Christmas Shopping - Bah Humbug!

I thought I was supposed to get smarter as I grew older, but today that proved not to be the case. Who in their right mind goes into the 2^nd largest city in Wisconsin on a Sunday afternoon two weeks before Christmas to shop. That would be me. I got the paper in before going to church this morning and spotted something that someone on my list wanted. It was on sale for 50% off, Sunday and Monday only. I thought for sure if I didn’t get it today it would be sold out. I also figured we would be home from church by 9:30 am at the latest. Wrong! During the announcements I was reminded that we were having a building planning meeting between services that we both wanted to sit in on. Church ran late, the meeting lasted longer than I thought it would and we first got home around 10:45. Ok, I still had time to get into Madison, 20 minutes away, buy a couple of gifts and get home before the 3 pm Green Bay Packer game.



Dropped my wife off at home, changed into Green Bay Packer gear and was out the door by 11:30 am. I stopped for gas and was at the major department store by noon. OK, so it took 15 minutes to find a parking spot. I was still sure I’d get home for the kick off. I looked around for about ten minutes before I decided to find someone to help me locate the item I was looking for. Yes, I am delusional. An employee to help me in one of these big stores? Especially during a Christmas shopping weekend. I stayed around the cash registers until they called for a price check and then asked that person to find the item for me. They in turn called someone else to help me. When that person got to the department I was in they found similar items made by the same company, but not the one I wanted, advertised for 50% off. She told me it was probably sold out already. I didn’t buy that line for a minute. I was nice, but firm and asked for a manager. She called a manager who got to me within about 10 minutes and found the item at another location in the store. We looked at the display together and I asked for a particular size. She simply looked at me and said, “Oh, it doesn’t come in that size.” OK, so much for best laid plans.

Not enough words to connect to tell about the rest of my afternoon shopping adventure. I stopped at 10 more stores in eight locations and finally got everything that I had planned on getting. There were full parking lots, no one to help find things in stores, long lines to check out with many inexperienced check out people, rude customers and then it happened. An older couple was checking out before me and they needed a price check on a piece of jewelry because there was no tag on it. Oh great, another hold up. Why do I always choose the wrong line? The checker called someone who told them the price was $7.95. The couple immediately told the clerk that it was not the price that was on other similar items in the jewelry case and that the correct price was $59.95. The clerk had someone go back and get another box with the same cross with a diamond in it and it rang up at the correct price. It made my entire day to see someone do something so honest and right. I would hope everyone would do the same, but you and I know that is not always the case. I hope the gift of that cross is a blessing to the person that receives it and that the couple that is giving it as a gift is also blessed. Some how I think they already are. I got home in time to see most of the first quarter and only missed the first touch down, but the experience got me back into the Christmas spirit and I wouldn‘t have traded it for anything..

Good News, Bad News

Good news - I woke up this morning

Bad news - Very cold when I rolled out bed

Good news - Shower nice and hot

Bad news - Bathroom colder than when I got into shower

Good news - Electricity on in house

Bad news - Can’t hear furnace running

Good news - Son going down stairs to check furnace

Bad news - Can’t find anything wrong

Good news - Son doesn’t get dirty and gets on road to work

Bad news - I check and find pilot light out

Good news - I get pilot light to light and stay on

Bad news - Burners refuse to ignite

Good news - Local heating contractor will come out today

Bad news - Furnace is 30 years old (I almost know what’s coming)

Good news - Repairman arrives by 9:30 am

Bad news - Can only make temporary fix

Good news - Temporary fix will warm up house

Bad news - Not worth money to fix 30 year old furnace

Good news - They can replace the furnace next week

Bad news - Air conditioner and water heater also 30 years old

Good news - Tax breaks and rebates if we replace everything before Jan 1, 2012

Bad news - This was not in budget right before Christmas or after

Good news - We have stock we can sell

Bad news - I won’t be in Key West for my 65^th birthday in Feb

Good news - After taking a hot shower I will be able to sit in my warm house, in Feb, in my shorts and a Hawaiian shirt sipping a rum runner and looking at pictures of the last time we were there. Great memories!

