Tag Archives: friend

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have neglected putting out my blogs for good reasons. It is not because I am lazy (some may argue that is the case but I’ll never waver) but have been busy with my MPP (Mighty Pen Project) classes and with the board of the MPP. I am also getting together (finally) the website for the MPP that will give much more information than I could give to you here. As you know, it is geared to all active duty military, ex-military and the families and/or friends of each service. To go further, in case you have not read my other blogs, it is for writing. These papers can be for memoirs, books or just plain getting things off your mind. The course is a once a week, ten week class taught by an instructor from a college, university, etc. In other words, this is a free college level course Who can argue with FREE?

How can this be free? That is where the Virginia War Memorial come in. With their help and guidance, we have come a long way. Now we have our own board and is attempting to function (some day) on our own. I have the task of setting up the website and keeping it running. A daunting task, to say the least. I hope to premiate myself by accomplishing this in a very expeditious manner. Wish me luck and the fortitude to carry on.

As far as Brookdale’s Imperial Plaza is concerned, it is slowly but surely moving right along… making people angrier and angrier along the way. The director (I should say “ex”) is no more. She was fired (she say she left on her own) but the rumor mill is really humming. I strongly believe the rumor mill (I have my sources). I will not say what those rumors are because, if wrong, I could be charged with slander. There is enough going on that I don’t want to be in the middle and end up on the wrong end of the spectrum. I have not seen nor met the lady that’s holding down the fort until a new director is named but I hear she is nice. I don’t remember her name but I do know she is from another facility that is in the Brookdale family. And, I want to add, people are not happy with the changes at the Magnolia Room or any of the dinning rooms, to be exact. Like I said before. People are always against change, whether good or bad. It doesn’t matter.

I am also a member of the grounds committee and, just think, I am suppose to be retired. I am doing more now than when I wasn’t retired. I guess being busy does not give you time to think about your age. I think about it every now and then and cringe. Personally, I think the two guys that do all the grounds work does not need anymore supervision or oversight than they already have. They do a fantastic job. I’m one that believe in the saying “if it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it.” I am told that I am expected to attend the different building gatherings in order to get their input about what they want done on the grounds. NOT!!! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it plus I don’t have the desire or time to commit to such an endeavor.

Anyway, I’ll try to keep the blog going. I have so much coming up. A trip to Puerto Rico, a cruise, a trip to Colorado and, of course, the casinos. Add to that the MPP and I should finish my classes by the end of March. I forgot the Neighborhood Watch program, I am committed to that also. In order to be a good neighbor, commit your services to the neighborhood. If we all did a little, crime would be at an all time low.

Until next time…be kind to your neighbors because you’ll never know when you’ll need them. Also, insure your words are soft and sweet, you’ll never know when you’ll have to eat them. BYE!!!

Longtime Friendship

I revel in the knowledge of knowing that this retirement is great and, so far I have led a wonderful and full life.  There is nothing to be ashamed of or, to put it another way, hang my head in shame and ask for forgiveness.  All of this was bought into the forefront when a person I have not seen nor heard from in the past thirty five years contacted me and we met Saturday.

We renewed our friendship and I met his wife.  Ricky worked for me in the Air Force, both in Germany and in North Dakota, and although I outranked him and he worked for me, we partied hard together.  I was surprised to learn he was a pastor now and is walking the straight and narrow but stranger things have happened.  Just to think I don’t drink anywhere close to what I used to drink, or cuss as much (it is almost non-existent now), or even go out like I used to.  Chalk it up to growing softly older or maturing enough to finally know that that was not the way to go or somehow live to a sweet old age.

I looked at Ricky and remembered the many good times we had together and, like I told his wife, I was the First Sergeant while in North Dakota and he spent more time at my house than I did (I was joking, of course, but he did spend a lot of time at my house).  Ricky was crazy enough to have been part of my K-9 outfit in Germany but he was security.  I was sent from K-9 to take over a portion of the security force and that is how we met and started partying together (in fact, I partied with most of my men).  The rest is HISTORY, a little alcohol clouded but a blast anyway.

We sat and talked, ate supper and talked, sat and talked again.  We reminisced a lot and still did not hit but the tip of the iceberg.  I will go to Charlottesville and have lunch with him very soon (just a short drive).  This just goes to show us that true friendship last forever.  Ricky Clatterbuck and I have proven that point.

Take care and, with school being out soon, be very, very careful.  FISHING this week (rain, rain go away) and I will write about it.