Filler

So, while Sarge is off on vacation and he asked Juvat, Beans and me to step in where we can, providing some filler here at the Chant, I'm doing my part.  I will avoid the standard political ranting that I'm known for, not because I am no longer political, nor that there's nothing to rant about, but I do have some other more joyous things to mention here today.

The title of filler could be because the content of this post is just filler, or I'm filling in for Sarge with some stuff that just takes up space, but I will try to make it a little more interesting for you.  However that term can also work in that I am feeling a little fulfilled with how my nephew below has chosen a path that makes me proud.

If you've followed my posts here on the Chant from the beginning, you may know that I come from a long line of military men and women. Well, woman that is, as my mother served in the Air Force as a nurse until she became pregnant with my older sister.  My grandfather was a SeaBee during WWII, I have an uncle who retired from the Marine corps (later commissioning me in the Navy), another Marine Corps uncle who flew in the back of F-4s, my mother's oldest brother was a Coast Guard Limited Duty Officer and gave me his officers sword, my adopted father was an Airedale, Aviation Ordinance Chief to be precise, which definitely led me towards Naval aviation, and my brother, who made his own path, serving in the Army and retiring out of the Oregon National Guard. 

A little over a year ago, his son- my nephew Kaleb, pictured above, reached out to me and asked about applying to the US Naval Academy.  While academics and leadership were not necessarily my brother's forte, it definitely has been for my nephew, a team captain for both his wrestling and football teams his senior year, and member of the Honor Society, while carrying a 3.9 GPA.  However, we found out a couple months back that despite having a nomination from his Congressman for the academy, he was not able to secure an appointment.  Before that, knowing how challenging it is to get that appointment, my wife and I had planned to come up for his graduation and speak to him in-depth about the Naval service.  I had already briefly discussed other paths towards a commission, to include an NROTC scholarship, the NROTC college program*, the Naval Academy Prep School, or the enlisted commission programs.  

That wasn't the only reason we wanted to see him graduate, as he is the youngest of the youngest of my family, and therefore the last grandkid of a very large Catholic family to graduate.  My mother is one of eight children, and all of them had anywhere from 3 to 6 kids, with my mother's kids being the youngest, and Kaleb is the youngest of her grandchildren.  So us being here for that is sort of the end of an era.

He attended one of the largest schools in the state, with nearly 2000 students enrolled, and there are many scholarships available, but his parents, neither of which attended college, must not have encouraged that avenue, so he did not apply for any.  He's a smart kid though, and doesn't see the benefit of taking on huge debt to attend college, so he will be enlisting in the Navy at the end of the summer.  I'm happy he has made that choice, but I'm sorry that there aren't other ways for him to attend college immediately.  I encouraged him to apply for an NROTC scholarship, as his grades and application, good enough for a Boat School nomination, would surely match up well with what the Navy is looking for in an NROTC student.  But he was so busy with academics, athletics, and work, that he missed the deadline. 

He has a good head on his shoulders though, and plans to relook at the NROTC option once he is finished with whatever schools the Navy gives him, which might be nuclear power.  I've seen many officers come through the nuke power path, because if they are smart enough to become a Nuke, they can probably handle the rigors of collegiate academics.  He may also consider becoming an Aviation Electronics Technician- somewhat akin to what Sarge did in the Air Force.

Nuke Electrician's Mate, Nuke Electronics Technician, Nuke Machinist Mate

Aviation Electronics Technician

Anyway, you can probably tell that I am rather pleased with his choice of career paths, and not taking on unnecessary debt that seems to saddle most of our youth these days.  For the summer he is working somewhat as a ranch hand at the local racetrack, taking care of the horses, being paid quite nicely which should put a few dollars in his pocket before he heads off to boot camp.  My wife and I are hoping he might get stationed in San Diego where we can see him and provide some respite from the fleet when needed. 

