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts and supply ships are real seamen and
deserve admiration for the service they give, under seriously scary conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the day that the
storm began, I was working on our position plotting chart, which we updated
every fifteen minutes. That chart was used for planning flight evolutions and
airspace clearances. Airspace is not as simple as you might think. Some
countries claim three miles from their shore line, some the international
standard twelve miles, others a ridiculous two hundred miles. You have to know
and abide by the rules of the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">As we approached the west coast of Ireland,
the Captain turned the ship to a heading of north by slightly northeast making
for a passage to the east of Iceland, and west of the Faroe Islands. It was as
we turned to that heading, that I got a message from the Navigator with heading
updates and projected weather problems that didn’t look right. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew that I had to
call him back, something which I rarely did as we worked well together as we
plotted ship positions and headings for our flight operations. But, this had to
be a mistake; his message said 70 mph winds and 40 ft seas expected.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">To be sure, I wasn't the only one calling
about that message, but the “Gator” was a great guy and gave me a minute of his
time. He repeated the information and said that we had better tie everything
down because it was going to get rough. That would prove to be one of the
greatest understatements of my naval service.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The original plan had been to conduct flight
operations as soon as we got within range of Ireland (so there would be an
alternate landing spot should we have a need for that) but this plan was
quickly being modified.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">A helicopter was ordered to be launched to get
an aerial perspective of conditions. That order was met with my unrequested and
frowned up comment, "That's a stupid idea!" Saying that got me into
instant trouble with the Air Operations Boss, who turned to me and said,
"It's the Admiral's idea!" Already in trouble for speaking up and
unable to keep my mouth shut I added, "Stupid is stupid, wherever it comes
from." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That little tirade got
me relieved from my chair as the enlisted guy directing operations in the
tracking section of the CATCC (Carrier Air Traffic Control Center.) A chief
petty officer assumed the chair to suck up to the boss and try to make it all
better. I was sent back behind the status boards to write backwards on the
board viewed via ship’s TV in all aviation offices.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The H-3 helicopter was given the green light
and lifted off the deck as we watched on the TV. It nearly crashed on the deck
from the wind encountered immediately upon lifting. I really don’t know how the
pilot held it together. They went out of sight below the flight deck
momentarily and I found that I had been holding my breath until it reappeared
on camera, going sideways and struggling to gain some altitude to get away from
the raging ocean waves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We were steaming
directly into the storm and a violent rain was just ahead of us. I yelled out
to one of the guys in the radar room to flatten the angle on his radar and look
at the storm cell. These navy controllers didn't even know that they could do
that. I had learned to manipulate the equipment in the civilian world and knew the
onboard equipment from conversing with our technicians every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One brave individual
risked being fussed at by our boss and did as I suggested and saw that the cell
was massive and very dense. I yelled out to the Air Ops Boss that he had better
recall that helicopter, or we would lose them for sure.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">As he was about to yell at me for daring to
speak up, we heard the pilot telling the Air Boss up in the small tower
attached to the superstructure of the ship, that he had to land now or they
were going to end up in the water. Permission was granted immediately and we
witnessed one of the greatest feats of airmanship that I had ever seen. I am
still not sure how that guy managed to get his helicopter back on our flight
deck without crashing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Once on deck, the flight deck crew couldn't move it from
its landing spot and put 28 chains on the aircraft, each going to a separate
tie down point for strength and security.<span class="apple-converted-space"> The
flight crewmen were each grabbed by other men with safety lines on them, as
they exited the helicopter, as the wind was blowing them off their feet.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I had mentioned that we were on an 89,000 ton,
1,047 ft long aircraft carrier. Our flight deck was 63 feet above the surface
of the water. The ship was a floating city of 5,000+ with its own airport. This
was a very big vessel and under usual circumstances you felt kind of dominating,
like you owned the sea. As we sailed north we felt less and less powerful and
in control of our world.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">If you have been in a small boat in choppy
water you know how you get bounced all around and go up and down, and side to
side. I had never felt that on this big ship as we steamed around the oceans
and seas encountering storms in the Caribbean and Atlantic, and definitely not
in the Mediterranean where the weather is generally calm.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I was feeling it now, as we bounced off of the
wall and everything around us was dancing like during an earthquake. If you
have ever ridden in the back of a pickup truck going fast down a gravel road
full of potholes and had a driver that found all of the big ones, you would be
there. A few times the ship shuddered like we hit something solid (like an
island), but it was just big waves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To stay in one spot I
had to brace myself between the wall and the status boards as we waited for
instructions and to see what the storm would bring. Sailors who had "seen
it all" were headed for a toilet or a trashcan to lose their lunch. We
could feel the mighty ship shudder repeatedly as the power of the storm met the
steel made by man.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The Aircraft Handler (responsible for the
physical positioning of planes on deck) had a full crew tying down aircraft all
over the ship. They did the flight deck first; putting extra chains on
everything parked there, and then went to the hanger deck and put more chains
on the stuff inside. If it could move, they secured it. Everyone required to
work outside, had safety lines on them. Several were knocked off of their feet
and would have gone over the side if not for those ropes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The TV camera operator was on the job in the
Flight Tower up on the island (superstructure) and kept the film rolling as we
progressed. The room was silent as we watched waves breaking over the flight
deck, some 63 feet above the surface of the water. The steel catwalks on either
side of the bow were peeled back from the hull like they were so much rolled up
paper, for about 20 feet before that stopped and the rivets and welds held.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Remember those "small boys"
described earlier? They were in the same water as we were and their size would
be like a "big wheel" tricycle next to a semi with a 70 foot trailer,
in comparison to the aircraft carrier. Those ships were in and out of
visibility on the TV screen as the camera man attempted to track each one of
them to make sure they were still with us and on the surface. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of our submarine
hunting sonar men next door said he could hear the ships “screaming” as they
were twisted and tormented by the storm’s power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw the smaller ships
sliding down waves with their vertical axis horizontal and beyond. If you take
a toy ship and turn it out its side and then tilt it even a bit more, that is
what the sailors on those ships were dealing with. That is why they have hand
rails on the ceilings and everything is fastened in place. Their operating
position chairs have seatbelts and they use them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine trying to play
"Angry Birds" while you are on a rollercoaster. And the ride keeps
going on and on and you can't quit playing for hours, even if you want to.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Now just for giggles, consider the Vikings in
their tiny craft facing these same waters. OMG indeed!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">We rode out the huge storm and didn't lose any
human life. There were four men injured on the small boys from getting thrown
around inside their ships, and plenty of metal to repair, but everything
remained fully functional. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surviving the storm with
all ships still combat ready, made our little rooster of an admiral strut
around like the ridiculous person that he was and brag about what he could do
with our battle group.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The rest of us knew that we had faced Mother
Nature's fury and were lucky that she didn't feel like drowning us all that
day, because we felt her power and knew that she could have done so. I completely
lost my cocky "seen it all" attitude towards the weather. This had
truly been a storm to remember!<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those who travel by
sea, September is a month to avoid when you plan your trip to go around the
British Isles if you happen to be in anything smaller than 89,000 tons… that
wasn't big enough.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-80567880757086138032013-03-08T17:16:00.001-08:002013-03-08T17:16:09.266-08:00It can get better<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It can get better</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The year was 1991 and I had been medically
discharged from the Navy and working for the USPS as a letter carrier in Fallon
for three years by then. One of the medical issues that I was dealing with was
pain in my right shoulder, for which I had been treated while on active duty
and was a chronic problem.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Being a veteran and with the price of medical care
being what it was even then, I was encouraged to seek treatment at the VA
Hospital in Reno. I must tell you that it was not a good place to go in those days.
