Telephony

  I am not old enough to remember using an operator to make a local call.  My earliest memories of telephones was being on a 'party line'.  That is where you actually shared the telephone line with another person or persons.  You still had your own phone number, but only one of the users could be on it at a time (in theory).  Each user had their own unique ring and only answered the phone when they heard their ring.  It might be a long ring, pause, and another long ring.  Or two short rings, pause, and two short rings again.  The disadvantage was only being able to use the phone when no one else was on it, and, of course, the most obvious was the lack of privacy.

  Back then, all phones were the clickety dial phone.  The big difference between then and now was the fact that there was only ONE phone for the entire home.  Can you imagine?  Often times it was on the kitchen wall, but sometimes in the living room.  It was normal to have your phone number begin with a word.  I guess it was suppose to help you remember it, I dunno.  They were always cutesy, homey words like Idlewood.  So the number would be the first two letters of the word and then the rest of the number, such as ID9-2467.

  My grandmother had a red phone in the hallway.  Red phones were uncommon, black being the standard.  As I had mentioned before, we have fourteen phones in the house, three wired, eight cordless and three cellular.  In some circles I am considered mad.  Maybe a Shrink would say that I am trying to overcompensate for a one phone childhood.

  Today, utility poles or underground conduits carry most telephone circuits in large cables with many conductors inside.  These are giving way to fiber optic cables.  In the early days, the circuits were carried individually over many unsightly wires strung between numerous glass insulators.

  I recently conceded to upgrading my cellular phone to a 'smart' phone.  I think they are called 'smart' phones because the cellular industry is smart enough to create a way for people to want one.  Once I become accustomed to it and learn all, or at least some, of its features, I will probably not be able to live without it.  The question is, do I need all that information always readily available at my fingertips, or would I rather wish for the days when I listened for my unique ring in my one phone house?

Utility is when you have one telephone, luxury is when you have two, opulence is when you have three - and paradise is when you have none. - Doug Larson

Father's Day

  Mothers are the greatest driving force in the world.  They are the ones that have the greatest influence on shaping minds and fostering hearts and souls.  However, I like to think that Fathers run a close second!

  Yesterday was Father's Day, and I was fortunate and happy to receive calls from all six of my children.  It was great to have chats with them.  They are all far away and are always missed.  Of course the topic in Church on Father's Day was fathers, both heavenly and earthly and I couldn't help but choke up a bit, listening to the speakers talk about their dads.  It brought back a lot of memories of my kids as they were growing up.  Even more so, with a baby looking at me over the shoulder of her mom sitting in front of me.  When at the distant end, it seemed like their childhood years would go on for a long time, but looking back from this end, it went by very quickly.

My Kiddos

  I had the privilege to watch the birth of all my children, and no matter what your beliefs are, you cannot help but find birth a miraculous event.  I am sure someone must have said to me "don't take your eyes off them, because they grow up very fast", and they really do.  In retrospect, I wish, like many others have I am sure, that I wasn't so busy.  With age comes wisdom and we come to these conclusions so we can say "don't take your eyes off them, because they grow up very fast".



  Often, I think about my own father and, as I have mentioned before, wish I knew him better and that we had more time to spend together.  We treasure the moments we have given us and remember the quality of the time and not the quantity.

  It is great being a dad and the promotion that goes with it of being a grandfather.  Of my six kids, five of them are boys and three of them are dads.  I hope they will all feel the joys of Fatherhood as I have.

When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. - William Shakespeare

The End Of The Innocence

  I apologise for always falling back on music as a form of expression.  You have to admit that, along with mathematics, it is another universal language.  And besides, I can talk about and listen to the songs I enjoy!

  Don Henley, a former member of The Eagles, collaborated with Bruce Hornsby and the song that resulted was The End Of The Innocence in 1989.  In the past, I said I would always be apolitical in my blog entries, so I know I am pushing the envelope a little, in that regard, when I say that this song has a profundity that makes a statement about the world we live in.  That being said, it can still be interpreted in different ways.  But you be the judge and click on the song title above to listen to the music and follow along with the verses below.

