Remember those that have NOT gone on with you

 Long years ago...

 I was 21 when the U.S. Draft board notice came in the Mail.  Greetings, it said. Meet us in  Manhattan at 10;00a.m. for your entrance exam . (physical).. I WENT !

SIX  weeks later they called again and said most likely you will be drafted into the ARMY of the Republic.  I was working in a Hotel at the time.. About to be getting engaged to the best girl in the world  and NOT looking forward to visiting  Viet Nam!

My boss the Comptroller of the  hotel and I spent a week calling every reserve station,  Army, Navy , Air force, Marines, Coast Guard looking for an opening in the Reserves....NOTHING...  For one reason or another He said  let's try again since they get openings every week !  YUP !  Naval Air Station Floyd Bennett (Brooklyn) had openings for 10 men!  I went and was talked to, and then tested along with about 45-50 others.  The test for general intelligence and  for aptitude, skills and abilities to learn quickly!  Well,,, WE made it into the top 10 and I was  #2 to go in for a choice interview.  And that folks, is how I became an Aviation Hydraulics Metalsmith in the U.S Navy. 1964 -1970 I served Uncle Sam's Naval flying aircraft and traveled all over...Memphis, Tenn.  Cuba, Brunswick Maine,  St. Pete. Fla and Puerto Rico!  I was a very lucky Navy man and actually saw Active duty in  1970 during the U,S, Postal crisis when the President of the U.S. activated troops to step in and help!  I spent 3 days typing up active duty orders for 500 men to move the mail!  That was ME!  Tom the Typist ! Learned that in High School I did! I was deactivated and early out in April of 1970 and have been sitting by ever since!

And that  is my Military history...

Sometime I will tell all about my airline experience!  BUT I will need more time and many pages...

26 years and 3 months !

The 'OLD storyteller...

 OLD !  Really OLD !

I ordered a seatbelt extension for the Benz, I have expanded my coverage on the driver's seat.

Off I go on the computer to go to Amazon, or e-bay, or something like that !  a foreign land to me.

I order a seatbelt from company 'A'  who will remain nameless at this point.  It comes in and it doesn't fit and automobile, because it is made by an aircraft company.  Boats, cars, trucks, motorcycles I know about... Airplanes.... only how to load properly so they do not fall out of the sky!

I contact them and they tell me we don't take returns!  $42.00 for 12" of nylon and a pair of clips that fit an aircraft.. NOT  a car.  Now what do I do...Tell the bride that I screwed up?  She says we will let E- Bay know.. I have no idea what she is talking about. Pay Pal--E- Bay?  all new words to me!

Frustration sets in and she  says 'I will go online and take care.  Wonders upon wonders.. fingers move over keys and she and a computer are having a wonderful conversation about what happened and I am watching.  Amazing.. The machine says we will look into this and open a case!  I am flabbergasted!!!

WE are not talking BIG $$$ here, $42.00  BUT...  Stay tuned..

Lost in the parking Lot !

 There I was, Walking into a store in a large shopping center.

Sign said remember to lock ya car!  so,, I took the key fob and hit the lock button and heard..

BEEP BEEP !

Ahh say I,  it's locked. Walked in to the store bought what was needed, paid for it and walked out.  I took out my car finder.(Security being what it is, I remembered that I locked  the car) and hit the button to unlock.  NOPE !  NO BEEP !  How will I remember where it is?  My beast of burden?  the Brown Bomber.. Carrier of me, mom, and packages...

Up and down the aisles I went looking for it. MY faithful BROWN chariot.  No Hyundai in site.. No Brown Tucson visible anywhere.  I felt a bit foolish thinking maybe I could call it with my trusted phone.. NOPE !  I do not have a smart phone. I have a stupid phone..

Here I am pushing a shopping cart up and down the aisles, looking and saying to myself, here car, here Tucson!!!

Fifteen minutes, five Aisles. and it dawns on me...Old man.. YOU HAVE A RED MERCEDES BENZ IN THIS PARKING LOT!...two aisles over.. there it is  shiny and clean, grinning at me saying to me.. you walked past twice.. I waved and flashed my lights when you hit the key alarm... 