At best the chance of actually getting treatment was unreliable, and the delays
for everything that you did get were legendary. Horror stories were rampant and
true.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I was sent to the VA Hospital to see the
Orthopedic Specialist for evaluation of my shoulder for surgery. Would it
(surgery) improve my condition or not, was the $64,000 question of the day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">In those days (1991) they played a weird
scheduling game at that specialty clinic. You had to report in between 08:00
and 09:00 a.m., regardless of when your appointment time was. Then you would wait
in a kind of "stand by" mode until your scheduled time arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This oddball process was initiated and enforced by the lead
doctor, and the man that I was to see, Dr. F. (He whose name must not be
spoken, for he will sue.) He felt that his time was too valuable to have any
blank spots in his day, but obviously felt that the veteran’s time didn’t
matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With Dr. F’s plan the patients were stacked up like cans in
a soda machine waiting to move forward should a cancellation happen. Of course
the doctor could (and had done so in the past) walk out the door at any time
and cancel the rest of his day, like if an emergency golf game popped up.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I am not kidding.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">This meant a five hour wait for me with my 1:00 pm
appointment. I was already angry from having to park a mile away from the
hospital and hike in as that day was Tuesday which was "clinic day."
People in the know, arrived there early to get a parking spot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">It was my first visit to this particular clinic
and I didn't know the hospital very well at all. Parking was on the opposite
side of the hospital from the main entrance, so I was coming in through the
back of the hospital, which had me all turned around. Fortunately, by habit I
always arrive early for any appointment. Otherwise the walk in and then
wandering lost through the building would have made me late. I was hustling to
make 08:00, but I found the main administration area and check in desk, and got
my name in by the hour.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I plopped down in a chair with my back to the wall
to wait and sat there observing the activity around me. I never heard anybody
called for "Ortho," or any other clinic for that matter. After thirty
minutes of being patient, I asked the guy sitting across from me which clinic
he was waiting for. I don’t know if he was a jerk, or just deaf, because he
moved his paper up in front of his face and said nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fifteen more minutes passed and I got nervous. I got out of
my chair and went back to the desk where I checked in to ask the lady
there why no one was being called.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The shock of being told that I was in the wrong
waiting area jacked my blood pressure right up! I really had to focus on the
instructions as to which hallway, and how many turns, etc., would get me to the
orthopedics waiting area. It was almost 09:00 and I was in the wrong place!
I would say that I was having an anxious moment, or adrenalin spike, or
something. Making a mistake like that upsets me, even though it may not have
been my fault.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Feeling slightly better armed with my new
instructions on where to go, I walked away from the desk directly towards a glass
wall with doors to the outside. That was where I had to turn and proceed down a
hall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Coming through the door from the outside, was an elderly
man wearing a WWI veteran cap being pushed in a wheelchair by a young
black man wearing hospital scrubs. Not being in so much of a hurry that I
couldn’t show respect and help, I stopped to assist with the door. The orderly
didn’t pay any attention to me at all, but I got a smile and a nod of thanks
from the old vet, which made me feel good.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">As I turned to hurry on while looking at my watch,
I heard the old man say to the orderly, "Please, I have to pee, can you
take me to the bathroom?" To which the young man said, "You will have
to wait" as he parked the wheelchair against a wall and locked the wheels.
As I looked back while still walking, I could see the orderly going back
outside. I seriously regret not having gone back to the old man's aid at that
point.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I was immediately lost again and in a frantic hurry.
I’m sure it was because I was still thinking of being late and losing my
appointment. If I had been thinking logically I would have realized that with a
1:00 p.m. appointment, I had several men ahead of me and was in no danger of
being dropped. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To explain: If they called your name and you were not
there, you were removed from the list and had to reschedule. The appointments
in that plan were set for one every fifteen minutes. This doctor was a civilian
with a contract, not a VA employee, and got paid by the body count. This was
truly factory assembly line medicine!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I found the clinic and checked in with the gum
popping young lady behind the counter. She told me to have a seat and do not
under any circumstance, leave the waiting room without telling her or my
appointment would be cancelled and I would have to reschedule. I resented the
Hell out of her attitude and instantly wanted to slap the gum out of her mouth.
But I did not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There was no doubt that I was angry with myself for not
helping the old man get to the bathroom before being placed in this holding pen.
