Passages @ MindSay

phsbum has successfully completed Army basic training, and has now moved to AIT (Advanced Individual training) also on Ft Jackson where she will be trained in her job - human resources - mostly a computer savvy position.  We had a lovely 4 day visit thanks to the holiday. 

I have a unique perspective of this phase of her / our lives because I was where she is in 1975-6.  I left for basic training 8 December 1976.  I was also at Ft Jackson ... right down the road from where she has been and is now housed.  So as we drove around the base, I kept having this weird "flashbacks" which, of course, had emotional responses attached.  Very weird!  I had a fantastic time in basic ... no really I did!  ;)  I remember standing outside in the parking lot in our t-shirts and fatigue pants in 40'sº ... freezing ... waiting for breakfast.  It was fine when we ran, but horrible when we stopped!  I remember feeling so proud when the bugle played the various calls ... stopping in the middle of the road to stand and salute the "colors." I remember walking proudly in my uniform off base in Columbia, then when I came home on leave ... wearing it into various parties or celebrations ... and this was right after Vietnam! Things are different now. The WAR may not be popular, but for the most part, the people are still respectful of those in uniform! Then, of course, there are the smells ... the smell of gunpowder at the firing range, the smell of the sandy soil of Ft Jackson, the smell of confidence! 

Janna and I shared our memories ... some the same, some different.  I can only hope that my memories have been and continue to be an encouragement to her.  Being a military person is a tremendous honor.  It makes her part of a huge family, maybe even a sort of elite family ... special.  She says the hardest thing about it so far is being separated from us, but I reminded her ... if she was here, she would likely get stale ... feel purposeless as she did for some time.  Even though we are not physically with her, I reminded her of our "connection" that time and space cannot breach. In the Army, she will have the opportunity to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and venture to places on this globe she wouldn't ordinarily have a chance to go. With the exception of the “war zones,” there are hundreds of exciting and beautiful places she could go.  It really is a good opportunity ...

I am grateful for the oppotunity to re-live some of the memories and share them with my girls!  :)

~ B

• At 4 years old I was certain ... "My Daddy can do anything."
• At 7 yearsold: "My Dad knows a lot, a whole lot."
• Suddenly, when I was 12 years old: "Oh, well - naturally - Father doesn't know that either."
• And by14 years old: "Father? Hopelessly old-fashioned."
• By the time I was 21 years old: "Oh, that man is so out-of-date. What did you expect?"
• And then at 25 years: "He knows a little bit about it - but not much."
• Finally, as I turned 30 years old: "Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks."
• And at 35:  "Let's ask Dad what he would do before we make a decision."
• At 37 years old: "I wonder what Dad would have thought about that? He was pretty smart."
• My dad died when I was 40 years old: "My Dad knew absolutely everything."
• And at 53: "I'd give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man ... and mom, too."

Isn't it funny how things change ... grow ... and evolve!  :)

These are tiresome days fore me as the necessary changes effect their course ... but I am around, just not real verbose ... for now!  ;)  My son, a senior in high school, has acquired a wonderful job and I am spending time encouraging and supporting his efforts as well as his younger sister's efforts with cyber school.  In other words ... I am playing MOM ... :D

A thought for today ...

LONESOME LOSER
Little River Band


Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'

Oohoohooh .... oooh ....

Sit down, take a look at yourself
Don't you want to be somebody
Someday somebody's gonna see inside
You have to face up, you can't run and hide

Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'

Unlucky in love, least that's what they say
He lost his head and he gambled his heart away
He still keeps searching though there's nothing left
Staked his heart and lost, now he has to pay the cost.

Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'

"It's okay", he smiles and says
Though this loneliness is driving him crazy,
He don't show what goes on in his head,
but if you watch very close you'll see it all

(Instrumental)

Sit down, take a look at yourself
Don't you want to be somebody
Someday somebody's gonna see inside
You have to face up, you can't run and hide

Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'

Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Now tell me have you heard about the lonesome loser

ok ... I have a confession  ... See that picture of there ... >>>  well, I do not look like that any more.   I have taken a bold and terrifying step.  I have stopped coloring my hair.   eeeeeesssssschhhhhh!

I am a lovely,  uh- hum ... silver blonde.  It is scarey, I have to say ... I am much too young to be this color?  But  ... it doesn't look bad.  Every time I look in the mirror, though, I say hello to my mother ... I look so much like her, it is astounding!  Of course, I always thought her an elegant and beautiful Lady.   Not sure I can live up to that.