I'm not sure if his real goal is becoming a Naval Officer, or just getting some money for college later.  Maybe he doesn't know either, so guiding him towards Aviation or Nuclear Power is a conundrum for me.  On one hand, the nuke pipeline, while lucrative, is very challenging and if he didn't make it, he might get stuck with something he doesn't like.  Naval Aviation is tough work but very rewarding, and he will have a better than even chance of finding himself in San Diego.  It might also give him more time to get some college courses under his belt.  No matter what he chooses, it's good that he will be leaving Southern Oregon because it will open his eyes to different opportunities.  And as much as I love the area, there just aren't a lot of jobs up there.  

Any other advice I should give him?  Assuming he does well on the ASVAB later this month, he should be able to write his own ticket.  If there aren't jobs available in the field he wants, I'd expect he can just wait a month.  Fortunately, his dad and I cautioned him about some of the promises the recruiter might make- best case vs what's realistic, so he won't be pushed into something that's not right for him.

Well, that's enough filler for today. 

*NROTC College Program is for students who don't have a scholarship, but join the NROTC unit anyway.  If they keep their grades up, they can receive a 2 or 3 year scholarship for the remaining years.  If not, they can take a commission anyway, and just not have the same service commitment. 

Ġēolamonaþ¹

(Source)

Okay, another post with a foreign title, this one is the Anglo-Saxon name for December (and January as well). In Old English it was called "geōla" which apparently means Yule.

Languages, I find them interesting.

But yes, December, what I think of as the Christmas month (being Christian) but it is also the month of Hanukkah. There are other holidays from other cultures and religions in this month but, honestly, I don't really care. Not in my wheelhouse, not in my tradition. It's not that I dislike those holidays, it's just that I don't celebrate them so why fret over them?

When I was a kid (long, long ago) there was, to my knowledge, a single Jewish family in my home town. Well, it was the only Jewish family with a kid in my grade in school. Heck, there may have been others, I just didn't know about them and it isn't critical to my story. (You knew there was a story coming, right?)

Anyhoo, there was a Jewish girl in my class. I don't remember if she got Hanukkah off or not.  I don't think so. We thought it kind of sucked that she had a holiday and had to be in school. Yes, she did get Christmas off. Seemed odd at the time. That was pretty much my introduction to different religions/cultures when I was a kid. No big deal.

Oddly enough I knew a number of people who had big issues with Catholicism. Growing up it seemed that there weren't all that many of them. We had more Russian Orthodox when I was a kid than Catholics. At least that's how I remember it. (I think that these days they don't call themselves "Russian" Orthodox back home, just Orthodox.) Honestly, I had no idea what that meant back in the day. (Yes, I do now.)

I have learned over the years that people are much the same anywhere you go, different customs sure, some of them very bizarre to a generic westerner, but not all that different with regards to dreams and aspirations. Unless you're talking politicians, they all pretty much suck, no matter where you go. (I'm sensing a trend here in my distain for those who seek to hold power over others, because really, that's what it is, IMHO.)

Yes, I have drifted away from my point. Yes, there is a point.

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year. I have many happy memories as a kid of this holiday. All centered around family. Parents, brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Colorful lights, Christmas trees, gifts under the tree, Christmas carols, lots of good things to eat, and games, there were always board games.

My brother The Olde Vermonter and I usually got a board game for Christmas, something military-related usually. Something along these lines -

(Source)

Yes, it had little plastic Fokker D-VIIs and SPAD-13s on little stands. Great fun. There were others -

• Battle Cry, American Civil War (1961)
• Broadside, War of 1812 naval (1962)
• Dogfight, World War I aerial (1963)
• Hit the Beach, World War II amphibious (1965)
• Skirmish, American Revolution (1975)

We had the first four, the fifth came along when were older and out on our own. (If I had known about it, I would have bought it, I've always been into military board games.)

But as the uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents began to leave on the evening of Christmas Day, The Olde Vermonter and I would load up a couple of plates with Christmas goodies (grapes, crackers, cheese, nuts, various chocolate yummies and the like) and head up to the only room uncluttered with Christmas stuff in the house, my parents' bedroom.