It just felt like I had done something wrong, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you add that to the stress of finding a parking spot in
an unfamiliar area, getting lost in the building twice, being in the wrong
waiting room, etc, I was agitated. It had not been a good morning.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going
to the doctor was proving to be harmful to my health.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Finally, it was 1:00 p.m. and my turn. Obviously being
there hours early had done me no good at all. The doctor was observed sauntering
slowly back in from lunch like he had nowhere important to be. As I listened to
him interact with the staff, it was apparent that he was just as arrogant and
abusive with his receptionist as I had been told that he was with patients. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was his first appointment after lunch, so I thought, “OK,
he should be in a good mood and we could get through this.” For sure, I was not
looking forward to the manipulation of my shoulder that I had learned to expect
from other examinations. It hurt when I was required to push the rotation to
the range of movement limits and then for hours afterwards. That was part of
why I was there, something was obviously wrong with the joint.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rotating
your arm was not supposed to hurt.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">My name was called and I fairly shot out of my
chair, such was my preconditioning to not miss my turn. I was escorted back to
the examination room by the young woman I checked in with. Which I thought was
kind of odd; to have a receptionist leave her post was unusual. That task was
usually done by a nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The gum popping girl complained all the way down the hall
that the nurse didn't come back from lunch with the doctor and now she had to
do her work too. I can remember thinking to myself, "Honey, you couldn't
empty a bed pan without screwing it up; you could never be a nurse."</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">When I moved towards a chair to sit down I was told
(rather than asked) to sit on the exam table and wait for the doctor. Again I
had the urge to smack the gum out of this rude young woman’s mouth as she
popped a bubble for punctuation to her order. I recall thinking, “Yeah, you had
better stay at your reception desk, you wouldn’t make it one day as nurse.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Being the well conditioned soldier, I complied with my
orders and sat on that uncomfortable examination table with my legs dangling
and nothing to rest them on. I spent my waiting time studying all of the
medical posters with joints and bones exposed showing the workings. At least
that was interesting, and didn’t chew gum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After a few minutes, Dr. F. burst into the room, kind of
flailing like he was tossed in there. He was steadily writing in my chart and
didn't glance my way or even speak to me as he went to a desk at one side.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
It was as if I wasn’t even there.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Tossing my chart on the desk, he picked up the
telephone and dialed a number. "Oh damn," I thought, he saw something
in that chart and is ordering some kind of immediate procedure. Will they admit
me and keep me here?” You always expect the worst case scenario when you go to
a doctor’s office; it is some kind of bizarre conditioning thing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">That fear bubble burst when the doctor started
talking to the person on the other end of the telephone line. He was arranging
a golf game! He completed that call and instead of turning to address me and
apologizing for the delay, he immediately dialed another number and spoke to
another golf buddy. This repeated until he had arranged his golfing foursome. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Finally done with his priorities, he picked up my chart and
wrote in it once again. He then looked up at me and said, "Come back and
see me in two weeks." Throwing my chart in the "completed" bin,
he got up and turned to leave the room.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The man was so impersonal, that
I felt like he completely disrespected me as a veteran or even a human being by
his actions.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I was way beyond angry at that point and fairly
jumped from my seat on the examination table, to a position blocking him from
leaving the room. I got nose to nose with this medical
"unprofessional" and was probably spitting on him as I spoke, I was
so mad.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">"How dare you use my fifteen minutes of time
for your golf date calls after I have waited all damn day to see you! How dare
you write in my chart without ever even looking at me, much less examining me you
arrogant quack!" I know that this is exactly what I said because the
receptionist wrote it all down and I was presented with the details later in a
written "denial of service letter."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The doctor went "bug-eyed" and started
screaming for the receptionist, alternating between "Get out!” and
"Help, get security!" I did turn and leave at that point, as I knew
that I was never going to let this guy work on me, even if he would have. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The fortunate thing for both of us was that he did not put
his hands on me. It would have ended very badly for him. I was completely calm
by that point, which I knew from experience, could be very bad.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was a
precursor to physical violence.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I left the orthopedic clinic and not knowing how
else to get out of the building, I retraced my path back to the main administration
area where I first checked in. It was probably the longest possible route to
exit the hospital, but it was the only way that I knew.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">As I walked I could see the old man sitting in his
wheelchair from down the hall, exactly where he had been "parked"
hours before. When I got closer I could see the man visibly sobbing and that
there was a puddle under his chair, which made me walk faster. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Almost to him, I could now see and hear the young orderly
approaching from the doorway. Speaking in a very harsh and menacing tone he
said to the old veteran, "Now look what the Hell you done did! I am gonna
have to clean up that mess you made! Sorry old..." and was raising his
hand, as if to strike.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">That was as far as he got, as my fingers closed
around his throat and I slammed him against the wall, lifting him just off of
the floor by his neck. His eyes were bulging as I choked his windpipe and I
quietly said to him, "You owe your freedom and your very existence in this
hospital to this man. Is this how you repay his service to our country?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">That orderly truly owed his life to the very man
that he abused. As I was closing off his airway, the old man said, "Please
don't kill him, he isn't worth it." I just said, "Yes Sir" and
dropped the younger man to the floor.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Could I have killed him? Yes, easily. I am well
trained to do so. Would I have killed him? I don't know. I was very angry, but was
still under control or he would have died instantly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Hospital Security was already walking through the
building looking for me after my run in with the orthopedic Doctor. They wanted
to locate me, although they couldn't really "do" anything to me for
just yelling at that creep. So, they were right there on the spot when I made
that latest “crazy man” scene.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Given the circumstances and hearing from the
witnesses who sprang (if one can spring from wheelchairs and crutches) to
my defense, the security guards were very nice to me and asked me to please
accompany them. I expected handcuffs and some shoving around and was already
embarrassed by what I considered as "losing control" on my
part.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">By that I mean, I should have at least warned/threatened
the guy first, before putting my hands on him. Unfortunately, that just wasn't
how I was trained to react to a perceived threat. The orderly was advancing
upon and threatening the elderly veteran in my eyes. So, I just reacted and moved
by instinct to counter (or remove) the threat.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I was taken into the administrative office and
questioned by the security supervisor as we waited for the Reno PD to show up. Their
procedure was understandable, because I had laid hands upon another person the
police had to be called. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The hospital security guys kept coming to the door and
speaking to their boss. They were repeatedly relaying more witness statements
and information. Their comments including saying Dr F's name and laughing (when
safely out of earshot of the supervisor) at what a jerk he was to them.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Even though they greatly disliked the doctor they were still afraid of the
clout he had with the hospital administration.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I must confess that as I waited in that office I
had scoped out the exits and planned how I would get out of the building to my
vehicle should they want to arrest me. I was NOT going to a jail cell.
My severe claustrophobia would have required full time sedation to lock me up.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The Reno PD guys arrived with one slender but hard
looking blond white guy, and one very large black man that filled the doorway
with muscles. Both of them had serious haircuts and their deportment confirmed
my evaluation of their background, at least to me. You could almost see the
"thread marks" on their skulls; they were "jarheads"
(Marines) all the way. <i>Semper Fi!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background: #FFF9EE;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I sat still and behaved myself as the officers conducted
the business they had to do. The two men smiled at me as they listened quietly
to what was being said by the hospital security supervisor. They also
interviewed the other security guards and all of the witnesses who had stayed
around to the last man to be heard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Finally, the orderly that I had choked was brought forward
for his statement.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sneered at me when bopped into the room like he
was a gangster with an entourage following him. The policemen were watching me
for a reaction, but I showed no emotion. In truth I thought that the man was
pathetic and didn’t warrant any further effort on my part.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The young man mistakenly figured that he could
play the "race card." He started off his case all wrong by calling
out to the black officer, "Yo homey, we got to stick together when whitey
tries to put us down. You need to bust cap in that honky's ass. Or I
WILL." (Verbatim, from the transcripts) and then started towards where I
was sitting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">Both officers moved as one to intercept and stop
the possible confrontation. The black officer almost cat-like, was instantly in
front of the young orderly. His partner positioned himself to block me should I
attempt to engage. The blond officer smiled as he saw that I was not moving and
that I was unimpressed with the bravado and noise. He nodded at me and turned
his attention back to his partner. I suspect that they had served together in
the Marines or at least had been partners for a while, because they were very much
in tune with each other's actions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The bigger officer leaned slightly forward from
the waist with his hands on his hips, in a fashion reminiscent of a drill
sergeant, and addressed the young man saying, "First, I am NOT your homey,
I am Officer "X" and I just heard you make a threat of violence.
Should anything happen in the future what you said will be a matter of record
and I will personally come looking for you. Second, I think that you had better
be careful what you ask for, you may not be so lucky next time," and
looked in my eyes and nodded to me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">There was another, much older, white orderly
(either a union rep, or a supervisor) trying to quiet and restrain the young
man, without much success. The man finally grew exasperated and said,
"Will you shut up and come with me! We need to get you checked out."
