Tampons - A True Story

This story was told me by a Marine's grandmother - don't worry it is a clean story.
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My son told me how wonderful the care packages we sent them from the ladies auxiliary were and wanted me to tell everyone thank you.

He said that one guy we'll call Marine X, got a female care package and everyone was giving him a hard time. My son said, "Marine X got some really nice smelling lotion and everyone really likes it, so every time he goes to sleep they steal it from him." I told my son I was really sorry about the mistake, and if he wanted I would send Marine X another package. He told me not to worry about Marine X because every time I send something to him, he shares it with Marine X. He said when my husband and I sent the last care package, Marine X came over to his cot, picked up the box, started fishing through it, and said, "what'd we get this time?"

But my son said they had the most fun with Marine X's package. He said he wasn't sure who it was suppose to go to, but the panties were size 20, and he said one of the guys got on top of the Humvee and jumped off with the panties over his head and yelled, "Look at me, I'm Airborne Recon."

One of the guys attached the panties to an antenna and it blew in the wind like a wind sock. He said it entertained them for quite a while. Then of course...they had those tampons. When he brought this up, my imagination just went running, but he continued.

My son said they had to go on a mission and Marine X wanted the Chap-Stick and lotion for the trip. He grabbed a bunch of the items from his care package and got in the Humvee. As luck would have it he grabbed the tampons too, and my son said everyone was teasing him about "not forgetting his feminine hygiene products."

He said things went well for a while, then the convoy was ambushed and a Marine was shot. He said the wound was pretty clean, but it was deep. He said they were administering first-aid but couldn't get the bleeding to slow down, and someone said, "Hey! use Marine X's tampons!" My son said they put the tampon in the wound, at this point my son profoundly told me "Mom, did you know that tampons really expand?" (Well...Yeah!)

They successfully slowed the bleeding until the guy got better medical attention. When they went to check on him later, the surgeon told them, "You guys saved his life. If you hadn't stopped that bleeding he would of bleed to death." My son said, "Mom, the tampons send to Marine X by mistake saved a Marines life!"

At this point I asked him, "Well, what did you do with the rest of the tampons?" He said, "Oh, we divided them up and we all carry two in our flax jackets."

I am absolutely amazed by the ingenuity of our Marines. I can't believe that something that started out as a mistake then turned into a joke, ended up saving someone's life. My sister said she doesn't believe in mistakes. She believes God had a plan all along. She believes "that female care package" was sent to Marine X to save a life !
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Think what you will, stranger things have happened in this world !

Roads

Read an interesting article in the Sunday March 8, 2009 Parade magazine. The article was titled How We Can Save Our Roads by Earl Swift. The article ended with the results of an oral survey. They spoke with some of the 7500 truckers of US Xpress, based out of Chattanooga,Tenn. Their opinions of the toughest sections of U.S. highway.

1. I-10 in Louisiana
2. I-40 in Oklahoma
3. I-55, I-57, I-80, and I-90 in Illinois
4. I-65 in Kentucky
5. I-280 in New Jersey
6. I-95 from Wilmington, Del. to Boston
7. All roads in Michigan, especially I-75 into Detroit

They request your input at Parade.com

They received my two cents, how about you ?

It's Morning !

It was 7:30 am and I was all cuddled up and warm. Was in
that sleep period where you are all good to go yet almost awake.
I became aware of something very close - opened my eyes to
find my dogs nose inches from mine. Now if she lifts her chin and
walks forward, she is just at the level of my sleeping face. Being
polite, she was not making any noise, but she was for sure letting
me know she was there.
Not sure what got in her bowl of Cheerios, but as I swung out
of bed, she went bezzer (bizarre to the extreme). If you have a dog,
you know the routine.Chin on the floor and bottom in the air, and
racing around like her hair is on fire.
Let her outside, she sniffed the air and did her perimeter thing, then back
in the house. Now she goes to her spot to sleep, but what about me?
All I now have is the look that clearly says "Please - go sit down, I'm resting!
Who has who trained here ?

Getting Excited

Have just this morning redone all my travel plans fot MATS.

Got a phone call from an old USMC friend that I have not had
contact with since Viet Nam 1969. He lives in S. Carolina now
and we are going to hook up after my time at MATS .

