A good Sunday School experience could have avoided this!

 

"Well, then?

     Shortly after I moved into the OFH, I met Pattrick. Sitting in my recliner one afternoon, the door opened and in walked Patrick. We were both surprised. He thought he was entering his dad, Tom's, apartment, but that was two doors down. I didn't know who he was. 

   Kaia greeted him as he entered and Patrick turned out to be a 'dog person.' We chatted awhile before he left. After that he'd frequently knock on my door with treats for Kaia. Conversations ensued with some regularity. Tom also entered the category of 'friendly acquaintance' and occasionally we shared meals. He had taught philosophy at St. Thomas University for 35 years. His health was frail and for years was in and out of the hospital. 

  Tom died last week and his wake was this afternoon. Four of us inmates of the OFH attended. Much of my motivation was to express my condolences to Patrick. However, Tom's family, which is large, wasn't at the wake, with the exception of one son whom I did not know. 

   Rest in peace, Tom, good and faithful servant.

Takk for alt,

Al

WNBA Final

      For the first time ever the WNBA final went the full seven games. The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63, in the 7th game tonight. Golden State has only been in existence for two years.

   My Lynx got eliminated in two games early in the playoffs.

   Rain predicted Monday and Tuesday so will delay my departure until Wednesday.

Takk for alt,

Al

Nothing Dramatic!

       On November 12, Lexington Landing, aka. the OFH, is offering a Veterans Day Luncheon for veterans and their spouses. Likely in South Dakota that day I will miss it. Frankly I'm relieved that I have an excused absence. Yes, this proves that I am incorrigibly anti-social. Why could I possibly want to be absent?

   At the luncheon vets are expected to talk about their military experience. While there was a significant amount of boredom overall it was a fascinating experience for me. Why? because it was so different from my civilian life. That doesn't make it scintillating for anyone else. There was nothing in my enlistment that would be of much interest to anyone else. I was neither shot at, nor did I shoot at anyone.

    That doesn't mean others, handed a mic, wouldn't drone on about their experiences. It isn't a risk I'd gladly take. Best to just be away and not risk showing oneself as a curmudgeon.

Takk for alt,

Al

The boys, eager to act guides, took us to this Inca stone, demonstrating their ability to hew stone.

It's Been A Week!

     At the orthopedic surgeon, when he injected my knee, he said, "Give it a week." He also said, "If it doesn't work, I'm authorizing a knee brace. That will shift the knee's alignment so the pressure will not be on the arthritic part." I thought, "Great one way or the other, I'll have relief." So, to be prepared I registered for the brace. When is my appointment? January 12, 2027. 😒

   It's been a week and there is no relief yet.  Hobbling around is getting old. I'm keen to return to my walking regimen. This is my sad tale of woe but at least it's not life threatening.

Takk for alt,

Al

Pictures of Machau Picchu often include the peak (Haunu Picchu) in the background. We climbed to its top via Inca steps hewn into the rocks. Toward the top the path ran through a cave leading to the other side of the peak.

OFH joke!

      Tom, a widower, lived happily in an OFH. His friends were surprised when he suddenly married. Talking to Tom they were quizzing him about his bride. "Is she good looking?" they asked. "No", he said, pleasant but not pretty."  "Is she a good cook?" was the next question. Tom said, "No, hamburger helper is her specialty." "Mayber she's smart," his friends speculated. Tom's response was, "Not so much, she's happy with Reader's Digest." 

   Finally, the friends gave up and asked him, "So why did you marry her?" His quick response was "She can drive." 😁

Takk for alt,

Al

Perhaps rock picking is over for this year.

What now?

     It's a rainy day on what seems to be a rainy week. A Marine Corps memory returns, or actually a snippet of one. The time we spent in Japan was called "cold weather training." That's a bit of misnomer, at least compared to Minnesota or South Dakota cold. Certainly, was colder that Camp Pendleton in southern California or Okinawa. It might have been called 'cool weather training'. 

    While there we made a long march in pouring rain. That's a totally miserable experience and our destination didn't make it any better. Were we headed for a warm dry barracks? or even the squad tents with heat that was our regular accommodation.? Nope, not that comfortable, it was pup tents for which we were headed.

   Each Marine carried half a pup tent. It was rolled up and bent horseshoe shape around the backpack. Another Marine had the other half and put together they made a tent. The tent was just large enough to accommodate two persons lying down. At least there was protection from the rain. With an inflatable air mattress and a sleeping bag the tent served as a bedroom. The Marines weren't great on creature comforts. Perhaps experiences such as this accounts for me now being a 'rain wimp'.

  Takk for alt,

  Al

These tents with a floor and a stove were our regular housing at cold weather training.