Virtual-Doug

Miscellaneous Ramblings - Getting Ready to Go to Viet Nam (More)

Part 2 of Phase One is upon us, and Phase II begins.

Huh?

As you know, we moved into a new home - part of the "downsizing" necessary to prepare. The old house went on the market Tuesday - and we had an offer by Wednesday. The buyers accepted our counter offer. If their loan is approved, the sale goes through on June 1st. That's the "Part 2" of Phase One.

And today begins Phase II - looking into what we will actually be doing in Viet Nam. Note the early hour of this posting. Today its off to a conference of folks who serve in Viet Nam. This will give us three days to meeting others working in the harvest - a chance to network, see what is going on, and generally prepare ourselves.

Christianity – I Gotta Pay for It

I got a present in the mail yesterday – a nice present from an old friend. It was a box of cigars. And I love the gift. Not only are the cigars quite good, but I appreciated the thought.

But, he shouldn’t have. No really – I wish he had not sent the cigars.

And its not just that he can’t afford them because he’s unemployed right now. Its not just that its foolish to spend money when you have no money, though I can’t think of anything more human than splurging when times are tough. No, my objection is deeper.

Maybe it means he cannot accept something as a free gift. Deep down, maybe he still believes there is no free lunch.

You see, awhile back I sent my friend some cigars, along with a note saying “Just because you’re out of a job doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good smoke.” I have been supportive during his many recent trials, and just wanted to give him something that was fun and enjoyable. He’d had enough advice.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - Living in a Manufactured Past

Do you get those schmaltzy pass-along emails from friends and acquaintances? I do - and I just got one from a favorite person of mine who goes to the same church.

And - I just had to reply. I stripped all the cutesy animated gifs from her email, but here is the text, followed by my somewhat acerbic comments. (By the way - when you get to the point about polio, she is one of the two people in our church who got polio and is in a wheelchair to this day.)

---

This was MY life!!!

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN...?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took five minutes for the TV warm up?

Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?

Nobody owned a purebred dog?

When a quarter was a decent allowance?

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?

Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?

All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . .and they did?

When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?

No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?

Miscellaneous Ramblings – Lawrence Welk Meets Led Zeppelin

This should be interesting. We’re in the new house – and in a “retirement community.” The fact is, we’ve moved into a neighborhood populated by folks who are our parent’s age. Most of them ride golf carts around the streets (though carts are forbidden on the golf course– go figure), and the Friday night “Happy Hour” in the club house starts at 4:30. Many of the homes have carved wooden signs proclaiming the name of the couple and their home town – and all but two I’ve seen so far are from Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin.

While merrily unpacking boxes, we needed some music. The laptop has a couple of gigs worth of MP3s, so I hooked up a set of powered speakers, and cranked up some Hendrix, Stones, Creedence, and other classic rock tunes from the 60s and 70s. (Okay – an occasional number from the 80s – maybe even the 90s.) I doubt if such music has been heard in this park before.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Move (or I'm Outa Internet Range)

The first part of Phase One of going to Viet Nam happens this weekend - we'll be moving into our new home. Once that happens, then the current home goes on the market.

But - the move means I'll be "out of Internet range" for awhile. I don't know how long. The cable company has promised to hook us up tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes. I'll also need to move the computers, set up the wireless network, and all the other "stuff" that goes along with using the Internet.

I'll post pictures of the new home when I can. In the meantime, we thank God for the adrenaline rush He is giving us.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - I Knew There Had to be a Ministry

Okay - you see my picture to the right.

I have a pony tail.

And, I have needs. I have issues, and maybe my ponytail is a cry for help. Of course, I am delighted to see Christians somewhere are worried about me and my kind.

Story in The Lark.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - Requiem

I have indeed lost one of my sons. One of Comanche's own is dead - and I grieve.

On Palm Sunday, April 4th, Company C, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division was in a bad firefight in the Sadr City area of Bagdhad. SGT Yihjyh L. Chen, 31, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, who listed Saipan, Mariana Protectorate, as his home of record, was killed when his patrol was hit by RPGs and small arms.

SGT Chen entered the Army on Jan. 20, 2000, and had been stationed at Fort Hood since June 20, 2000. Four men from Company A, 2/5 Cav, were KIA in the same firefight. They were Specialist Robert R. Arsiaga, Specialist Ahmed A. Cason, Specialist Israel Garza, and Specialist Stephen D. Hiller.

I never met SGT Chen. Why do I say I lost a son? Because I had the great and honorable priviledge of commanding Company C, 2/5 Cavalry in Viet Nam. A little over a year ago, I was asked to speak to the senior sergeants and officers of the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry at Ft. Hood. While emotion constricted my throat, I told them I did not doubt their bravery in combat, but knew they would proudly carry the legacy of those of us who preceded them. The next week, the troopers who are Charlie Company took a vote - and the voted to retake the name Comanche that we old-timers carried into battle.

SGT Chen is my son. I mourn for him as I did for those who died in combat with me way back in 1969.

America - do not let him die in vain.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Salute

No other physical action strikes me in quite the same emotional manner as a well-meant and well-executed salute. It is one of the truest expressions of honor and respect.

The war in Iraq came home to South Texas.

The man executing the perfect salute is the father of Marine PFC Daniel Sekula, killed in action in Iraq. No drill sergeant could fault his ramrod position of attention nor the perfectly straight arm and hand.

No American can doubt the respect this family has for a fallen son. Today, PFC Sekula is my son too.

On a personal note, I know some of the recent dead in Iraq are from my old battalion in Viet Nam - the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. These men proudly carry the name "Comanche" into battle - the same name we had in Viet Nam. Each of the men in Company C, 2/5 Cavalry are my sons too.

Miscellaneous Ramblings - Phew! Life is Hectic

One of the advantages of blogging is that I will be able to look back at this period and see what was going on in my life - rather like my mother and sisters kept diaries, except the whole world can read this one. (No - there are no stories of broken hearts and revelations of formerly illicit activities on this blog.)

But, the past few weeks have been crazy. We have indeed found a new home, and put down some earnest money for it. We also have contacted a realtor, and the current house will go on the market soon. In the meantime, we must clean up and make it ready, which means moving many things out of sight. Houses must be unlcuttered when one sells - that's not how we live in houses, but it is how we buy and sell houses.

But lots of other things are going on as well. I've cashed in various investments and gathered the money together in one place so we can buy the new home for cash. (We need to be debt free in retirement and when we're in Viet Nam.) As the chief drug buyer for the Medical Mission to Honduras, C has been knee-deep in buying medications, printing labels, and otherwise preparing for the June trip.