Bad news - There really isn’t any. Life is still good!

4077 th M.A.S.H.

Harry Morgan died yesterday at 96 and took me back to the movie that came out in 1970 while I was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma City. Our home port was Yokosuka, Japan, where my wife lived while I was out at sea on Yankee Station just off of Da Nang, Vietnam. One of the things we enjoyed doing while in port was going to the movies at the base theater. Early 1970 when the movie M.A.S.H. came out the Navy refused to show it at the base theater. They claimed that it would have a negative effect on us because it showed a lack of respect for the military. There was some scuttlebutt about it actually being closely related to what was going on in Nam at that time.

The film came from a 1968 novel about three U.S. Army doctors assigned to a M.A.S.H Unit in Korea during the Korean War. If you’re too young to know what the Korean War was or a M.A.S.H Unit was please look it up. Harry Morgan played Colonel Sherman Potter, Commanding Officer, who came to the television series at the end of the third season replacing McLean Stephenson, who played, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake. Roger Bowmen actually played Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the movie.

Morale was getting lower and lower as the war in Vietnam progressed, especially for those of us that were there. It was the longest war that the U.S had been in, up to that point in our country’s history, was not supported by most of the population of the U.S. and the longer it went on the less the troops believed in what they were fighting for. They needed and deserved a good laugh. M.A.S.H. was the laugh that they needed. It only took about a month before they gave in to all the troops and their families demanding to see it. Everyone had heard about it from the folks back home. Many of us thought it was just one more right that they were taking from us. Just plain censorship.

Going to that movie was one of the first things we did after I got into port after it finally was shown on base. M.A.S.H. was the best movie we had seen in a long time and none of us ended up being any more disrespectful of anything or anyone in service than we were before we saw it. There was so much more truth in it than met the eye. It also brings to mind another movie, “Good Morning Vietnam.” Different but similar in so many ways and worth seeing, especially if you were there.

St Nicholas

Thanks to an old Navy friend and his picture of St Nicholas on face book for the inspiration for my literary offering of the day. December 6^th is of course St Nicholas Day. Some believe the true story of Santa Claus begins with St Nicholas who was born in the 3^rd century on the southeast coast of present day Turkey. He was a very generous young man, giving away everything that he had to the poor. He became know for his generosity to those in need, his love of children and his concern for sailors and ships. Most of you that know me or read my blog know that my four years in the Navy was very important to me and probably had a lot to do with who I turned out to be. Therefore you can see my connection with St Nicholas.

The entire story is too long to go into, but after reading it one has to hope the giving and sharing links us to the modern day Santa Claus. I see it daily with the bell ringers for The Salvation Army (most of the money collected stays in our town and our church distributes those funds to the needy right here). There’s also The Empty Stocking Club, Toys For Tots and many other generous groups, businesses and individuals that assist those less fortunate, especially during this time of year. I know that economic times are tough for everyone right now but I also know that many are worse off than many of us. My wife rang a bell at a kettle last year and can’t his year so I will for both of us. If you’re in Oregon tomorrow I’ll be ringing at Bill’s Food Center from 8 am until 10 am.

St Nicholas has also been important to my wife and I because she went to Mass everyday until she left for college at St Nicholas Church about two blocks from her childhood home. We also got married there on 6/28/69 by the Monsignor who was a priest when he married her Mom and Dad. Our daughter was also baptized there. Of course she always talks about all of the children getting special treats on St Nicholas day because that was the school she went to for grade school. Sadly the church is gone, but the memories live on. I have also been blessed with memories of many happy Christmases with family and friends.

