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| OAFS Photo² |
So I wasn't always an old fart. Seems hard to believe, but there it is. We were all young at some point in time. (Yes, Roberto, even Grandpa.)
I'm not bemoaning the fact of getting not just older, but getting old. While 70 years old isn't what it was in my grandfather's day (when I was a lad of 13, Gramp was 70 and he seemed very old indeed) it's still "up there."
Of course, my grandfather was a far more serious man than I. That's probably got something to do with the fact that I have never really "grown up." Never saw the point of it, I can be serious when the occasion calls for it. Which having spent nearly fifty years in the service of national defense, that sort of job requires a certain amount of "seriousness." After all, it's a job where the idea is to "blow things up and kill people.
On the gripping hand, a certain amount of levity is also required. The seriousness of the job makes a sense of humor necessary, otherwise the contemplation of the end results of one's labors could drive one mad. Folks in the military have a rather dark sense of humor which doesn't always translate well into the civilian world.
And no, that uniform doesn't fit anymore, seems that it has shrunk whilst hanging in the closet lo these many years.
I find myself slipping more and more into vacation mode. Vacation as in "actually go somewhere" as opposed to "don't have to go to work."
We shall be making our way once again down to Virginia to relax upon the shore of Chesapeake Bay, a favorite place of mine. Same place we went last year.
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| The Venue No, I can't wait. OAFS Photo |
What I'm trying to say is, you shouldn't really expect a lot of content between now and sometime in mid-June. It might happen, but regaling you with tales of me relaxing and discovering "Com'è bello non fare nulla,³" would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. And I love you all too much to make you suffer in that way.
And yes, there are days that it really is beautiful to do nothing.
Go ahead, ask me how I know.
Ciao!
¹ We were soldiers (sic) once ... and young - borrowed from the title of Joe Galloway's brilliant book on the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley.
² I'm sure my friend Liz would make note of my "80s" spectacles, though that style was still "popular" in the mid to late 90s, which is when this photo was taken.
³ How beautiful it is to do nothing. (Italian)
The years, indeed the decades do fly by Sarge, do what you need to do to adjust to "vacation mode".......you've earned it.
ReplyDeleteAdjustment in progress ...
DeleteDo not turn off Sarge's brain while in progress ...
It's really sinking in that you can say, "Hey! I've a hankering to go see what Loompaland looks like! Let's go!" and not have to worry about consequences. You get to do the things YOU, or your missus, wants to do, when YOU want to do it. For as long as you want. Enjoy! Don't bother withy postcards, and lord knows we don't need T-Shirts.
ReplyDeleteThat feeling has been there for some time, it's just actually picking something to do which we can all agree on ...
DeleteA. V. A. Tor glasses!
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteI have got one of those dress uniforms around somewhere. I had a SMSgt give it to me telling me that the stripes could not be changed because of the material it was made of. And of course there is no way it would fit me now. I wore it twice.
ReplyDeleteYou could go bigger stripes on a uniform, going smaller wasn't recommended as the outline of the old stripes made it look like you got busted. Knew a fellow who was busted from MSgt to Sgt, he decided to just put his new stripes on his old fatigues, that lasted a couple of days. To say he was embarrassed over displaying his fall from grace was an understatement.
DeleteIn the Navy we had a tradition, not sure if it still exists but to wear gold rating badges on your dress uniform you had to be entirely innocent or uncaught up in any Captain's Mast, otherwise you just stayed with wearing the Red Crow. The older chiefs on my first ship were fond of pointing that out to me as we stood around in dress uniforms and waited for ambassadors, kings, and uniform inspections.
DeleteI've heard that, don't know if it still applies.
DeleteLess than a week behind me Sarge, turned 70 last week. I too find rettiement as an excuse to travel as we tend to go somewhare at least every couple of months. You apparently have learned to enjoy retirement faster than I did! How do I know I am old? I received my 1st SS deposit last week! As an aside, about the only uniform change I liked at the end of my career were the new stripes, felt it appropriate that all thee senior grades got a top rocker.
