FLTC As of today Columbus Day I'm looking to fax some info to our HQ on my Divorce. I spoke with a member of my former USMC unit who states they need a full time staff Hospital Corpsman for a few months to get ready for an inspection. Done this work with another unit and will contact the unit CO Tomorrow. Stateside duty fullfills one requirement (PT like a dog and get paid)
Otherwise my plan is to join a hospital unit, become the Lead Petty Officer and send young HMs Hospitalmans to the USMC unit. I saw several hiding out when I got my physical. I could provide more value that way instead of delivering a 51yr old with bad knees send over a few 22yr olds that eat coal, drink lighter fluid and poop fire. Kinda like what I did at the tender age of 35 when I enlisted. So I am not authorized to break things just yet but I am bighting at the bit. The paperwork is supposed to be finalized this week. The Navy moves slow but it does move. Just real slow.
On the subject of why we are here The things I heard from many women and my X who was good at verbalizing these things is not to become like them (sensitive people do not do well in the Middle East) but to understand and respond in a positive manner to provide them validation. However that takes a ton of work for guys like us.
Since all higher forms of life is born and nurtured by women their sense of creativitity, time, count of records, and so on is vastly different than ours and difficult for us to translate on the fly.
We live by accomplishments they live by relationships. In the US it is no longer survival of the fittest but the smartest and frankly the smoothest since you and Soldiers and my Marines handle the strong and few & proud part. Smooth means gathering and the harder part, keeping a woman's interest. I know how to set a woman's soul on fire but keeping the coals warm is beyond my desire to extend the work. It's my loss but also my choice.
We are both smart guys, with degrees, years of military and US Corporate experience and have a hightened sense of adventure with the tag adventure with purpose. That and $1.75 will get you a house coffee at Starbucks.
Couple of suggestions (I'm never short of those) One thing to your advantage of being in theater is a heightened sense of awareness. Along with this comes the ability to convey feelings to your spouse long distance. Instead of the direct approach look up some Sonnets on the internet, change a few words, handwrite it and mail to the wife. Send a few fatherly ones the the Daughters. When I was courting my X she remarked have Shakespere read to her. Poets are the kings when it comes to wooing the ladies.
Coming back beefed up from pounding benches and preacher curls is not bad but is probably 10% of the package. That means the 90% is new territory for guys like us. We have more in common with Mongo in Blazing Saddles than Zorro.
Keep the supplies moving.
"All I want is a weeks pay for a day's work" Steve Martin