To you he may be Santa Claus, Old St Nick, St Nicolas or the Spirit of Christmas, but what ever you call him, he should represent giving to those that may not be as blessed as we are. Please do what ever you can to create a happy memory for those that might not have much this Christmas. There are many. Peace and Joy to all.

Homer For Christmas

No I did not make a spelling error in my title. We will be home for Christmas and we’ll also have Homer, as in Simpson, guarding our home from Grinches and ready to welcome Santa when he gets here. Oh, and you can see our house from two blocks away when you make the curve. We all still believe. I leave the milk and cookies out when we go to bed on Christmas Eve and it’s gone when I get up. Our house has a sense of humor and pretty lights both inside and out. We already have a decorated tree up in the living room and one in the family room.

All of our lights, our neighbor’s lights and the lights all over town remind us of the Christ light that shines in each of us and the brightest light ever, the star over Bethlehem. We not only celebrate advent at church on Sunday but also by lighting our own advent candles at home and by opening a door each day on our advent calendar. We went to a Josh Wilson concert this past Saturday night. The ladies of Sarah Circle at church, of which my wife is a member, invited their husbands out to dinner and the concert and of course none of the husbands were too happy because it meant we would have to miss the first Big Ten Legends and Leaders play off game. As it turned out we all got home for the fourth quarter to see our Wisconsin Badgers win. They will now go to the Rose Bowl on January 2^nd for the 2^nd time in two years. Every man that attended the concert agreed that it was great, got us into the Christmas spirit and most importantly reminded us about the true meaning of Christmas. If you have not heard Christian singer/songwriter Josh Wilson, pull up one of his songs on line. I think you’ll enjoy it.

I hope everyone takes time to experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Military Honors

Anyone that has ever served in the U. S. Military and has been honorably discharged is entitled to Military Honors at their funeral. Funeral homes and planners are supposed to inform next of kin while making arrangements, but many don’t. They are normally performed by the local VFW, Am Vets and representatives of the branch of service the individual served in. They are also entitled to a flag.

Not all VFW groups follow the same procedure so I’ll take you through ours. We always bring and set up at least two flags; the branch of service they served in, i.e. U.S. Navy flag and the era flag of when they served, i.e. WW II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Yes this is done, usually at the grave site and during all 12 months of the year. We try to have six people with rifles, a sergeant at arms to call what we do and a bugler. We line up three across from one another so that the casket and mourners can pass through. We begin at “Parade Rest” go to “Ten Hut” (attention), then “Port Arms” and “Present Arms” just before the casket passes between us. After the last mourner passes between us we go back to “Order Arms”, “Post Arms” and “Fallout”

After we fall out we change location and get in position to fire our three round volleys in perfect unison. It’s supposed to sound like just one shot each of the three times we fire. We line up so that we can fire over the casket or urn. This is a tradition to open a path for the deceased to enter into heaven. We begin at “Parade Rest”, go to “Ten Hut”, “Prepare To Fire”, (just as the flag is completely opened and is being held over the casket or urn), then fire three rounds on the command of our Sergeant At Arms. (we use M-14’s). We then go to “Order Arms” and “Present Arms”. Three seconds after the last round is fired the bugler begins taps. When taps has ended the branch service representatives fold the flag and present it to next of kin with a thank you for the deceased’s service to our country and a slow military salute. At this point we go to “Order Arms”. Two of our VFW members then break ranks and present next of kin with a commemorative coin for their branch of service and another member presents them with a small velvet bag with seven spent rounds in it. Both people thank the next of kin for their loved one’s service to our country and do what we call the very slow honor salute. They return to ranks and “At Ease” is called followed by “Fall Out”. Next we very quietly hunt for spent shells and leave the area for a few minutes before we go back and take down our flags.