ReplyDeleteI did like the new MSgt stripes. The E-8 and E-9 stripes had the roof because that grade didn't exist before the six stripes for MSgt. Having the roof for all senior NCOs was smart.
DeleteLove the glasses, and fashionistas be damned, I still wear them, great field of vision, light weight, no obstruction of vision by frames. Function over fashion for me!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the VA VaCay. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Easton is highly recommended. Fort Delaware off Delaware City, Delaware (accessible only by boat) is interesting as a CW POW camp, although big masonry fortress is not too different from Fort Adams just down the road from your home casa.
I'll try to throw some grist your way to fill in a few days.
John Blackshoe
My new glasses have hardly any frame at all, bridge for the nose and the earpieces. Very light, very non-disturbing of the field of vision. Unfortunately they're also a bit pricy, but hey, I'll pay for quality.
DeleteMy glasses are similar for the same reasons, and my attire is based on comfort (and in season warmth). Never mind fashion.
DeleteFashion? What's that?
DeleteInteresting and educational to read these comments about 'retirement'. While understanding the concept, implementing it escapes me. That said, good on you for enjoying your retirement.
ReplyDeleteWithout a good pension, retirement isn't an option for many.
DeleteGood heavens, you look quite fancy! And I am reasonable sure TB The Elder also had a set of those glasses in the approximate same time frame.
ReplyDelete" The seriousness of the job makes a sense of humor necessary, otherwise the contemplation of the end results of one's labors could drive one mad." Quality Assurance in the Biopharmaceutical/Medical Device industry is similar in that if one gets things wrong, it goes badly indeed. If that was all we dwelt on, we, too, would go mad. Thus I inject levity everywhere I can.
I do not think there are a lot of bloggers writing on retirement - who knows, an untapped and largely unoccupied field!
(Re-reading B.H. Liddell Hart's Strategy. Thanks to all your writing on the Napoleonic era, it makes a bit more sense now.)
I like B.H. Liddell-Hart's writings. He was a learned man.
DeleteGreat photo. You definitely outkicked your coverage. No problem for me with you being scarce around these parts. That just means you're enjoying retirement. I can't say I'll be able to step in though as I'm getting busier with that extra curricular job I have. Going on vacation next week myself. Oahu with the bro/sis-in laws and recent grad nephew.
ReplyDeleteSomething for which I'm grateful everyday!
Deleteyou''re not "an old fart" --- yet!
ReplyDeletewhen you hit 85, talk to me.
and our humor isn't dark; we just see the world through different glasses
BTW, that lady on your arm is beautiful.
That is The Missus Herself, talk about aging gracefully!
DeleteI also lack the serious nature and disposition of my father and grandfathers. I think it was early exposure to the absurdity of my first ship, second ship, 3rd ship and 4th ship, not to mention my 5th ship. Everything after that got less serious as time went on until the work formerly done by a single 06 and staff of about 35 was being wildly misperformed by a 2 star with a staff of hundreds located in Norfolk. We used to camp right on the beach at/on Fort Story right there at the end of the beach and way back then I thought we were in a total complete wilderness. I wasn't paying attention....Enjoy and ciao.
ReplyDeleteI've been out to Fort Story on a night racked with storms and wild stories of flying from my daughter's squadron mates. Good times and yes, the place seemed well off the beaten path though it really wasn't. Thanks for making that memory percolate up, a great night that was.
Delete"80s" spectacles? Sarge, the ones I'm wearing right now look like those.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
Just quoting one of the young folks of my acquaintance. Truth be told, that style was most popular then.
DeleteGiven the times and durations of your relationship, we are of very similar age. Why is that important?
ReplyDeleteOur glasses were virtually the same make and model? Much like your lovely lady, mine is also. 42 years and going strong .
Well done, my friend!
juvat
We hit 48 in January. Hard to believe.
DeleteLUCKEEEE in my best Napoleon Dynamite. You sure married above your station in life. I can say that, because I recognize it. I did too.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather be lucky than good.
Delete