He was a great person to keep close to then - no one I
trusted more. Through events and time, we lost contact.
While doing some research, he was able to locate me and
the phone call was ... shall we say great.

I was totally overcome with emotion during and after the call.
All that was between us - this will be a good yet tough meeting.
Will for sure write more about this afterwards!

What goes around...

The wife and I were driving home yesterday from getting our taxes done, when it happened.
I looked in the rear view mirror and saw red and blue lights. After a quick review of my recent actions, I mumbled some "other words" and pulled over, upset for having done "nothing" wrong!

License and registration please. He walks back to his motorcycle, talks on the radio, and then returns. Can you exit the car please ? What is the problem ? Just please exit the car. I exit and move to the rear of the car. Okay, I'm getting a bit mad/anxious now - what's up ?

As we stand there, he quietly looks at my license, as a second officer in a car arrives. Now I am really getting nervous. As the second officer walks up, the first one says " he always seemed bigger in 6th grade huh?" To which the second officer (a female) says "yes and a bit less grey too!" Then they both laugh and shake my hand.

After letting my wife in on what is happening, we all exchanged hellos and they followed us the last couple of blocks home. Both were former students from *@&% years ago. When the motor officer saw me, he just had to "get me", and her arrival was icing on his cake.

Both were good students and have remained friends and now co-workers. Lucky for me, both have good memories of our class and me. They left with smiles over "got him", now I must remember to drive EXTRA careful.

The Week-end

The week-end is over, and all things came to pass.
1) California got a touch of rain (still below normal)
2) The Oscars went off without a major hitch (Yea Kate !)
3) Knocked off a couple items on the "Honey Do" list.
4) Went out to dinner with some friends, son going to Iraq in a week (trip 2 )
5.) Kevin Bacon did well in a HBO short "Taking Chance" - Thank you.

California recently told central state farmers that there is no water available for crops. So even the tad bit that fell this week-end was very well received. Hey, LA just opened a new water park for summer fun. Wonder in the farmers will come visit ?

I admit it, I watched parts of the Oscars on TV. It was great to see Kate Winslet win. She is so good in all that she does. I must also admit that I would like to have seen Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke each receive the nod...

Between light sprinkles from the sky, I was (yes I said was) able to get some needed work done around the house. Wife says that I bring new meaning to not seeing the forest for the trees some times ?? I think she is catching on, might need a new plan.

We went out to dinner with some good friends this week-end. Their oldest and my oldest boy have been friends since elementary school. He is a 1st Lt. in the USMC and leaves in about a week for a second trip to Iraq. I am very proud of him and what he does for our country. But it also reminds me of the time I spent with friends prior to my trips into combat. Wishes and prayers go with him - such a good young man!

Saturday night, HBO presented Kevin Bacon and others in a film titled "Taking Chance". It was about escorting the remains of a fallen Marine home for services. Wife had to leave (tears), but it was good to show the care and respect ALL take for these brave souls. Gives ya a lump in the throat as you tell yourself that you are not going to tear up. Well done.

The Little Things

A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to meet up with a husband and wife team big truck drivers. I have been "following" them on twitter for quite a while and the time and location all came together.

After what I consider a very nice couple of hours, the visit was over. As they walked over to their truck - I got in my P/U and headed home. It was during my drive home that I began to reflect on my driving past and a few bits of information that they shared with me. By the time I got home I had decided that not only are they nice folks to "Tweet" with but I found a higher level of respect for what they do and who they are.

W and D traverse the country hauling both refer and dry freight. They relocate the goods from where they are to where they need to be for consumer availability. This is done around the clock, in all types of weather, often under tight time lines. Now W and D are by no means the only two that do this, but they are the two that were willing to share with me.

Just like us, they have a home (in Tenn.) that needs the same care as yours and mine. Maintenance, bills, enjoyment all continue just the same - only for weeks to months at a time they are on the road. Their off time is not down time as both work to pay the bills and keep up the house. But the smiles that crossed their faces as they related stories of home time with kids, grandkids, inlaws, and outlaws assured me that they would have it no other way!