He then led him away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">The RPD officers asked me to come with them, and
we walked out the doors on the opposite side of the building. When we got
outside, the white cop said, "What you did was assault on one hand, and
justifiable prevention of assault and continued abuse on the other. No way are
we going to charge you for defending a helpless old veteran. If any law suits
happen from this we will testify on your behalf. Now it's probably a good idea
if you go back home to Fallon in case this guy has any hot headed friends in
the area. We don't need any more trouble." His partner smiled at me and
chimed in, "Or any bodies should my mouthy "homey" jump up in
your face."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I gave them a departing "<i>Semper Fi!</i>" to which I got "Ooh Raw!" in unison from
the officers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">It was more than twenty years after that event
before I even considered utilizing the VA services that I was entitled to.
I was thoroughly convinced that the Veterans Administration was just another
screwed up government agency and not worth the trouble.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">It was not until a field clinic was opened in my
town, staffed by people that I respected that this changed. The personnel of
the Fallon VA Clinic were able to convince me that it was worth another chance.
I have known the doctor who works there for more than twenty-five years. He
used to be my civilian physician. The girl working the reception desk used to
work with me in the Navy. The office manager worked at another medical office
and I encouraged her to take on the VA Clinic job when it was offered. They
were all friends that I trusted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">I am happy to report that the Reno VA Hospital is
a far better environment today. Veterans of all ages are treated with dignity
and respect. Every effort is made to serve the patient. You are no longer
treated like an inconvenience that they have to put up with, but as the very
reason for their existence. Care there is excellent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #FFF9EE;">It was worth the twenty plus years it took to
return, it is better place today.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">P.S. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I always get asked this when I tell this story,
"What happened to the orderly?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The word got around pretty quickly of his abuse of
the old WWI Vet and by the end of that day, no one wanted to work with him. I
mentioned to a neighbor who worked in the top administrative office at the VA
hospital what had happened (so that she heard it from me and not rumors) the
same day that it took place. I know that she made telephone calls when she went
back inside, because I could see her on the phone through the window. The next
day when I delivered her mail she informed me that the man in question no
longer worked at the VA Hospital in Reno, having sought employment elsewhere
due to a "hostile work environment." I never saw him again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I also learned later (from my admin. friend) that
the old man, who was an inpatient there, passed away a few months afterwards
(in the hospital) from complications from his war wounds. He had been shot
multiple times and had been gassed in the trenches in Europe. The man had every
medal there was (except for the Medal of Honor), including three purple hearts.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He had entered the service at age 16 and didn't come home
until it was over, over there. The old soldier had lived his entire life
carrying metal fragments in his body and dealing with damaged organs from his
service. He was buried with honors in the Veterans Cemetery in Fernley, NV. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FFF9EE; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am glad that I defended him and I am still sorry that I
didn't take action to prevent his humiliation of wetting himself.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Lesson
learned; never hesitate to do the right thing.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-54030237104295505612013-02-23T23:27:00.002-08:002013-02-23T23:27:42.719-08:00Hiding from Hamm<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hiding from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hamm</st1:city></st1:place></span></u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A short while after I got out of the
army at <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Benning</st1:placename>,
I was hired by the FAA and went to the <st1:placename w:st="on">FAA</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Oklahoma City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">OK</st1:state></st1:place>.
After completing the school I was lucky enough to be able to return to <st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>
to work at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Columbus</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Metro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
I had come full circle, this was a dream come true for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When Jimmy Carter was the President of
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> he
frequently flew in and out of either <st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>'s civilian metro airport, or neighboring
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Benning</st1:placename></st1:place>’s Lawson Army Airfield. The
military airport was a much better facility than its civilian counterpart at
that time. He utilized these airports when en route to, or from, his family
home. His farm in Plains, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Georgia</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
is located a short distance south of the army base, and is an easy automobile
(or helicopter) ride from either airport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One of the normal procedures for
Presidential movement, which included "First Family" members, was an
increased control of access to all areas that might possibly be used by the entourage,
like airport ramps, access roads, parking areas, and the airspace above them
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I say "might possibly,"
because the exact route of travel was not known until it happened, and the
alternate routes had to be "protected" as well. This was both wise,
and necessary from a security standpoint, and I didn’t have any problems with
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had worked so many Presidential and
other Heads of State flights that it was business as usual to me. The thrill of
catching sight of or even shaking hands with the President was kind of dulled
by the myriad of details involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was late in 1979 and the President
and his family had been coming and going pretty frequently from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city>. Most (but not
all) of the flights were actually utilizing the more secure military airport at
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Benning</st1:placename></st1:place>. We (metro) usually got the
decoy flight, an identical airplane which was utilized as a diversion in case
of terrorist attack, or angry nutcase sign wavers. The kooks who met the decoy
plane only had the extra Secret Service agents to sign their autographs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Using the military base kept the
President, and his family away from harm and aggravation. But, they did
randomly switch back and forth to prevent a pattern from becoming obvious to
the “bad guys.” The public really has no idea how complex these “simple” trips
are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the day in question I was working
upstairs in the tower, where I was fully qualified and spent most of my time. I
was still training in the radar facility below. I liked working in the tower
because you actually got to see the airplanes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The story I have to tell is about
President Carter’s mother, Lillian "Bessie" Gordy Carter, who was
born in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Richland</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place> in 1898 and passed away in
1983 at the age of 85, still sharp of mind to the last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was on one of those terrifying days
for Secret Service agents, the President’s mother got sick of her “baby sitter”
escort and brought her then 81 year old self up to the control tower access
door and buzzed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not having any way of knowing who was
there I jokingly answered the intercom with "Who's that knocking on my
door?" in a children's fairy tale kind of voice. The answer came back,
"It's Miz Lillian Carter of Plains, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Georgia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and I'd like to visit your
tower." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I thought to myself, “Is this for
real, or is one of the guys pulling another gag?” Practical jokes did happen
frequently around there. So, I jumped down to the landing by the access door,
and looked out through the peep hole in the door. Sure enough it <u>was</u>
Miss Lillian Carter, I recognized her from TV and magazine pictures! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of course I let her in, and then
helped her up the steps into the tower cab and offered her my chair, which she
accepted, and a cup of coffee, which she declined. I was in a mild state of
shock! I was trying to pay attention to her, what was happening on the airport,
and decide if I should call my supervisor all at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The first thing out of her mouth when
she caught her breath, was to tell us that she was hiding from her watchdog and
asked us not to tell on her. Of course we promised right there on the spot. It
was Mrs. Carter, the President’s mother, after all! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Naively, I asked her if the dog was
running loose, or leashed with a handler. I thought she was going to choke from
laughing so hard. I didn't know her terminology yet and so I just took it
literally. I really thought that she meant that there was a four legged dog
running around the terminal somewhere, and I didn't want it loose on my flight
line!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Miss Lillian's (she gave me permission
to call her that) personal "watch dog" was <st1:city w:st="on">Hamm</st1:city>,
which she said was short for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hammond</st1:place></st1:city>,
but I can't recall if she said more about his name. Miss Lillian explained what
she meant, and then we watched poor old <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>
running hither and yon. She was having a grand time watching from the vantage
point of the tower and seemed to relax and breathe easier finally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When and wherever, a Presidential
family member traveled, they would be accompanied by not only their personal
"watch dog," (Miss Lillian's term for Secret Service agents), but a
team which specialized in keeping them safe from harm. Even fans and
"well-wishers" can pose a physical threat to these folks, with crowds
and traffic jams being very common. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hamm</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> was a very large, young-ish (late
20s) white man, with coffee-with-cream colored light brown hair. He filled a
doorway, both side to side, and top to bottom. But don't get the wrong idea; he
was rock solid and had no extra fat on his body. That big man could move like a
cat when the need called for it. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hamm</st1:city></st1:place>
wore the somewhat traditional haircut of the times for his profession, a flat
top with "Butch Wax" on it to make it stand up right. And, it always
did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He was so big that when he got in and
out of the sedan that he drove, it looked like he was putting on, or taking off
a piece of ill-fitting clothing. On more than one occasion I would watch him
from the tower when he went to get in the car and would just about knock
himself out, rapping his head on the top of the car because he didn't duck low
enough. You could tell that it really hurt him because his "Gosh Darn
It!" would float gently up to us on the breeze, like the roar of a bull
hippo in combat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She hated having someone "baby
sit" her. She thought as much of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>
as anyone, but at times she would give him the slip and make his life miserable
until he located her again. The poor guy probably had his life passing before
his eyes each time she pulled that, as his was not a joking profession in terms
of responsibility. I was pretty sure that he was getting tired of the re-runs
(of his life.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was on these occasions that you
could see the big kid in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>
come out... just like his shirt tail did when he was running around in a panic.
