tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post1090597273480317683..comments2024-03-29T04:38:28.940-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: ReflectionsOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-33165546604690133682014-10-25T08:22:05.666-07:002014-10-25T08:22:05.666-07:00Not a bad way to go. I hope I'm that lucky.Not a bad way to go. I hope I'm that lucky.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-32994106266370679792014-10-23T03:06:00.420-07:002014-10-23T03:06:00.420-07:00Reflections indeed. Your post, as most similar dis...Reflections indeed. Your post, as most similar discussions do, instantly took me back to a lot of places. I wanted to be a NAC swimmer/corpsman because it was so cool, and it was all of that and more, but the downside could be pretty grim. There wasn't much training on dealing with death back then, and I'm not sure training would have helped a lot. When our fellow humans depart they're gone for good and not coming back, and the experience of that reality is far, far different than any intellectual knowledge. About two hours after reading your post I got the news that my father in law had died suddenly (kind of a goofy coincidence). Eighty and in reasonably good health, a former Air Force wrench turner who was stationed at Wheelus in his salad days, he passed unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep. Father of five and a man who had borne the unfathomable loss of two of those children. So the best way to go, no suffering, no dreadful lead in, just gone. We'll miss him a lot. The world is a better place because of his existence, and that's a comfort.PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-8692788450876296832014-10-22T20:51:05.906-07:002014-10-22T20:51:05.906-07:00Thanks Alemaster, and everybody else. This was so...Thanks Alemaster, and everybody else. This was something completely different for me so I felt like this was a good outlet.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-49579128215677062782014-10-22T18:47:00.134-07:002014-10-22T18:47:00.134-07:00From day one of WOFT we were taught that our sole ...From day one of WOFT we were taught that our sole purpose was to support the American taxpayer's most valuable asset, the private in the foxhole. Twenty seven years and thousands of hours later, far too many fellow army aviator's memorials attended, and the priority had not changed. A soulful tribute Tuna. RIP fellow soldier. respectfully, AlemasterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27836397886784132222014-10-22T10:18:37.653-07:002014-10-22T10:18:37.653-07:00My condolences to your friends and you on the loss...My condolences to your friends and you on the loss of their son. Terrible.<br /><br />The rest of the post is pretty much what happens to us all when we get to be "of a certain age." I never really thought I'd be given to so much reflection in my old age, but there it is.Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319116022465066060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27918479944158660272014-10-22T09:10:15.940-07:002014-10-22T09:10:15.940-07:00That is beautiful.That is beautiful.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-42596413935549107872014-10-22T08:46:35.093-07:002014-10-22T08:46:35.093-07:00Tuna . . .
Love this post.
You're playin'...Tuna . . .<br />Love this post. <br />You're playin' my life here too.<br />Lost my Mom to lung cancer. She'd given up cigarettes once . . . took up the habit, again, years later when her mother was in the hospital for brain surgery . . . "Stress" she said. Both my wife and I gave up smoking back in 2000. Since that time, we've lost every single friend who continued to smoke. <br />As to the loss of a child . . . my stepson died, suddenly, of cardiac arrest at age 46. He was a picture of health . . . a strapping man who never smoked, drank in moderation, was athletic and dropped dead after testing for his black belt in Karate. Said death ripples through the family yet today. It colors all our actions and dwells in all our relationships. Prayers are offered for your friends.<br />. . . and for you too.snuffynyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12843569994073955970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1232917264972925642014-10-22T08:39:12.637-07:002014-10-22T08:39:12.637-07:00Here's the beautiful eulogy his mother gave: ...Here's the beautiful eulogy his mother gave: "Thank you, all of you, for coming today. Our community has drawn tightly around us and our family’s every need has been provided. I know this is what God desires, for His people to become to become Him with skin on, and to put their arms around each other. We can honestly say we have been carried by all your prayers, and we are so thankful. It feels weird to call this a celebration, but if you knew Kai, that makes sense. He was a celebration of life himself.<br />Right now, I want to tell the young people here especially something very important. As you leave today, we have some orange wristbands that read “You are not replaceable.” Kai is not replaceable. He was one of God’s unique creations, and we learned from him. Parents don’t admit this really often, but we learn a lot from our kids. And Kai taught us three things, really.