Fears and Survival instincts

Nice older truck

 My first work truck, below is after Nephew Ted painted it for me.

Now…

Some people ‘know fear’. I remember an NFL coach who would not fly. When his team played away from home, the team flew but he always traveled by train due to a fear of flying

My sweetheart has a fear of flying, but she will fly. She has flown to Jordan without me. She flew to GITMO without me once. She flew several times with me, including Germany and Hawaii, but is never comfortable until the plane was safely on the ground.

 (My girl getting off the plane in gitmo once!, cute, huh?)

There are many real fears. I have been very outgoing in my life. Public speaking & crowds was my forte’. And except for deployments and a few hunting trips, Sherry and I are normally together 24/7.  With my hearing loss we have become tighter. Even today with Cochlear implants I don’t enjoy crowds and I get confused easily and am uncomfortable even with my interpreter. I don't remember fear, until the hearing loss.

A BIG FEAR I have is misunderstanding. Just simply consider driving directions, i.e. I ask the question before pulling into an intersection: “Is it clear your way?” You would be surprised how ‘GO’ and ‘NO’ sounds alike with noise around.

Stormy the feral cat, will allow me to pet her since I feed her. BUT if I approach her with something in my hand such as a coffee cup, she runs. I have never hurt her, but I think in the past someone has thrown something at her. It is a survival instinct, a real fear. Her survival instinct is triggered. I am not sure if that trust can ever be obtained with a feral animal.

I was taught humans are ‘animals’ (some more than others), and fears can be a part of life. I have a close friend who has a REAL fear of water, in his childhood some soothsayer told him to beware of deep water, death dwells there.

When we can’t overcome our fears, we must learn to live with them. In the church world I have heard people speak of prayer helping to overcome fears, both temp and permanent. I am sure my girl prays when she flies. Shucks she prays when I drive! LOL

Nite Shipslog

Memorial Day

Early interesting Transportation:

But for today:
We had a family cookout. It was scheduled on Friday, about the last minute at Jack Jr’s suggestion.  We had a great time 9 adults and 2 young’uns. Both our sons were there. Mark arrived in from Florida an hour before we started.
We had a great time Maverick will be 2 in October and Rosemary will be 2 in December. The two cousins  played well together.

After we ate, I talked the group about mine and Sherry’s lives up to 6 years old, living during a World War. It wasn’t a long talk, just telling them in America you couldn’t  buy shoes, sugar, coffee, gasoline without a ration stamp.

I reminded them of the 2-3 wars of their life time, but try to imagine a time when 98% of families has someone off to war. Brothers/sisters/uncles/cousins, Sherry and I had brothers off to war. Of all the family off to war in Europe and the Pacific they all returned, some wounded. The only one not returning was Gaitie Helms Jr. a brother of my brother in law Sonny. He was lost on a ship that was sunk in the Pacific.

Today is set aside to honor those who gave their lives following orders in  ALL conflicts of this country. Looking in from outside government, we can categorize some wars being unnecessary for our freedom, the soldier cannot. He has agreed and sworn to follow orders of his Commander-in-Chief.

I mentioned in a comment on another blog, concerning the deaths of my shipmates and soldiers in arms who died following orders, as they had sworn to do. Many military men know the poem ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade.’ In it are the words: Theirs not to make reply, theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of death, into the jaws of hell, rode the six hundred.

Today, is to honor those who paid the ultimate, I cannot express loudly enough my admiration for the sacrifice they made to keep this country free and to honor their word and commitment. God is the judge of all, He is fair and just. God bless the memories of my comrades and God Bless America

Nite Shipslog
PS: I have read some YOUR touching tributes today, Thanks to you all who honor the memories of the fallen.

 Grandpa Jack and Rosemary to the van to play

  Grandpa Mark and Maverick in my playhouse, he is into everything

 The above picture is not what I wanted. Rosie had taken the pound of cheese and was chewing on the whole pack, Grandma unwrapped one slice for her!

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Son Jack brought the meat and did the cooking.

PS: I started the motor home yesterday and Sherry came out of the house wanting to know where we were going!

Vickie, Not your run of the mill Attorney

 Early interesting Cars:

The 1960s HAWK by Studebaker

But for today:
I say, My Attorney, years ago when in business She became ‘My Attorney’.

Sherry and I are finally getting to the point of seriously downsizing. Not just for us but to see our sons get to enjoy some of their inheritance, now. So we needed help in transferring a house out of our name the other day. Vickie has a beautiful large office, outside town. Guess who is sitting in the client’s seat beside her desk? A huge doll, Minnie Mouse. The chair is a rocker.

During the session the subject came up that she is now 15 miles from us. Yes, people ask me why I moved to this little ‘Podunk’ town. My answer is, “I love this little town. The people are small town folk and great to work with.” She added, “Plus I don’t have to deal with some of those lawyers in the larger town.”

(While we were there (with no appointment) she left us to speak to a client or two that stopped by, they got hugged too!)

She once refused to accept payment on a transaction because of a small favor I did for her.

She also once held a $100 check for a year. Until I begged her to cash it and give it away or something. “I’m messing with your books, huh?” She stated laughing.

Most folk go to less than three closings in their lives. It can be confusing and also boring.  It was never so with Vickie. Every person at the table felt 'as if' they were talking to a friend.

Vickie changed a boring legal business session to an interesting event as she described each piece of paper. (On some documents she would ask, “Do you want the reader’s digest version from me or you have the right to read the entire document.) I once took granddaughter Sherece to a closing when I sold a house. So she could see a professional lady at work. She was about 10, and was introduced all around to the participants.

Friday we got hugs going in and leaving, from Vickie and her secretary Debbie. We also have a luncheon date next month.

Nite Shipslog
PS:
We have some neat bloggers in bloggersville, Ever read the note on Taryterre’s blog? She says:
I typically post once a week, usually Monday, or Tuesday or sometimes whenever I feel like it.
That always makes me smile. Her last post on ‘Taryterre’ was just after her dad‘s passing. Losing a dad is tough. I look forward to her entries, hope she is doing well. She is commenting but must be stuck in that last part of her statement on blogging. ;-)