Remember when the days were long

And rolled beneath a deep blue sky?

Didn't have a care in the world

With mommy and daddy standing by

When happily ever after fails

And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales

The lawyers dwell on small details

Since daddy had to fly


Aah, but I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by men
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind


And you can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense but this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Oh, beautiful for spacious skies

But now those skies are threatening

They're beating plowshares into swords

For this tired old man that we elected king

Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie


Aah, but I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind


Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense but this is the end
This is the end of the innocence


Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But somewhere back there in the dust

That same small town in each of us

I need to remember this

So baby, give me just one kiss

And let me take a long last look

Before we say goodbye

Just lay your head back on the ground

And let your hair fall all around me

Offer up your best defense, this is the end

This is the end of the innocence

Friendship

  I received the following story in an email, today.  I think it has a great message... 

  When I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.  His name was Kyle.  It looked like he was carrying all of his books.  I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?  He must really be a nerd.'  I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. 

  As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.  They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.  His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...  He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his face.  My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.  As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.  They really should get lives.'  He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'  There was a big smile on his face.  It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.  

  I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.  As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.  He said he had gone to private school before now.  I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.  We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. 
  He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.  I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends and he said yes.  We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. 
  Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!'  He just laughed and handed me half the books. 
  Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.  When we were seniors we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends and that the miles would never be a problem.  He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. 
  Kyle was valedictorian of our class and  had to prepare a speech for graduation.  I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.  Graduation day, I saw Kyle and he looked great.  He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.  He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.  I could see that he was nervous about his speech, so I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'  He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled....  ' Thanks,' he said. 
  As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began...  'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.  Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....  I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.  I am going to tell you a story.'  I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.  He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.  'Thankfully, I was saved.  My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'  I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.  I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.  Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. 
  Never underestimate the power of your actions because with one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.

Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies. - Aristotle

Memorial Day 2011

  On Memorial Day, I am humbled by those that make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom.

  Before I retired, there were occasions when I would be in public while in uniform. Occasionally, I would be thanked by total strangers for my service. I would politely thank them and told them I would accept their gratitude in behalf of those that really deserved it.

  I am thankful for my dad who served in World War II and the Korean War.  Even as a young boy, I could see the toll it took on him from seeing the horror of war and keeping it bottled up inside while in the service of his country. 

  I pray that the men and women who are at risk in the defense of Freedom, be kept safe and brought home soon.

Hup! Twoop! Three! Four! - Epilogue

 
As I previously mentioned, I was honorably discharged from the Air Force on March 13th, 1972.  For the following two years I was inactive reserves, which meant all I had to do was zilch. So I was officially a full civilian in March of 1974. 

  Well, a couple years go by and I am thinking I need a part-time job for some additional income.  In December of 1976, I enlisted into the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease Air Force Base with the 157th Air Refueling Wing.  The unit flew the KC-135 bird.  It was impressive how well maintained the planes were.  At the time, the unit got more air time then the regular Air Force counterparts on the base.  I went into a new career field of radio maintenance.  Interestingly, this was the field I wanted to go into when I originally enlisted in 1968.  I only stayed in for a year because there were too many conflicts of time with my full time job of cash registers.

  I don't know what it is about December's, but in December of 1992, I found myself enlisting with the Idaho Air National Guard and the 124th Fighter Group because I needed the bucks.  This time, the only job available was that of an Administrative Specialist (clerk), as I was during the last year of my four year regular Air Force term.  The unit was on Gowan Field which is a small base opposite from the working side of Boise Airport.

  OK, I broke the December loop.  In May of 2003, my full time job transferred me to Virginia, where I also transferred to the DC Air National Guard located at Andrews Air Force Base, home of Air Force One.  The unit I was in was the 213th Combat Comm. Squadron.   Again, still a clerk and will be for the rest of my military time.  It was a strange place, I had no desk, no chair and felt very displaced.  There was a glimmer of hope that I might be able to get back into Tech. Control in this unit, but it didn't work out.  Maybe just as well, since it was a combat communications squadron at a time when there is a lot of turmoil.