As they travel in their truck, they have to plan their days and nights. Between pick-up and delivery times, hours of service, eating, and personal time, they also travel with a dog and a cat.
Unlike us in a car, you cannot stop or pull in anywhere you fell like. Trucks with 53' trailers do not fit everywhere.

A perfect example was our visit. The Ontario, Ca. area is very limited for truck parking. The two major truck stops, while almost always full, charge money to park. And local police and the Ca. state CARB make other locations almost impossible for drivers. That is why this team needed to park an hour away to wait for their delivery time. For all our "I want it all and now", we sure make rules that make it very difficult for those who work to meet our wants and needs.

But in spite of the awkwardness of the plans, these two have a remarkable outlook. They are happy together, they are both very capable with there jobs, and they are both truly nice people.
So as I go into my kitchen to get something, or I drive around town, I hope I remember
W and D and what they and others do for me.

Thanks you two, hope you both get some two wheel time at home soon, Bye...

interesting e-mails

I received an e-mail recently from two friends living in Ark.
I am truly lucky to have them as friends, their experiences and
daily acts are remarkable. When I get to my mid 70s, I hope I
can be thought of as highly as these two are and deserve to be.

their e-mail follows :

Job - Urine Test
Like a lot of other folks in this country, I have a job. I work,
they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes
my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am
required to pass a random urine test with which I have
no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my
taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't
one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because
I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people
get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem
with helping someone sitting on their BUTT, doing drugs, while
I work ...

Can you imagine how much money the government would save if
people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I
guess we could title that program, Urine or You're Out !

Ego

When is the time right to speak up or do something instead of quietly observing and listening then doing what you feel is right ?

In every activity that I have participated in, there is always the loud mouth know it all. I have almost always found it to be easier to quietly work around these people. The effort expended trying to right what you see as wrong always leaves one with a bad taste. We as individuals or a group seem to be our own worst enemies. There is always one in the group that makes the group look bad by their actions or statements. Granted there are the really good ones too, but they never seem to get the same publicity.

A point in fact - A husband and wife team I know recently left the LA, area headed to Oklahoma. They have been on the road as long haul team drivers for about ten years now. As they made their way through Arizona, near Flagstaff the weather/road conditions got pretty ugly. Slower speeds and caution seemed obvious. Over the CB radio you could hear drivers telling others to slow down and watch out for ice, etc. But even the best intentions go unheard or assumed to "don't tell me how to drive!". It didn't take long before the CB sang out that there was a wreck - big trucks and cars.

As motorists, we either make our day or ruin our day. The time restraints on travel (cars also) should never over shadow our safety. What load (cargo or loved ones) could be worth a life ? Yet we cannot stand to come in second, to be called scared - after all, we are professionals !

Maybe it is time to speak up or act. Time on this planet is way to important to cut it short
when it is in our power not to. Stay safe out there.

Success ...

Now that I am by definition retired, I allow myself the
privilege of reflection. This can be a good or a bad
activity, depending on how you use it.

Being a father of three, the youngest already 21, I have
plenty of second thoughts I could make. But I did my
best, and I had a GREAT partner to temper any far
fetched schemes I might have had. I have to say, overall,
I'm pretty happy with the lot - I'll keep all three.

From the time I was young enough to remember, I was
told that it is choice - not chance that determines
your destiny. So as my children were growing I tried
to share this concept with them. As I looked around
my youngest son's room recently I noticed a paper pinned
to the wall next to his computer. It read :

"...there are no secrets to success,
it is the result of preparation, hard
work, and learning from failure."
Colin Powell

Yep, I think we did okay !

Let The Fun Begin !

I have this friend who moved from California to South Carolina about two years ago. She has this very nice house on a lake that is just beautiful. She has truly fallen in love with the place and is always suggesting that I move back also.

On the corner of her house, facing a wooded area, she has installed a flag pole. It is one of those four foot types that angle out from the side of the house. It is not for a flag however, she placed it there to attach treats for the local birds. She can sit inside, or outside on the porch and watch them eat "close up".

Now, as humans interacting with animals, nothing works out the way you intend it to. Mother nature and fate must cease observing and get involved - "the fun".