We could see from the tower that his shirt was pulled out in back and we knew
that Miss Lillian had done it (ditched him) again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We talked about many things and while
she never said, "we mustn't discuss that," I steered clear of
politics and religion. I avoided those topics mostly out of courtesy to her,
but also not wanting to show my own ignorance on those subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Miss Lillian was very proud of her
son, Jimmy, but we left the subject of Billy alone. It just didn't seem to me
like a good place to go... and she wasn't offering. This woman was nobody's
fool. She knew that anything once said couldn't be taken back or removed.
Somewhere, sometime, someone would use those words to hurt you or yours.
Besides, Billy created enough trouble with his own mouth; we didn’t need to
help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I found Miss Lillian to be a very
astute woman with a clear way of putting things and I suspected that she had a
backbone made of spring steel. She was not one to try and “BS.” She would call
you on it and then graciously change the subject to let you off the hook. She
seemed to really care about all people. I knew that she was a registered nurse
and was trained and educated to help people. But, hers was a deep down concern
for not only their health and welfare, but their mental and emotional needs as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lillian Gordy had married James Earle
Carter, another <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Georgia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
native, in 1923 and had thirty years with him until he passed away in 1953. She
then lived another thirty years without him, before her own passing in 1983. Of
her husband she said, "He was a good man and provided for his family. I'll
be seeing him again one day soon." That was in 1979. Four years later she
went on to join her husband at last. I knew that she would have been smiling
down on poor <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>,
wondering if anyone had convinced him that she wasn't just hiding again this
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was fortunate enough to enjoy Miss
Lillian's company a couple more times in the tower after that first time, and I
can finally to confess something that I had never divulged before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So, Miss Lillian if you're listening, “Please,
forgive me. After that first time, I couldn't stand to see poor old <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city> in such a panic,
watching his own diapers getting changed and skinning his knees all over again
in those life-flashes he endured. I snuck word down to him where you were.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>
knew you were in the control tower the whole time and played along to keep you
entertained and in one spot where you were safe until it was time to go home to
Plains. Sorry ma’am, I had to do it.“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To have experienced the insight and
wisdom of someone of her station, experience, and years was indeed enjoyable to
me. Knowing that she had enough spirit left in her 81 year-old body to pull the
tricks that she did on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamm</st1:place></st1:city>; now that was a real bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was an honor and a privilege to
meet and speak with the President of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> more than once. And,
to have him call me by my first name on subsequent visits left me a serious
grin on my face. To see recognition in the eyes of the world’s most powerful
leader was awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But, Mr. President, I have to say that
the conversations with your mother eclipsed it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-hide: all;">--></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
strtwlkrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12420128395106912652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244622047379152305.post-49097746150258367942013-02-22T22:16:00.000-08:002013-02-23T13:45:46.349-08:00Second Grade War<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This in no way is meant to be to be a
glorification of violence by young people. On the other hand, if anyone thinks
that there are no fights among children in schools, including their own children
or grandchildren’s schools, they are mistaken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second
Grade War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
In 1960 I was in the second grade at the West Hollywood Elementary School in
Hollywood, Florida, which was (and I believe still is), a 1<sup>st</sup>
through 6<sup>th</sup> grade school. The school faces (to the south) a very
busy <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Hollywood Boulevard</st1:address></st1:street>
that grew to six lanes wide in the years after I left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To the west was another moderately
busy road, 64<sup>th</sup> Avenue, which separated the elementary school from
McArthur High School. The area was always a beehive of activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I lived about a mile to the northwest
of the schools, which took about thirty minutes to walk if no one was chasing
you. If you had bullies chasing you it was fifteen minutes or less. With an
interesting girl to talk to it might take an hour or more. This timing thing
was often the cause of trouble for me and resulted in subsequent “discussions”
with my parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My teacher's name was Miss Wright, but
she was not related to my family in any way. I am sure that you can imagine the
teasing that having the same name as your teacher caused for me. We definitely
had a love/hate relationship. She treated us all like we were her own children,
both in good and not so good ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The entire school year thus far had
been good in the classroom and rough outside of it; the why was simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Inside of the classroom I had a
teacher who believed in letting kids progress beyond what was considered the
standard or norm for their grade. A few of us, myself included, were reading at
fifth grade level and everyone, except Albert Brogan, was reading above what
was expected of second graders. We had advanced similarly in math and science
and all of the other subjects that Miss Wright wove into her daily lessons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Outside belonged to the Brogan’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They were always around bullying
everyone and taking milk money from those who carried it. It was a whopping
nickel a day or a quarter for the week in those days, but money was dear to
those who had little to spend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I always brought my payment for the
entire week on Monday. It was in a sealed envelope and I just gave it to the teacher
without ever opening it. The Brogan’s hated that, especially Albert who was the
leader of the clan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My reward from the teacher for paying
up front was that I had to carry the milk crate all week -- all because she
didn’t have to try and locate, and then extract loose change from me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She said that it was because I was a
boy (I was smaller than half of the girls) and responsible, but I didn’t buy
it. I was the only one who paid up front and the other kids never seemed to be
able to find where they stashed their nickel or pennies, or they brought a dime
or quarter and wanted change. It drove the old lady crazy and she would grumble
constantly under her breath. Her face would invariably turn red by the time the
every morning evolution was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There were mornings where one or more
kids would lose or forget their nickel and burst into tears. She would comfort
the girls, but would tell the boys to shut up and quit acting like babies. She
had a well defined double standard and no apologies for it. In her eyes girls
were fragile, and boys were butt-heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Albert Brogan was born on February 29<sup>th</sup>
and was constantly teased about being two years old because of the leap year
thing. He was eight and would be nine in February, making him the senior second
grader of the entire school, if there were such a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He had carrot colored hair (they all
did) and a pasty complexion with freckles, which brought him plenty of grief
from the older kids who called him “Howdy Doody.” Albert couldn’t do much to them
as they were either too big, or had big friends, so he looked for victims in
the second grade and made their life miserable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This guy was especially fond of
finding me and shoving and threatening me until my temper blew and then he
would say, “Y’all saw this. He started it!” really loudly in order to get a
teacher’s attention. That way it looked like I was the bully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then his family would get in between
the teacher and the two of us so that she couldn’t see what was going on and
Albert would punch me in the back or stomach, depending upon which way I was
looking. Oh, they were good, those Brogan’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Also in the same second grade class
with me were Fred (who was turning eight) and Johnny (who just turned seven) Brogan.