  I was laid off in Virginia and found a new job in upstate New York, hence a change in my Air National Guard status.  In July of 2004, I was in the New York Air National Guard and assigned to the 109th Air Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base on the opposite side of Schenectady Airport.  This was the Guard unit I liked the best.  They did the best job of looking out for each other.  One of the primary missions of the unit was supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica and Greenland.  I never made it to the South Pole, because it would have meant being away from home for too long, but I did volunteer to go to Greenland, that was interesting.

  All good things must come to an end and in February of 2009, I retired from the Air Force.  One of the smartest things I ever did, was to put 20+ years into the military.  Not because I was smart, but more of dumb luck.  The lucky part wasn't the little pension I get, but the medical benefits which, these days, are invaluable.

  It was a great experience, and if I had it to do over again, I would have done the same (more or less!).

Herzlich willkommen nach Deutschland!

  Lesley and I are currently in Germany.  We are celebrating the marriage of her son, Alex, to Melanie, twice!  In Germany, you have a civil marriage and, if you want, you can have a 'church' wedding or any variation of it, which is what they did.  It has been great fun, meeting people for the first time or again.  After all the festivities, they will get away from it all and go to Bali.
  It is taking me longer to type this because the German keyboard has some subtle differences and I frequently have to stop and make corrections.  This is my second visit to the country and, like last time, I am wishing I could speak the language.  I am planning on rectifying that during the very near future and hopefully will be a little more interactive next time.  Besides, it will be handy to have a working knowledge of the language when Lesley is on the phone talking to family in Germany and I can make sure she isn´t speaking ill of me! :-) The primary reason we are here is to attend Lesley's son's (Alex) wedding.  We left home on the 13th and return on the 23rd.  

  I have to admit Coke tastes a bit better here.  They use sugar like it use to be in the U.S. instead of high fructose corn syrup like they do now.  The McDonald burger's taste the same (yummy) but I can't get them to put ketchup on it instead of mayonnaise!  The roads are very narrow, but ön some roads they have something clever that we should have in the states;  when you approach a traffic light, there is another light that you come to first that will flash yellow a few seconds before the traffic light is about to turn red.  Surprisingly for a country that is so old, there are still a lot of forests, open land, and vegetation and that results in a very green outdoors, more so then home, except, maybe Vermont.  The vegetables are better here, greener lettuce, redder tomatoes, and generally fresher.  In some ways the buildings are built better, in other ways not.  The ceilings are always a minimum of nine feet high.  I am not impressed with their electrical wiring methods.  There roofing is better, they are always tile or slate where in the U.S. you only sometimes see that, but mostly we have asphalt shingles.  The windows are cool, they open inward like a door (easier to clean) and also tilt open at the top using a double hinge system.  I guess I can go on and on about this stuff!

  Air travel on this trip (and most trips these days!) was so-so.  The flight over was ok but our baggage was lost for two days and they didn't hurt themselves resolving the problem.  They did have a TV screen for each seat with a decent collection of things to watch.  I saw The Green Hornet and Tron.    

  I probably drive anyone around me who speaks English crazy (especially Lesley) with my endless questions.  There are so many curious things that I see that are different from home so I turn into a little kid.  Twice I have been spanked for talking too much.

  Auf wiedersehen!

Hup! Twoop! Three! Four! - Part 5

April of 1971 finds me at Tinker AFB, outside of Oklahoma City, OK.  The local neighbourhood is Midwest City.  Tinker is a large base and while I was there, it was referred to as OCAMA (Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area).  I recollect that it was a major logistics center for aircraft engines and many other things.  I also remember that, at the time, there were more civilians then military personnel on the base.  I was in a tenant unit called the 3rd Mobile Comm. Group.  It was different from the 2nd Mobile Comm. Group that I was a part of while I was in England.  The comm. package for the 3rd Mob was transported overland by convoy while the 2nd Mob package was transported by C130 aircraft.  The biggest difference for me, was not a good one.  For some obscure reason, I was involuntarily cross-trained from tech control to an administrative specialist, a fancy term for a clerk.  I was not happy about that because I enjoyed tech control.  What added insult to injury, was one of my buddies, Rookie Ryan, was also transferred to the 3rd Mob but he was still a tech controller.  A cruel joke, I thought.