<br />First, be generous. If Kai had money in his pocket, it was burning a hole. He loved to buy little gifts, whether it was candy from the snack table at CFS or toys at Target. Kai was generous with his time and his knowledge. He was always ready to teach a new move at jiu Jitsu, to show someone how to solve the Rubik’s cube, or to demonstrate a card trick. He was an easy conversationalist and would extend himself to anybody, whether it was a young person or a grown up. A year after we went to Tijuana, Kai was still talking about the families we helped with the Build a Miracle project. Kai was happy when he was helping.<br />Second, be genuine. Romans 12: 9-10 tells us “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection.” Kai loved genuinely. He was a snuggler and a hugger and had no problem showing his affection. Kai was also a geek, and he owned it. He loved My Little Pony, Dr. Who, Clash of the Clans, doing origami, learning magic tricks, telling corny jokes, solving algebra problems, and reading science fiction books. He wore his “Brony” shirt with pride. He was happy with what he was and who he was.<br />James 1:2 says, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy.” Kai was joyful. So lastly, young people, be joyful. Not fakey happy, not pretending, but truly joyful. Kai laughed with his whole body. When he was excited about something, he would literally hop around. He danced like no one was watching. He sang a little off key, but loudly. His laugh was a mixture of chortling and giggling, and he would hold his sides when he laughed really hard. You wanted to be around Kai because he was happy kid, and it was easy to want to be in that light. We will never understand why Kai made the choice he did, but I know this: it was one moment of darkness in a lifetime of light.<br />Kai’s heritage was both American and Chinese. He had green eyes, and sandy colored hair, and he loved Chinese food, chicken feet most of all. Kai would try anything once. As you leave today, you’ll receive a paper-wrapped coin, lycee, to thank you for coming here today to celebrate Kai. You’ll also receive a piece of candy. The Chinese belief is that it takes the bitterness from the mouth. Truth be told, Kai ate candy like it’s cool, and I’m sure he’ll be happy to know you’re having some, too.<br />Please, leave today remembering to be generous, to be genuine and to be joyful. Remember that you are not replaceable. We know Kai will never be replaced, and that he still lives because of his faith in our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. We know Kai is celebrating now with family who has gone ahead of him. If there is a Costco in heaven, Kai is riding his bike over right now hoping to score some samples. He’s doing magic tricks and jiu Jitsu takedowns. He’s laughing with his whole body, probably at some quick comeback he just made, and we know with assurance that he is happy."Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-56227052691145772382014-10-22T07:13:38.213-07:002014-10-22T07:13:38.213-07:00"...one loss that we’re not supposed to exper...<i>"...one loss that we’re not supposed to experience..."</i><br />Nothing really consoles us, no matter what the cause.<br />Time dulls the pain.<br />But I remember like it was yesterday.<br /><br />When others suffer that loss, all we can say is, "I'm so sorry."<br />(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27103027300164189142014-10-22T06:21:50.906-07:002014-10-22T06:21:50.906-07:00Rest in Peace, Kai.
Excellent Post, Tuna.Rest in Peace, Kai.<br /><br />Excellent Post, Tuna.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5471032248755039292014-10-22T05:31:52.138-07:002014-10-22T05:31:52.138-07:00I had a post prepared, then while checking e-mail ...I had a post prepared, then while checking e-mail I saw a comment (the one above from the good Cap'n) on a post that didn't seem familiar. Because it was this post, brand new since last night.<br /><br />It's a beautiful post Tuna. Heartfelt, sincere and starkly real.<br /><br />That last bit, I'm feeling you there. Something that no parent should have to go through. Yet it happens.<br /><br />Not long ago, a buddy of mine from Germany lost his son. Though he and his life live far from us now, I felt something in his post on Facebook regarding the event.<br /><br />Shattered describes it as well as any world.<br /><br />With two kids in Naval Aviation it's something I try to keep locked in a cage deep in my brain. Every time someone goes in, you hear about it, then you start making calls, trying to ascertain that everyone is okay.<br /><br />Prayers for Kai and his family.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-20109804205008157502014-10-22T04:09:54.466-07:002014-10-22T04:09:54.466-07:00Any loss is hard, the loss of a young one especial...Any loss is hard, the loss of a young one especially so... May he RIP, and the family take solace that he's gone to a better place.Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-90819080643467250862014-10-22T00:32:27.433-07:002014-10-22T00:32:27.433-07:00I smoked for many years before giving it up. It wa...I smoked for many years before giving it up. It was part and parcel of a life that I thought would be over soon. Alas, I passed through that phase of life unscathed. I will probably live forever. It is my little sister, who never smoked or did ought but live life cleanly and well who is suffering from cancer. I took her to dinner with Lex and Mary long ago in Del Mar. I figured she was a popular published author, her husband a noted author, and just maybe they could convince Lex to publish. Instead, they spent the whole evening talking with Lex and Mary about France...oh, and Ursula Andress.<br />It would be nice if the site of Lex was restored but I can also see why it is gone. Memory is a killer.HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.com