Well I finally got moved into my permanent hooch. It is a converted Cargo container so I have real steel walls and everything. Now when it rains the floor won't flood with two inches of mud.
I was up late moving all my crap so I still haven't "moved in". hopefully I will have some extra time today to do that. I have a wall locker and a little nightstand. I brought some plastic shelves with basket drawers from home which allows me to keep everything organized and off the floor. The person who had my room before left a mini-fridge and left it fully stocked with o'doules and sparkling grape juice. That may be a little telling about the former resident and what he misses about home.
My roommates are all from the TOC. Andy and two others. Andy works nights and everyone else works days. One of the roomates, Cuellar, is next to go to Qalat. He will be gone for a few weeks. He deployed with sgt K last time. I am writting very brief sentences today. I lucked out with the guys I am livin with because they are all very respectfull and easy to get along with.
I also got to get at my footlocker. It was like christmas because I had forgotten what I had packed(back in Nov).
By the way mom, SF stands for Special Forces and I did wrestle the package from the mail clerk. The nutrolls survived the climate extremes well. There are reese cups at the PX but that is about the only sweet food here. Hard candy or gum would be great because I have had enough oversalted potatoes for a while. Its just salty food and water to drink. By the way I haven't had any caffine since I have been here. I do drink the Haaji 7up. Haaji 7up is the exact drink that willy wonka invented to never go flat. it will stay carbonated for days after you open it.
Please mail CDs with photo libraries. I really enjoy seeing new photos in emails (thanks Dave). But they are very slow (but worth it) to download. If you could mail some photo discs that would be cool. mom, I don't use serrated knives. If the five hone one really looks better and worth the money then whatever is clever will do.
BTW an army aviator named Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge was the first person to die in a plane crash. Orville Wright was the pilot at the time. That goes to show that innovators and the military are a potentially dangerous combo. Food for thought.
I am sick of sitting in this crappy chair so I am going to go do something else.
Lots of love and improving accomodations
-Bert
63 Years of Memories....
63 Years of Memories....
that's what I have now. The photo below shows the chair on the point which for so many years was my father's favorite after-supper place to contemplate and cast for walleye. As much as I feel guilty about what's happened, I know he would understand and even say there's nothing to forgive. He lived life fully and moved on many times. I'm the one with the unique experience of being attached to a beautiful place for my whole life. And despite all my best efforts, yesterday the 'cabin' was sold. I signed the papers and, truth be told, a weight was lifted. A new life lies ahead without the obligations, but with all of the wonderful memories. My unrelentingly positive attitude says this is truly how it is, but my heart is still sad.
There are some things in life for which the balance between the obligation and the joy of ownership often cannot be sustained forever. It became clear that I was no longer up to the task of taking care of the place quite a while back. However, knowing what needs to be done and doing it are often far apart. Finally, no choice was left. It had to be sold.
Now it's gone. No more worrying about how long the grass or how deep the snow is up there. No more sublimely pleasurable early morning cups of coffee sitting on the dock when the color of the lake is like pale blue glass and the air is completely still. No more endless repairs, high taxes, and utility bills. No more late nights around the fire pit with friends and family - warm from both fire and friendship. No more frozen pipes or emergency calls to the furnace guys. No more saunas and midnight skinny dipping that make you feel like you'll live forever while your connection with nature is confirmed by the gazillion stars of the milky way and the loons calling out in the dark. No more concerns with low well water levels or water so hard and full of iron the clothes turn yellow and your newly washed hair feels like brillo. No more finding the way home by boat in the dark after a long day on the lake feeling like this is the only place you really, really belong. No more praying that the boathouse will make it another year without collapsing. And ultimately, no more making new memories with friends, family and loved ones. No new memories, that is, at Half Bay, Lake Vermilion, Tower, MN. New life... here we come!
How do you thank a place for memories?
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