  Anyway, we all muddle through, don't we?  The area was pleasant enough.  Although the Oklahoma City area was isolated from the rest of the world, there were still plenty of resources available.  At the beginning, I was housed in the barracks on base, two to a room.  My room mate was Gary who continues to be a good friend to this day.  A shortage developed for barracks space and a group of us was given the opportunity to move off base.  We jumped at this idea and found an apartment at the Casa Cortez in Midwest City.

Dart

Charger

  My first car, the 1949 MG, was left in England when I received news of my transfer to Turkey.  Now, here at Tinker, I am getting the need for another car.  It just so happened, Rookie Ryan's dad was a car dealer, so I saved up a down payment, got a loan from my hometown bank in Kennebunk, and ordered a car.  I went from a very old car to a brand new car, which was a 1972 Dodge Dart.  In retrospect, I should have chosen a cooler car.  If I had it to do over again, it would have been a Dodge Charger.

  One day I was making my rounds around the base picking up and dropping off correspondence for my unit.  All part of the exciting life of a clerk, oops, administrative specialist.  I always used a military jeep which was kind of fun to buzz around in.  On this day, we had 'black' ice on the roads which was a very unusual occurrence for Oklahoma.  The jeep sported 'mud' tires which are useless on ice.  At one point, I went into a skid and managed to collide with a 'six-by' which is a large military truck.  I wasn't much of a match against the truck and just bounced off it.  There was little damage, but the incident prohibited vehicles moving about the base until the ice subsided.

  During the hottest part of the summer, the commander decided it would be fun to have an exercise, so we deployed to the area alongside of an airstrip.  It was dreadfully hot, but we soldiered on.  Our water supply was from a water trailer that was towed behind a 'six-by'.  Even though we were very parched, we could not drink the water because it tasted so bad.  Saying it was brackish did not fully described how disgusting it tasted.  The only other time I tasted water close to being that bad was in a little town in Idaho.  Eventually the water trailer was taken away to another water source and refilled.  So one problem solved. 

  We were living off 'C' rations which were better then 'K' rations but not as nice as 'I.F.' rations.  'C' rations were comprised of a canned muffin, a canned juice, and a canned 'entre' which was a spaghetti substance or a meat substance or some other things I don't recollect.  It also included a mini pack of three cigarettes which I would barter for something else since I was a non-smoker.  The can of juice tasted OK, but it would have been better if it was cold.  Well, no refrigerators in the tent, so I had to apply some good ol' high school science.  I set up a little cooling system which chilled the juice enough to make it more enjoyable.  I hung my helmet upside down and filled it with water.  Then I soaked a t-shirt in water and rolled the can of juice up in one end of it in such away that it would stay in place.  Then I put the other end of the rolled up t-shirt into the helmet of water and draped it over the edge of the helmet and let it dangle down.  By capillary action, the water in the helmet would flow through the t-shirt, thereby staying wet.  The wet t-shirt wrapped around the can would evaporate.  Evaporation causes a natural cooling action, like sweat on your skin evaporates to help cool you.  Voila!  Chilled juice!  Second problem solved.  The only other problem was being there, but I couldn't do much about that.

  During this time, I was starting to think about what I was going to do when I was finished with the Air Force.  One summer job I had, was working for a 2-way radio company, taking care of taxi, police and public utility radios.  I enjoyed that and thought I might pursue that by obtaining a commercial FCC license.  With that, I could also get a job with a radio or TV station.  So I studied and took the first of a series of exams to obtain the various classes of licenses.  The test I took was in Oklahoma City in the Federal building.  Little did I know that a few years later, that building would be blown up.

  March 13, 1972, marked the end of my active duty in the Air Force.  So with that, I packed up my stuff, loaded up my little Dodge Dart, and headed home, to Kennebunk, Maine.