Good thing I am retired and have time to do this nonsense. who would believe an old man would walk past a beauty like this and NOT LOOK at it and say I would love to own that someday !

The story teller goes on...

 Man:

The tree that never had to fight

for sun and sky and air n light,

That stood out in the open plain

and always got its share of rain,

Never became a forest king,

But lived n died a scrubby thing...

The man who never had to toil,

Who never had to win his share

of sun n sky and light and air

Never became a manly man

But lived and died as he began...

Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger wind, the stronger tree.

The farther sky the greater length.

The more the storm the more the strength!

By sun and cold, by rain n snow,

In tree or man, Good timber grows!

Dr. E. Urner Goodman,

Founder  Order of the arrow W.W.W.

Getting old sucks!

Remember when?...You could run in the woods all day?

When you could swim for miles in the ocean?

Lay in the sun, Turn Brown and not have a worry?

Didn't care what you ate or drank?

Hang out until 3:00 a.m. and then go to work?

Drink Beer Belch & Fart and laugh with the other guys?

NOW.. WE WET OUR PANTS IF WE TRY TO FART..CAN'T  DRINK MORE THAN ONE BEER  'CAUSE WE GOT TO GO PEE AGAIN!..WATER IS TOO COLD TO SWIM AND YOU LOOK LIKE CRAP IN A BATHING SUIT?  TAKE A WALK WITH YA WALKER INTO THE LIVINGROOM AND HAVE TO SIT N REST?

Old does suck.  BUT Think of the alternative.. No dirt on our heads. .No one mourning over you.. No flowers on Mother's or father's day on ya grave.. No big heavy coffin being paid from your estate.. And ya having fun!  New teeth.. New heart parts..  New Knees..  New Hips.. shoulder sockets,.. toupee'.  .dam ain't we got it made????

 Did I ever mention 'Do not buy a red car?'

Back in the last century, Judi n I  bought a Red car.  We knew of a dealer that could get us a new car late in the car season.  We bought a RED Rambler Classic 770 with a black vinyl top!

From 1966 to 1969 the four fenders and the rear trunk were hit, backed into or smashed for one reason or another.  Judi said that was the last red car we would ever own.....

And here it is 2024,  55 years and the curse should have worn off by now.  I bought another Red car with a black vinyl top.

WE pause here to go over the vehicle count. from 1966 to 2024...

Pontiac Tempest, 2 Ramblers, three Gremlins, one AMC Pacer, 3three Subaru's, 3 Chrysler products we won't talk about, 2Toyota's, 1 Ford Explorer, 4 Hyundai's, 10 different Motorcycles, 4 boats. 5 kayaks, and now the latest addition to the vehicle collection...

.A RED 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK 320 Convertible!!

Yes, I know  RED  fender bender!!!  NO it is not a road car!  Not a Work Car, Not a vacation car.. It is a Lewis' Toy.. Meant to ride around town with the top down and say to myself,,  'SEE WHAT I GOT?"  We do not talk about the immediate expense after buying.. we do not talk about shuffling the cars daily as to what is being driven... we do not talk about oil cost (8 qts. Synthetic)  Gas, (only Premium..)  N Mother dear is NOT  comfortable  in it!..

BUT... At my age (presently 81).. and at Miss Judith's age..(--)  We are able to buy what we want and go and eat what we want..  where we want.. No cash drawers in coffins these days.

I have lost many friends and associates in the past few years.  I have seen folks pass before their time for many different reasons.  WE are a few of the lucky to get this far in time n life and still get to enjoy our children, grandchildren and each other. 

Take advantage of what you have.. Go where you can, eat what you want, buy anything you want, live.. love everyday and NEVER .. NEVER say   'Well I had a good life...'  Tomorrow is going to be bright  n sunny and I can't wait!  BYE for now I am going to ride the  RED CONVERTIBLE!!

long years ago: This is a story of a man whose name translates to...

long years ago:  This is a story of a man whose name translates to...:  This is a story of a man whose name translates to 'Good-heart' An ancient story of this man that came from a country far across the...