It usually takes from two to three hours to do this, including getting there and back. We do not get compensated for doing this and all of us feel honored just to participate in this final tribute to a fellow Veteran.. The thanks we get from the spouses, children and friends of the deceased is worth more than all the money in the world. The sad part is that we do at least one a week and we‘re just one of many VFW Posts throughout Wisconsin and the United States. Thursday we did one for a Korean Era Vet and today we did one for a Vietnam Navy Vet. Doing these is never easy and always reminds me that we all have a limited time in this earthly body, especially when it is someone my age or even younger. I am just thankful that I am still physically able to participate in this final tribute to my fellow vets. Please remember to thank vets for their service and VFW members for the many things they do for their fellow vets and their communities. If you are a vet and don’t belong to a post please give it some thought. The ranks are diminishing as we loose many WW II and Korean Vets daily. You can be against war and still be supportive of our troops who sacrifice so much for this country.

God Bless America, our troops, their families and our vets.

Lies, Lies, Everybody Lies

If you have never in your life told a lie, not even a itty bitty one, then this post isn’t for you because you are either delusional or you have told the lie so often that you actually believe it. If you can read this you probably know the difference between a lie and the truth, but teaching that to young children is sometimes difficult. As Christians we know that lying is a sin and something we are not supposed to do. However, sometimes we try to justify it by saying we lied so we wouldn’t hurt someone’s feelings.

So what constitutes a lie?

White lies, acceptable or not? Supposedly told to someone for their own good and doesn’t really hurt anyone. But isn’t it still a lie? Does this dress make me look fat? No dear, Rubenesque figures are now in vogue.

Is not disclosing all the facts considered a lie? Our current Governor in WI didn’t mention while campaigning that he was planning to do away with the union’s right to bargain. I was told I should have know that by what he did in Milwaukee, where I haven’t lived for 17 years. I cannot tell a lie. I didn’t vote for him and I signed his recall papers.

Half truth’s - intended to deceive by leaving out half the facts, includes some truth, but also leaves some out on purpose. Very similar to the last paragraph.

Lying to manipulate others. Many politicians promise anything and everything to get elected and then come up with excuses why they couldn’t provide what they promised.

Consequences of lying - You could loose your wife, family, job, even become incarcerated and lose your freedom. Oh, and your self esteem if you had any to begin with. Those that think they will never get caught surely are not thinking about consequences. Do any politicians come to mind?

Getting caught and trying to explain the lie. Whoops! Some don’t think getting caught is that big of a deal. They say they’re sorry and promise they’ll never do it again. Don’t bet money on that one. Too many people in all walks of life to list.

Lies hurt both the person telling it, the person it’s about and those it affects. Yes it will catch up with you eventually. Just like all crooks will get caught sooner than later.

Tell me the truth and I won’t punish you and then you do. We better not be doing this with our children or they will be encouraged to tell those lies with the hope of not getting caught because they learn that punishment will come either way.

How many times do we lie to ourselves? Are we sometimes held captive by our lies?

Compulsive liars - a psychological problem. We have to hope that they recognize their problem or someone points it out and get help.

Government lies to protect us or keep us in the dark? After being out of the Naval Security Group for over 40 years I know there are still things I can’t talk about. It’s for the good of the nation. Is it really or is some one or some group just trying to protect themselves. If this peaks your interest then I know you will love my book entitled, “The Coded Letter”, which is going through it’s first edit as I write this.

Some people get so good at lying and are so convincing that many are taken in by them, especially the elderly and those with mental conditions. Nigerian scams, etc.

Lastly are the lies that are in newspapers, magazines, online news sources and on TV. We should all become more aware that this type of information is commonly influenced by who owns the outlet that is publishing or producing the information. So many things are now taken out of context just to manipulate the truth and confuse us. Is it fair? Many in politics say it is because both sides do it. Is it OK to do something just because everyone else is doing it. How many times have your children pulled that one on you?

This was not written to be judgmental of anyone, just to make you think about what you say and how it affects others. I hope it also gets you to carefully evaluate all that you read, see and hear.

Thanks for continuing to read “ Just Connecting Words”