They were Albert’s brothers and partners in crime. In the same row of
classrooms were the twins, Robert and Sally Brogan, who were in the first
grade. There were also cousins scattered throughout the elementary school; they
multiplied like rabbits! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There were a lot of comments between
adults at the school about what the parents of these kids hobby was (said out
of the hearing of the students, or so they thought.) I get it… I didn’t then,
but I do now. So, that’s why they were never at back to school nights. They
were too busy, gettin’ busy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fred was the meanest of the bunch and
didn’t care about leading. He just wanted to hurt someone (or something) every
chance he got. He was the enforcer and money holder and didn’t lose a nickel to
anyone ever, no matter how big or old they were; he loved to fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Johnny was almost human, by himself,
but when he got around family, he became one of them and would beat up a tiny
little girl if Albert said so, without blinking an eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Robert was quiet and always did what
he was told by the others. We all thought that he couldn’t talk until he was in
the fifth grade and I was in the sixth. Albert and Fred had<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> </span>already been sent to
reform school by then. Johnny had mellowed out after two years in second and
two years in third, which put him a year behind Robert and Sally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One day, out of the blue, Robert said,
“You want a piece of gum?” and held it out to a little blonde girl standing
shyly on the edge of the playground. She looked like she was afraid to go out
into the middle with all of those kids. After that Robert spoke regularly, but
never many words at one time. Without Albert and Fred around, he didn’t have to
fight any more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sally always reminded me of a cornered
rat with her narrow face, protruding teeth, and a scared look in her eyes all
of the time. I shudder to think what her life was like living with that clan of
mean and evil people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I believed then (and learned it was so
later) that everything bad that could happen to a little girl, did to her, and
it was her own family doing it. She was always sporting a black eye or bruises
and was scared of everyone, especially Albert and Fred. If you can imagine a
nightmare scenario for a young girl, then make it ten times worse, you would be
close. I can’t believe that none of the adults knew what was happening to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She also transformed like a butterfly
coming out of a cocoon when the two older boys left and Robert started sticking
up for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now that you know everyone, this is
the way that the big fight happened. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had been called upon, just before
morning recess, to pick up reading where Albert had been stopped. He was having
a terrible time of it, stuttering and stumbling over words and I could see the
red coming up his neck. That was a definite sign that he was close to losing
his temper and a sure bet that someone was going to catch it at recess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I figured that it would more than
likely be me; after all, the way Albert saw things I was making fun of him
because I could read the words with no difficulty had taken over what he was
reading. The fact that the teacher asked me to meant nothing to him at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had been doing a lot of reading
aloud lately because it was part of Miss Wright’s program to get you to read
more confidently and thereby improving your skills. It was second grade level
material which really wasn’t difficult reading so I just zoomed through the section
and sat down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Miss Wright didn’t help me out a bit
when she said, “That was excellent, Kenneth. See Albert, that’s how you should
do it.” BAM! The lid just slammed on my coffin. Albert was embarrassed and
fuming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The recess bell rang and the kids
lined up at the door in an orderly and quiet fashion, which you had to do or
you wouldn’t go anywhere, Miss Wright didn’t play with rules. She gathered up
her sun hat and glasses and walking cane, but reconsidered the cane and took a
folding camp stool instead. I quickly offered to carry the stool out for her,
figuring that I could gain a little safety sticking close to her, because I
knew the Brogan’s would be waiting for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We marched out our sidewalk, turned
left and went down another one which led to the playground. A playground
covered with hot gray sand and sandspurs. For the uninformed, sandspurs are a
form of sticker or burr that grows on a type of grass. They look like floating
mines in the ocean from wars in that they are round and covered with needles
that stick out in all directions. They stick to everything they touch: your
shoes, socks, pants and worst of all, your skin. The tips have barbs on them
and an irritant that makes your skin itch. Pulling them off without getting
reinjured is an art form.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Out near the back boundary of the
school property was an asphalt basketball court with four backboards, but it
seemed to me that the nets were always missing. Going by there in later years I
realized that the whole court was only the size of a half court in a gymnasium.
We were small; who knew?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Up closer to the classrooms was the
usual playground equipment: a very tall six place swing set made of steel pipe
and chains that were horribly hot to touch with a slide that would burn through
the toughest pants before you reached the bottom, a merry go round that you
pushed and jumped onto, a jungle gym set, a set of monkey bars (in the army we
called it a horizontal ladder), a teeter-totter, and one lonely patch of
concrete with a hopscotch game painted on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I felt like I was safe and was even
being ignored by the Brogan’s when we first went outside. Maybe I was just nervous and Albert wasn't
going to bother with me. He did have other kids to victimize and perhaps they
had money or something else he wanted; it had happened before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A couple of cute girls came up to me
and whispered that one of their friends liked me and wanted to kiss me. “Wow!”
