Chico the Wonder Dogs' Somewhat Sage and Sometimes Supercilious Sayings...

Well, what the hell! Just because Chico's gone doesn't mean he's forgotten. I was perusing some of his sage observations and decided I'd like to do it more often and more easy, and so, the Chico-isms links! It'll be fun!

Later...

Jam Session Time Again...

It's time for another jam session. They're always fun and interesting. This one will be in a large hall in Happy Valley. A lady named Jan is giving it. She also has an occasional jam at her house in Palo Cedro.

This jam will be extra special. A man named Bill who has played lead guitar at all the jams will probably be making his last appearance. His lady friend lives in Missouri and he will be moving there before long. We'll sure miss his lead picking.

The last jam was at Jans' house and it was very interesting. A young boy came and played his fiddle and sang, "Folsom Prison Blues", and did a very good job.

A Japanese girl came and brought what she called a Japanese Banjo. It looked more like a Sitar than anything else. (Or a Spike Fiddle) Anyhow, she played a couple of songs on it. One was, "Oh, Susanna." Then she played a Japanese song. It was very entertaining.

Time to get ready! See you later!

Later...

It's Been a While...

since I wrote in this blog. It's hard to take my post about Lt General Maude out of first place but I guess it's time.

While reading the comments about this post, (and, by the way, a thousand thanks to all of you wonderful people for commenting on it) a phrase I made came to mind. I said I liked high ranking officers and it seemed the higher the rank, the nicer the officer was. That's true, at least it was in my case.

Maybe, because of who I am and what my personality is, I have less trouble listening to and being around people who have proven themselves in life or in their jobs such as high ranking Army officers, as opposed to lower ranking soldiers who are still in the process of reaching for their heights. It's probably just a 'me' thing.

Anyhow, while contemplating all this, an incident came to mind involving a high ranking officer and my wife.

I had been married only a short time and my wife and I lived in an apartment in El Paso, the nearest large city to Fort Bliss, Texas, where I was stationed. At that time I drove a staff car for the visitors bureau. Each day I drove the few miles from El Paso to Fort Bliss to get my staff car and begin my day of ferrying officers and visitors around to wherever they wished to go.

On this particular day I picked up General Bender, the Deputy Commander of Fort Bliss and his guest, Lt General Gavin who worked in DC at the Pentagon.
General Gavin had come to Fort Bliss to, among other things, go to White Sands Proving Grounds which is near Almagordo, New Mexico, and watch the rocket engines being tested and evaluate them for the army. (These engines would carry aloft long range missiles for the army) Anyhow, to get to the point.

The first day of General Gavins' visit, I took him and General Bender to White Sands and we watched the rocket engines being fired up. It was a very exciting and impressive display!
After the visit, I took them back and waited for them to do whatever it is General officers do while I wait and when they were ready, (it was around six o:clock in the evening) I loaded them up and we headed for Juarez, Mexico, the favorite night spot for visitors to Fort Bliss and El Paso.
Now for the incident about which I write.

While driving through El Paso on the way to Juarez, I saw my brand new wife walking down the sidewalk coming towards us. She saw me driving and waved at me. I, of course, waved back. At that exact time, I had to stop with the traffic. General Gavin said, "Specialist, do you know that girl?". I told him, "Yes Sis, that's my wife." Without any hesitation he told me to pull to the curb and stop and call her over and that's just what I did. She saw me stop and came over to the car. The windows were down and I slid over to the passenger side as she leaned in toward the window.

Note: My wife was a Sagittarian and, in her lifetime, had never met a stranger.

The General leaned forward and I introduced him and General Bender to her and General Gavin took her hand and allowed as to how he was honored to meet her. General Bender, of course, followed suit. General Gavin asked her how she liked married life by now and she said she loved it and she loved her soldier boy. I blushed a bit for effect. The two of them chatted briefly and she asked the General if he was going to Juarez and he told her he was. She told him she and I had been there and assured him he would enjoy himself and he thanked her for that information. Then she transferred a kiss from her lips to her finger and then to my cheek and we said our goodbyes and left to resume the journey.
The General told me he was happy we had seen my wife and was glad for the opportunity to meet her.

We went on to Juarez and had our visit. The next day Lt General James M Gavin went back to DC.
The thing that impressed me most about this incident was, General Gavin, during our brief episode with my wife, never indicated he was ready to resume our trip. I have the impression he would have welcomed the chance to have a cup of coffee with Maggie and me and just talk about things that we would talk about. I know the decision to go on when we did was mine. He had made no indication he was ready to leave. What a great man.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! A lot of things happened worth remembering during my three years in this mans' army. This isn't the most exciting one but it's certainly one worth remembering.

Later...

In Memoriam To An American Hero...

"The 2996...Lest we forget"...

"There is a time and a place for everything...A time to live; A time to die..."

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and He populated the Earth with good, God fearing honest and free people; And God created the United States of America to be an example to the rest of the world. And He saw it was good.

Then God said,

"Let Us make a man who is honest.

Let Us make a man who is humble.

Let Us make a man who will love his Country with all his heart.

Let Us make a man who will dedicate his life to his country.

Let Us make a man who will defend his Nation with his life if need be.

Let Us make a man who will sacrifice his all to preserve the honor and freedoms of his Nation.

Let Us create a man who will be ever vigilant and love his family and his Country above all.

Let Us make a man who will never shirk his duty to his country, no matter what the cost."

And after God had finished creating the man of whom He spoke, He looked at that man and said, "Here is that man! Our creation is good!"

This man was Timothy J Maude. He was a loving family man and he dedicated his life to the service of his country as a soldier who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General.
He was fortunate to have a job he loved and enjoyed. We are fortunate to have had this man in our lives, to have been protected by him and others like him who dedicated and sometimes gave up their lives so we might be free.

*I received this comment from someone who personally knew Lt General Maude and am so impressed with it, I am including it in the Memorian. It is from Julia.*

Julia said...
"LTG Maude was the guest speaker at my graduation from the Adjutant General's Corps Officer Basic Course. He was an inspiration to all who had the opportunity to come in contact with him. He was an American Hero and should always be remembered as such.

I feel incredibly blessed to have met this man and had the opportunity to shake his hand as well as hear the words of wisdom that he shared with us that day. He was incredibly intelligent, honest and generous and as I said, truly an inspiration.

There is a building here on Camp Casey in South Korea named in his honor. It seems such a small tribute for such an exceptional gentlemen and officer of the United States Army. His passing is a tragic loss for the AG Corps, the US Army and all of mankind. If only there were more like him.

Thank you for honoring this incredible American.
By the way, in case you didn't know, LTG Maude was the highest ranking individual to have lost his life on 9/11."

Thank you, Julia, for the wonderful addition to this post. It is an honor for me to include this heartfelt comment from one of his comrades in arms to my humble tribute to the General!

We will never forget!

God Bless Lt General Timothy J Maude and God Bless America!"

Later...

Chico the Wonder Dog Sent Me This...

As you can see, Chico the Wonder Dog is already watering his Heavenly Lawn. He is amazed the Heavenly Lawn is exactly like his earthly one. You couldn't ask for anymore than that! This is truly Heaven!

BTW; He says I will hear from him from time to time and he sends his love to everyone. He says it is easier to love in Heaven than on Earth. There he doesn't have to worry about his beloved adopted Mother, Donna and me. He knows things will be all right and he's happy for us. What a Dog!

Later...