There, on a throw rug at the foot of the bed, we'd play whatever game we got for Christmas that year and often dig out the one (or more) of the ones from previous Christmases. Good times, fondly remembered.

Another thing we did in the weeks leading up to Christmas was go to the Christmas fair at our church. We'd paint Nativity figures, attempt to build wreathes, and eat whatever goodies the church ladies had brought. In the evening we'd go upstairs to the sanctuary and watch our church's Christmas play.

My Mom and another lady always sang What Child is This? (my mother is a wonderful singer). The highlight of the play was when the three kings arrived. A classmate of mine's Dad was always one of those kings, and hearing him sing We Three Kings in his basso profondo voice was awesome. I can hear that to this day.

It was a candlelight service and that's when it felt like Christmas really began. Rather appropriate that it felt to me that Christmas was really here after a church service. I mean that is what the holiday is all about, innit?

The coming of the Lord.

Ah, such happy memories.

No doubt I shall share more of these over the coming days. From when I was a kid, to when my kids were still at home. Christmas should be centered on the Lord, surrounded by family.

It is the Way.

¹ Se mōnaþ is nemned on Leden Decembris, and on ūre geþeōde se ǣrra geōla, forðan ða mōnþas twegen syndon nemde ānum naman, ōðer se ǣrra geōla, óðer se æftera. (Olde English - translation below.)

The month is called in Latin December, and in our language geōla for two months enjoy the same name; the first one Se Ǣrra Geola [The Preceding Yule] and the other Se Æftera [The Following]. (Source)

I Have Returned ...

(Source)

... from New Hampshire that is. (Nothing nearly as dramatic as MacArthur's return to the Philippines, I'd be back in one of the landing craft, probably searching for the general's corncob pipe, ya know how those ossifers rely on us enlisted swine to keep 'em organized.)

It was a good holiday, rather on a smaller scale than past years, five of us as opposed to a baker's dozen or so. Some of the tribe was up in Maine with the new babies which qualified the Olde Vermonter and Mrs. Old Vermonter to claim the title of grandparent. Twins, a boy and a girl born to my niece City Girl and her man, a fellow who needs a call sign I suppose at some point.

Anyhoo, we want out to an inn in the wee town of Chester, Vermont, where they did a rather nice buffet in past years. But this year, due to the Wu Flu I suppose, the meals were ordered off a menu, a number of Thanksgiving choices being available, though to my surprise, no ham. Oh well, it was turkey I was after anyway.

Meal was really, really good. Breast of turkey done to perfection, mashed taters, whole berry cranberry sauce, and a potpourri of root vegetables which went perfectly with everything else. For dessert there was a choice of pumpkin pie, apple crisp, and chocolate mousse. Yes, I know what you're asking, could you get all three?

No.

And more's the pity, but we did have a pumpkin pie, which The Missus Herself and Your Humble Scribe had hauled up from Little Rhody, back at Mom's house. Which we had sampled the evening before (and which I sampled again during the Buffalo-New Orleans game).

Well sated we were.

What? What did I drink? The non-traditional Von Trapp Bohemian Pilsner was my choice of beverage. A bit hoppy for a pilsner but it went down well. (What, you didn't know that the Familie von Trapp emigrated to Vermont after the filming of The Sound of Music before World War II? Well, now you know.)

The trip to the Fullerton Inn is a new tradition in the family, no one wants to do all that cooking on Thanksgiving, and I don't blame 'em. This is the third time we've been there for Turkey Day. It has been, and remains, a neat thing to do. No doubt we'll continue doing this as long as the matriarch still lives. I hope for many more years, but at 91 she's starting to slow down. Not sure how much longer this new tradition will last.

Time moves along, whether we want it to or not.

You may note that I have been pretty absent over the past three days. No internet at Mom's house, damn weak cell phone signal as well. It's kinda nice in some ways, but I did feel rather disconnected. Some of you like that, I don't. I need to be in touch with the far flung enterprise which is my family. We literally stretch from sea to shining sea.