I thought, “My day was getting better all the time!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I followed them to the hopscotch slab
and when we got there, who should turn around to meet me but Sally Brogan!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had been tricked and so had the
girls, they really thought that Sally liked me and they were just trying to
help like silly girls will do. In her defense she was under orders from Albert
and it wasn’t her idea at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Robert came up behind Sally right at
the same moment that Fred came in on my right and Johnny on my left. The
precision of the execution of their pincer movement would make any army
commander proud. When it registered in my mind that one was missing and he had
to be behind me, it was already too late… Albert always attacked from behind
and I knew that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Remembering too late was punctuated
with pain shooting through me when Albert punched me in the back directly over
my kidney. At the same time Fred and Johnny grabbed my arms and Robert shoved
Sally forward into me, where she slapped me across the eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She had such an apologetic look in her
eyes that I could never be mad at her; she didn’t want to do it. Albert gave
the orders and the others obeyed them or else he would have Fred beat them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As soon as she struck me, Robert
grabbed Sally’s arm and swung her out of the middle and off to the side
somewhere. I think he was trying to get her to safety actually and that was not
Albert’s style. Robert did that on his own. He tried to protect his twin sister
when he could, which wasn’t often enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At that point the beating really
began; all four brothers were punching and kicking me and keeping me from using
my arms. Meanwhile their cousins had formed a human screen between the action
and where the teachers were sitting on their folding stools talking teacher
stuff. The ladies couldn’t see anything going on. As my struggling to get loose
intensified it caused us all to fall to the ground where we were even harder to
see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was getting beat up pretty well when
Albert’s arm came across my face as he tried to get his arm around my neck to
choke me. Only having one option I used the only weapon I had left; I bit hell
out of that arm! I chomped down until his blood flowed and wouldn’t have let go
if they knocked me unconscious, which they were trying to do at that moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What I didn’t know was that Sally had
walked away crying about what was going on and the part she had to play in it.
Her friends asked her what was wrong and then went running to the teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Seemingly out of nowhere Miss Wright
appeared and grabbed me by the ear while shrieking “You animal!” She hauled me
up out of that mass of bodies and on up until I was on my tiptoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Away we went with Brogan’s laughing
and feeling smug that not only had they given me a good beating, but I was the
one getting in trouble for it! All the way to the sidewalk Miss Wright twisted
that ear and pulled me up on my toes. I was feeling like a ballerina that had
fallen down the “Up” escalator or something! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once on the sidewalk we made each turn
with an extra yank on my ear and a verbal reminder, just to be sure that I
understood that I was going down the sidewalks to Mr. Sullivan’s Office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He was the Principal and generally
feared by all children, as most male school principals were. There was a
certain amount of trepidation just for his being tall and having a deep voice.
His was the voice of authority, discipline, etc; even teachers seemed to
tremble in his presence. Thinking back I recall that he was handsome and
possibly some of what I interpreted as fear by the single female teachers was
something altogether different. I hadn’t ever known him to be mean to anybody
personally. He was always nice to me and I saw him a lot.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When we burst through the outer doors
of the administration building, we were met by Mr. Sullivan himself. He had
seen us coming and came out of his office to find out what was going on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By that point Miss Wright was red
faced and livid, barely able to speak. She did finally manage to get a raspy,
somewhat high-pitched screech out saying, “This little <u>ANIMAL</u>, bit
another child! I want him tested for rabies and expelled!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When Mr. Sullivan asked whom I had bitten,
she said emphatically, “Albert Brogan!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Suppressing a chuckle he quickly
turned away from the teacher and towards the receptionist so that Miss Wright
couldn’t see the grin on his face. He said, “Maybe we should have him checked
if he bit one of the Brogan’s. At least get him a tetanus shot.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He turned back to Miss Wright with a
stern look on his face and gently made her release my ear. The big man then
looked back at me with a grin, leaned over and said quietly to me in my ear,
“Better go wait in my office. It’s safer in there.” Facing Miss Wright he said,
“Yes, Thank you Miss Wright, I’ll handle it from here… You can return to your
duties. “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Making grumbling noises and comments
about animals running around and boys becoming cannibals biting each other, my
teacher started out the door to return to the playground. With a backwards
glare at me that could nearly turn warm blood into solid ice, she went back to
take up her position on the camp stool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Miss Wright sat back down on her
temporary perch just in time for recess to be over and for her to have to get
up and haul her stuff back to the classroom. She was without her previous
helper (me) and had to deal with a rowdy bunch of kids who were all excited
about Albert leaving the school without permission. But, nothing was ever said
about that because the kids were too afraid to say anything and the teacher
didn’t bother to take roll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I spent the rest of that day hanging
out with Mr. Sullivan and the ladies in the office, reading magazines and
talking with them… It was great! We talked about what had happened on the
playground and I was surprised that he knew what they did without even being
there. He knew that Albert was behind it all and said that he was the most
worried about Fred, because he really liked to hurt people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I wish that I would have had the sense
to speak up about Sally and what I was afraid was happening to her, but I
confess that I was mostly glad that I wasn’t getting kicked out of school like
Miss Wright wanted. I suppose that I was still in self-preservation mode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mr. Sullivan knew that he couldn’t
send me back to class right away or Miss Wright would make life hard for me. He
also warned me about watching out for the Brogan kids on my way home from
school, just in case they weren’t done yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was surprised at how much he knew
about me, my school work, test scores, and where I was in my reading progress,
etc. He was smart! If he knew that much about every child in his school he was
pretty amazing. I learned a lot about respect that day, both giving and
receiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You may, or may not know that being a
Wright; I would never let it go like that. It is not in our DNA to just let it
go. The Brogan boys had tormented me in one way or another every day since the
beginning of first grade. I had taken an undeserved beating from multiple guys
and then been humiliated on top of it. I would get even!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was as mean and experienced at
fighting as anyone in that school. One on one, I would take on any kid there. I
spent most of my youth running the streets and there were fights nearly every
day in my neighborhood. If you wanted to survive, you learned how to fight. One
by one, and one at a time, I found the Brogan boys and fought with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I located Robert first (that very afternoon
in fact.) He was walking home with Sally and they didn’t see me waiting for
them behind the telephone pole at the corner of the school grounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Robert’s expression didn’t change at
all when he did catch sight of me. Sally, on the other hand, went white as a
ghost. Being a good brother, he grabbed her by her pale, fragile arm and pulled
her around behind himself. I said, “Sally, run along home. I won’t hurt you.”