My friend has received great pleasure watching her birds feed on the treats she places on the pole for them. I must admit, the photos she has taken are remarkable. The fun began when a raccoon thought that if the birds liked eating it, then it would also. So the raccoon managed to go from tree, to roof, to pole, to food. Now my friend was totally against this - but fair is fair.
So she set up a raccoon feeding spot away from the pole and that should take of it , right? According to my friend, raccoons are a lot lot guys when it comes to eating sweets, their own is not enough. The raccoon was now eating both treats thank you very much. She tried everything to solve the problem, but the raccoon just continued to test each new obstacle and win - all to my friends dismay.

Not to fear, help is on the way ! I'm college educated, a parent, former USMC, I give her a plan that will be sure to work. Being a firm believer in keeping it simple (nothing to do with being male), I suggested a thin flag pole. Thus the raccoon would not be able to climb out on it. Sounds great to me, so she said she would try.

My former friend related what happened like this. She was sitting on her porch just quietly looking out at the natural setting, when she heard the raccoon getting on the roof. As the raccoon moved to the pole, my friend moved to the edge of the patio near the flag pole. As the raccoon moved out along the pole, my friend could not stand it, she jumped of the porch to the ground under the pole (6 inch drop). The ground was wet with the moisture of the morning and she slipped and fell on her bottom. The raccoon, treat in mouth, climbed off the bent and broken pole and dropped beside her on the ground. Now she said the expression on its face was a smile (?) and then it hurried off. She would have chased it, but her bottom was a bit sore and she had already began to think of how to thank me for such a great plan.

It's All Relevant ...

Went to the Outpost (US395 / I-15) for breakfast with a OTR driver friend of mine. This location was as close as we could get and not have him out of route. Due to slow freight, he had been sitting in Bakersfield for a couple of days and was now heading home (Ohio).

I made the 45 minute drive up Cajon Pass to meet up for some biscuits and gravy. Now I know this menu item is not the best for the heart etc., but it sure tastes good to the stomach - soooo.

After ordering and the usual small talk, we got into eating and discussing driving skills as we looked out the windows. Now being an over the road driver allows you to see / experience a wide variety of shall we say unique maneuvers. My friend went off on a list of the winter skills, or lack there of, that people use on the highways today. Not to be out done, I related all that I had recently observed.

Now my friend HAD to remind me that I was not driving a big truck this winter and being in So. Cal. was absent of many of mother natures special touches. Thus, anything I saw was pale in comparison. I was bested, I had to agree.

As we left the restaurant we saw a very small red car lock up the brakes, slide through the signal light, and end up in the sandy area next to the highway. Several people rushed over to see how the driver was, my friend and I included. The car would need to be towed, and the driver was alright, spilled soda and a bit scared I think. His major concern was not his car, the near miss, or the possible injuries that could have been. He was really upset that the car in front of him had stopped for the red light. As he put it, it was still orange and we could have made it with a little gas !

As we walked back to where my friend's W 9 was parked, he said to no one in particular -
no rain, no snow, no ice, I guess winter driving skills are really just driving skills and everything IS relevant.

News ?

Last night I was sitting in my chair reading about a 1944 typhoon in the pacific ( Halsey's Typhoon ). Finding myself trying to imagine what waves that tall would cause me to feel, I decided to put the book down - I'll watch the news. I grabbed some kettle corn and a Dr Pepper and moved to the TV.

As the announcer was telling me about how the "R" and the "D" were getting all uppity about the proposed stimulus package, the announcer was interrupted with "BREAKING NEWS".

For the next 40 minutes all that was important was a normal speed traffic pursuit through LA. It ended with only a few stop signs missed and an improper lane change or two. As police had the driver and passengers exit their auto, they were placed into the back of waiting patrol cars. They could be seen smiling for the cameras as they were driven away.

The only thing worse than putting that in millions of homes for all to see, was the time I wasted watching it with useless comments as to the behavior I was viewing and by watching it, demonstrating.

There comes a time when we really need to get a life. Is that real news for folks living fifty miles away ? I think I need to get out more or maybe I should read a book.

Hello

As I sit this morning, I am amazed at how fast life moves. And to think I was once part of that rush. Now that I am in a position to control that rush, I realize that life continues and I can be just as happy, get just as excited, and be just as moved by it. The only difference is now I get to pick the order and major content of it. Yes, life continues to be grand, enjoy it.