But I'm back and looking forward to Christmas, a trip to Maryland is in the cards once more. The new grandson is quite a prospering young fellow, talking up a storm and curious as the day is long. Can't wait to interact with the little guy in person again.

I shall keep you posted.

It's good to be home.

When you can't be with the one you love....

 Contrary to Mr. Stills, the rest of that line is "...make the best of it."

The 4th and 5th of September in the Juvat clan is Anniversary weekend, even if it doesn't occur on a weekend.  Why?

Glad you asked, Beans.  Way back in 1954, a dashing young Fighter Pilot and a young San Francisco debutante, said the words "I do"  on September 4th. 9 months and 2 days later a son was born. 28 years after the latter event, and on the same day, a dashing young Fighter Pilot and a young, beautiful and smart Personnel Officer said the words "I do". A couple of years after that (one must be in reasonable proximity at the correct time for the "magic" to happen, events in the world delayed that "magic", but persistence pays)  a son was born. 25 year and 1 day later (the church wasn't available for a perfect trifecta), a dashing young Computer guy and a young, beautiful, Elementary Teacher said the words "I do".

So, now you know why "Anniversary Weekend".  While the first dashing young couple are no longer with us physically, they are still around in our memory and prayers.  Also given that the Dashing young Computer guy works for the State Dept and has been in countries that are mentioned prominently in the news lately, he has been physically absent from the Anniversary Weekend a few times also.  That was the case this past week also.  He's in Hong Kong, but because of Chinese rules, animals that come to HK from countries with Rabies present (E.G. Kuwait, his last assignment) must enter quarantine in a Chinese facility for six months.  You know the stories about China and Dogs, so....They decided DIL and Tex would RTB to Rancho Juvat and spend 6 months proving he's rabies free.

But...Anniversary weekend is upon us and much like "Fiddler on the Roof"....TRADITION!

So...Little J and Mrs J had a planning teleconference.  Unfortunately, the classification thereof was way (way, way) beyond any classification level I was ever cleared for.  

Execution of the OPlan began on the morning of the 4th with a normal visit to what passes as my social life nowadays, shopping at the local HEB (grocery) store.  After replenishing the items on the shopping list, Mrs J stops by the flower department and picks up some sunflowers and roses.  My radar warning gives a little chirp as I am not unawares that that day is OUR anniversary.  But the plan was, we were going out to dinner (first time since wu-flu) to our favorite steakhouse to celebrate.

She smiles and said "It's for DIL."

The fear for my life receded. (for now)

We RTB and Mrs J asks if I have a yardstick. Fortunately I do.  I bring it to her and kinda hang out to see if I can pick up some intel on what the heck is going on.  

She shushes me away citing "need to know" and "til death do us part might come quicker than you think, otherwise".

An hour or so later, she comes and gets me and hands me a vase with Sunflowers and Roses nicely arranged and tells me to get in the truck and drive down to DIL's cabin.  It's about 1/4 mile from the house and it's still technically Summer....in Texas.  

I ask no questions.

She gets out of the car and asks me to take pictures of events for the next couple of minutes.

I took lots of pictures. These three were the only ones that turned out, I was laughing so hard.

He was invited to dinner with us that evening.  Here's a picture of the 4 of us.

He ordered a Medium-Rare strip steak with garlic mash potatoes and a very nice Tempranillo from our winemaker friends. All the wait staff somehow managed to stop by our table at least once that nigh and check on us for some reason.  Most were laughing as they left.

However, being rail thin, he didn't eat very much of it, so Mrs J brought it home for lunch.

He was pretty quiet conversationally, but, such as it was, his presence lightened the evening.  DIL laughed quite a bit, which was the desired outcome.

"If you can't be with the one you love, have a sense of humor and make the best of it"

Well planned and executed, Mrs J and Little J!

Peace Out, Y'all!