Relief showed on both of their faces as Robert pushed his sister in the
direction of home. The poor, frightened girl stumbled, caught herself, and then
picked up her pace, knowing that a fight was about to take place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I didn’t really dislike Robert, in
fact I kind of admired him a little. He did what he could to look after his
twin sister in the face of constant threats from Albert. He also didn’t have
that same mean streak that his brothers did. But, I couldn’t let him get away
with what he had done to me either. We both knew that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Robert was the same size as me
although he was a year younger. The kid was also the veteran of many fights
with his brothers and cousins. To consider him as a “pushover,” would have been
a mistake. I hit him in the nose with my left hand and then stepped sideways,
away from his right hand. I answered his punch by hitting him hard in the eye with
my right hand which knocked him to the ground and made him dizzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He didn’t want to fight any more after
being knocked goofy. That made me happy, because I didn’t really want to hurt
him. I asked him if he agreed that I whipped him and he had given up and he
nodded. After that, we went our separate ways, but with me keeping an eye out
behind me all the way home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I actually went out looking for
Johnny. After having the fight with Robert directly after school I went home,
expecting to be ambushed all the way. Once I had done the mandatory check in
with my mother and changed clothes, I went out again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The adrenalin was still flowing from
the earlier fight and a certain amount of anger was present. Johnny and I were
almost friends. We sat next to each other in class and talked, like you did
with the people near you. I felt like he betrayed a trust, even though I knew
that he had to obey his brother. He also did a lot of the kicking when I was
down on the ground in that playground attack. I would never forget, or forgive,
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Johnny was hanging out along the west
wall of the convenience store (connected to the drugstore and barbershop) on
Johnson Street. This was located immediately west of his parents’ store. He (nor
were any of his family) wasn’t allowed inside of any of those businesses due to
shoplifting and vandalism charges, but he hung out next to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> This was a popular spot for kids who smoked
and/or drank to score cigarettes and half-pint bottles of alcohol when one of
the Brogan kids could steal them. We all suspected that his parents supplied
the contraband most of the time because the illegal resale brought much more
money than the regular price in their store. If the kids got caught they (the
parents), just claimed that the “brats” pilfered the items.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The young hustler was right where I
expected him to be and I circled the building looking for the rest of the clan
before moving in closer. Johnny was my age, but decidedly larger than I was. I
was a little scrawny runt of a nerd for all of my school years. I couldn’t give
up any advantage like having even Robert available to join in, or I would be in
trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Johnny was there without any other
family members, involved in selling cigarettes to an older boy that I knew
would get beaten to within an inch of his life if his father found out what he
was doing. His family was as prudish and straight-laced as they came. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I used the older boy as a screen for
me to get to the building and then went around the back. Coming up on Johnny
from the alley behind the store worked as I had hoped, he never knew that I was
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Johnny was doing the James Dean or
Marlboro man pose against the wall of the building, standing with one leg on
the ground and the other bent and resting on the wall. I moved in quickly and
kicked his leg out from under him causing him to crash to the ground. The look
of surprise on his face was priceless! When he tried to scramble to his feet, I
kneed him in the side of the head, dropping him again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The other boy yelled something at me,
but I didn’t care about him. I don’t know when he ran off, but he did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As Johnny tried to roll onto his hands
and knees to get up I kicked him in the side, causing him to go down again. My
anger was at the boiling point and I was seeing red as I remembered being held
down and kicked on the playground. If one of the other Brogan brothers had
shown up then, I think that I would have sailed into them like a hurricane at
that point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had the advantage and I knew it.
Every time that Johnny tried to get up, I hit or kicked him again. He was
beaten from the time my knee impacted the side of his head, but he didn’t know
how to give up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am not sure if I just got tired, or
perhaps my anger calmed down, but eventually I stopped attacking him. He just
stayed on the ground, no longer even trying to get up, for several minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I took a couple of steps back to
give him some room, he got to his feet and stared at me. I said to him, “Don’t
ever hit, or kick, me again.” He backed away from me for several feet, and then
turned and trotted home. I guess in case I decided to chase him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As my mind cleared, the realization of
how close I was to the Brogan “army headquarters” dawned on me. I took off for
home on the run myself. I would be late getting home, again. It was an
interesting one mile run home, with trying to look behind me and on all sides
for surprise attacks, while also trying not to trip over obstacles left on the
sidewalk and road edge.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Simply by a stroke of good luck, I
found Albert as I was riding my bicycle home down 63<sup>rd</sup> Avenue just one
day later. I rode my bicycle right at him as hard as I could peddle and jumped
off of it onto him, crashing us both to the ground with me on top. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I kept hitting him in the face with
alternating fists, saying to him, “I’m right here in front of you this time Albert.
What are you going to do about it?” And, I would punch him in the face every
time he didn’t answer me. He wasn’t so tough without his brothers around to do
his dirty work for him. After he started crying like a baby, I quit hitting him
and got off of his chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He got up off the ground with a bloody
nose and wet pants, called me crazy and ran away. I yelled after him that his
house was the other direction and he just stopped and stood there looking at
me. I got my bike off the ground and straightened my handlebars from where I
had crashed it and rode home without looking back at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That left Fred, and he knew I was
coming for him. He bragged around the school that he was going to cripple me
for life when he got his hands on me. The weekend was here and Fred hadn’t been
in school since I beat up Albert. I knew the boy too well to think that he was
afraid of me. I don’t believe that he was capable of that emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is quite often hard to remember
that we were in the second grade when all this happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I found Fred that Sunday under the
overpass where the Sunshine State Parkway crossed Hollywood Boulevard, just a
short way east of our school property. The Brogan kids hung out there pretty
regularly, smoking cigarettes, throwing rocks at cars from the overpass and
then hiding. It was also nearly a mile away from the store their parents operated.
They all lived in one room in the back. The kids did their best to stay away
from there as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I spotted him, Fred was all
alone. Of all of them, I disliked him the most, even more than Albert. Fred was
mean and hurt people and animals all the time, just to hear them cry. He was
the sick, twisted kid you hear about torturing cats and burning little kids
(like his sister) with his cigarette. Yeah, I really didn’t like Fred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But, I wasn’t stupid either, Fred
could fight and liked to! He seemed not to notice pain and after seeing him
once with his shirt off and seeing the scars on his back, I could understand
how he developed his tolerance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I knew that I had to hit him harder
than he thought that I could and daze him somehow.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> </span>So, I took an equalizer with me, a tree limb. I
had located a likely one, stripped it down to size and it swung easily. I felt
like I needed it. After all, Fred was a psycho and I gave away several inches
and a lot of pounds in size to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He saw me riding in his direction and
strutted out to meet me, chest all puffed out like a bandy rooster and starting
to run his mouth about what he was going to do to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I went directly at him without any
hesitation or discussion, because I figured that he wouldn’t expect that with
his reputation and I wanted the first swing; and I got it! I nailed him right
across the face with that stick and then dropped it and jumped on him, punching
for all I was worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He never saw the stick coming nor did
he realize that I had used one. For the rest of his days, Fred thought that I
had hit him that hard with my fist. I split his lips, made his nose bleed and
blackened his left eye with one stroke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There wasn’t much fight after that.
Fred was still goofy from that first smack and never really got going. But, I
did. I couldn’t help but remember the beating he and his brothers gave me, as
well as numerous other punches that I had endured. There was also the other
that kids he bullied. They needed some revenge as well. So, I hit him until my
arms were tired and then sat on him for a while longer to see if he would start
things up again; he did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He never bothered me again, and
neither did any of the rest of his family. Fighting may not have been the best solution in a perfect world, but it worked for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Albert still bullied other kids and the Brogan
gang still extorted milk money from those who would give it up, mainly preying
on first graders for the rest of that year. They would eventually get what was coming to them. Karma is like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Albert and Fred both went to reform
school after being caught breaking into the school one night during my third
grade year by a very alert janitor. Within a month of their release they were
sent back for attempting to steal a car. They never returned to our school. By
the time I was in the sixth grade, something had happened that caused the Brogan’s
to lose their store and the kids to be placed in the care of relatives. I never
saw any of them again. I hoped that Sally was OK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-hide: all;"><!--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-hide: all;"> /* Font Definitions */<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-hide: all;"> panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-hide: all;"> /* Style Definitions */<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
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