November 21, 2015
The fall colors are fading and upon
gossamer wings the holiday of turkey feasts approaches rapidly approaches.
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving, is a word that warms the heart of many an American.
However, Fall Harvest festivals are known throughout the land, so I feel that
Thanksgiving is a holiday that can be easily appreciated across the culture
spectrum.
That notion is especially poignant
this time around, as I am sitting in an abandoned Boeing airplane hangar in
Iraq, Southwest Asia that is. For starters, let’s be thankful for the weather.
At this moment I am not being cooked in the infernal oven that is Iraq, I can
sit outside comfortably and engage in pleasant niceties with folks, all without
the fear of bursting spontaneously into flame. Like a drunk pinnate doused in
kerosene and lit on fire with a bunch bottle rockets in neighbors back yard.
Never happened, I wasn’t there. So I’m
thankful, to not be subjugated to 125F heat, and when people tell you, “Oh it’s
a dry heat.” At 125F, it’s hot so hot your eyeballs are cooking. That argument
holds no water when its 125F.
Seriously, I’m thankful for my Mom.
I love my Mom. Growing up she was the best Mom you could have ever hoped to
have. She spoiled me, really spoiled me growing up. I wish I had appreciated it
more, and understood things outside of my own selfish needs. I wish I’d given
her and Dad more attention, but that’s water under the bridge. If I could go
back in time and spend more time with Mom and Dad I’d do it in an instant, but
I can’t. I miss my Dad every day, and I miss Mom to0. Soo I call, and chat her
up. It’s great, and I’m thankful for the time I’ve gotten to spend with her. My
advice, spend time with your folks those connections are worth more than
anything you could ever buy or yearn for.
I also, have absolutely wonderfully
sisters, brother, and various nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. They’ve
always been great to me. They treat me way better than I deserve. It’s nice to
have family members you mostly get along with, sure there’s been some rough
spots, but that’s part of life.
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| Our CF instructor Jence prepares for class. |
I’m thankful for Denmark, they are Vikings.
Vikings are bloodthirsty, war crazed barbarians, that once upon a time struck
fear into the heart of Europe. The ogre Grendel met a Viking once, and got his
arm ripped off in the process. They make Chewbacca look like a lap dog. The
Vikings are fun. I’ve recently had the good fortune to be stationed with the
Danish Army. They are some of the nicest most professional soldiers I’ve met.
Truly, nice people, but they are also Vikings. The Vikings are fun. They have
embraced the circuit training regime known as “Cross Fit” with gust-o. Three
times a week they hold their ritual. I and my colleague Jerry are allowed in
because my Danish Counterpart Thomas the Nurse vouches for our character, and
desire to murder and pillage. Every
Wednesday we have a special happy time known as “Viking Raid”. I am thankful for “Viking Raid”. Jence, a
Viking/Certified CF Trainer describes the circuit. First, we will do 100 rows
(lifting a weight or your choosing from the floor to your, shoulders) then we
will run to the City, and stop at the Farmhouse (run, and do 10 burpee
push-ups). Then we will run back on to the City. We will then do 200 Hammer
Swings (hitting a tire with a hammer) and climb over the wall and into the
houses. This necessitates 50 box jump burpees. Then we will grab our loot
(weights of your choosing) and run, run, run back to the boats. Yes, we have to
stop at the farm house and do burpee-pushups. Then it’s load your loot into the
boat with 50 overhead presses and complete the evolution by doing 100 more rows……………….I
love this, it keeps me sweating.
I’m thankful for my family and
friends without them life would indeed be a bleak monotony punctuated with
flashes of grotesque boredom. Not only am I thankful for friends I’m glad to be
a friend. Being a friend is not an easy task. I rate my friends and family on
the inconvenience scale. Essentially, how much can you inconvenience someone is
directly proportional how dear they are to your heart. If someone ever says, “I
can’t be bothered with that now.” Be concerned about the depth of your
friendship. If they say, “Sure let’s do this, and grab some Senor Taco when
were done.” Then you have found someone that is “True Blue”, well worth
keeping. That’s my two cents on the subject of friendship. I can honestly say
to my friends and family, you treat me better than I deserve, and I’m grateful.
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| Garry Shores 2010 |
I’m thankful to serve, growing up I
was always fascinated by Dad. He had all these uniforms, and once a week he
went to this place where they had a tank! (The local National Guard Armory).
And he had all these pictures of him when he was in Germany, out in the woods.
All my uncles served in WWII, in various positions. My Uncle Clifford was with
the 1st Marine Division and fought on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. .
Where he was wounded in a mortar attack. My Aunt Rena served as a WAC Nurse and
cared for the wounded returning from the Pacific Theater. I idolize my Father, Brother,
Uncles, and Aunt who served. I joined the Navy in 1991 and was discharged in
1995. Rejoining as a Naval Reserve Officer in 2005 has been a life changing
experience. People are always thanking for serving. Honestly, it makes me
nervous. But I don’t mind, I truly enjoy serving and am thankful to have the
good health to do this. Also, the support I get from my family, friends, and
church is remarkable to say the least. It seems like I’m always running off
leaving you guys and you’re always supporting me. As a nurse, the finest thing I’ve
had the privilege to do is care for our wounded, and I couldn’t have done it
without everyone’s encouragement and steadfast loyalty.
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| Greg Shores in the cockpit of an F18 |
Happy Thanksgiving ya’ll
Garry W Shores
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