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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

As I have mentioned, we have been downsizing. That can be both not only a painful experience, but also a trip down memory lane. And that slows down the process because it makes it interesting.

Janet's secretarial side found some "stuff" as she was going through some old papers and documents that included a real "blast from the past": packs ofcarbon paper" . Now that was something we all had probably abandened when Xerox machines (think Columbus' Battelle Memorial Institute) came into existence. Remember all that black residue on your fingers after using that kind of copying?

Why did we keep such things!!! 😮

Jim

05/09/26 11:56 AM

#17139

Mortal Enemies

Dogs and deer do not get along well. To a deer a dog is like a wolf or coyote - a predator looking for a meal.

While reading this morning's paper I heard a lot of barking from a neighbor's yard which is a good sign that deer were around. I grabbed my cell phone and was able to capture the action from a second floor window. One deer continued grazing on some grass while the other three watched the canine, obviously knowing that the fence provided safety.

Jim

05/09/26 02:01 PM

#17140

Jim,

I still have my old phone / fax / land line and answering machine.

05/10/26 04:12 PM

#17141

To all the Mom's on the Forum - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

It has occured to me over the years what a heroic mother I had.

After a childhood full of relocations (Columbus 3 times - Minot North Dakota 2 times - Chicago once - and Augusta Maine once), she married and had two baby girls (I came later) when her 32 year old husband was drafted into the old Army Air Corps. They moved to Salina Kansas and lived in a one-room basement apartment while Dad trained with the B-29 crews.

Dad and Mom and my 2 older sisters (about 1943 or 44)

Then she said goodbye for several years as he departed with his unit to their first base in Kharagpur, India (near Calcutta). Aftet that they relocated to southwest China (near Chengtu), and finally to the island of Tiinian in the Marianas.

I imagine that was really tough on my mother, but she was a strong woman.

Then, thirty odd years later, she said goodbye to me for several years when I entred the Army and went of to Vietnam.

Graduation from Flight School - Savannah GA - Dec 1968

Then Dad left Mom (again, at age 59) to do his first tour on that AMA Volunteer Medical Tour and paid me that surprise visit in Vinh Long. **(still kicking myself for not getting a picture of Dad and I with some of my platoon buddies)

Then I went home for 30 days leave between tours and they said goodbye again.

Then Dad went back for a second tour (6 or 8 week tours - not those full military years)

When Dad and I were both finished and back home, Dad was considering another medical trip. It hit me how hard this was on my mom and I talked Dad out of it.

So this is my salute to a kind and strong mother. She is a hero in my book.

05/10/26 05:40 PM

#17142

Joseph D. McCarthy

Jim and Dave these articles are for you.

The First EMTs were in Pittsburgh, PA .

You can tell from the second article that the Marines have a much bettor P.R. (read lobbyists) then the Army does.

05/10/26 08:27 PM

#17143

Thanks Joe.

The Army and Marine "Medevac" pilots (also known as Dustoff) in Viet Nam were conisidered as crazy as we who flew those low level "Hunter-Killer" teams were. Althought we performed most of our own Medivac pickups, I had two encounters with Dustoff pilots tha were memorable. One ended well (including a bit of humor) and the other one end in a disaster.

The first one was a request from another unit to come help another Dustoff who was atempting to make a pickup under fire. We swwitched to their radio frequency so we could hear the conversation and figure out how we could help.

The Dustoff was talking to the guys on the ground, in a wide open rice paddy area, and a couple of wounded guys that needed rescue. The approacing Dustoff was talking to the guys on the ground and the conversation went like this:

(abbreviated and making up names that I don't recall exactly)

"Red dog one four this is Dustoff one eight approaching from your south. Request you pop smoke (clored marker smoke)".

"Dustoff, this is Red dog we are under too much fire for us to pop smoke"

"Red dog, this is Dustoff. If you're worried about too much fire when you pop smoke, you wait till we set this Huey down right in front of you, and watch how much fire that brings on you. I need that smoke to mark exactly where you guys are. Lets be quick."

a slight pause on the radio - - -

then Red dog comes back - " Roger Dustoff. Popping smoke at this time. Popping smoke at this time."

We aligned our Cobra gunships along the access between the source of fire and the path of the Dustoff. They were in and out very quckly.

-------------

My only other direct involvement with a Dustoff pickup went horribly wrong - one Dustoff shot down - several dead - and finished with a fight between me and my arrogant "Backseat" (a jerk of a Captain who I had already disliked from before).

--------------

Anyone who ever saw a "Dustoff" pickup under fire would understand their crazy reputation.

05/11/26 03:08 PM

#17144

One of my all-time favorites!

05/12/26 02:35 PM

#17145

Of all the stories I ever wrote, this was the most important, because I hope it helped, if only in a small way, with the healing and understanding that was so needed after such a terrible event.

https://www.orlandomagazine.com/the-healing-a-year-after-pulse/

05/12/26 02:55 PM

#17146

Not sure what you mean by "downsizing," Jim.

Do you mean letting go of possessions, getting more lean and contemplative?

05/12/26 03:23 PM

#17147

just checking testing testes,

05/13/26 02:33 PM

#17148

M/M,

Intersting reference to "the boat".

I have made reference before to a group I joined about 12 years ago that gives Christian men's retreats - now all over the world. The most powerful and exciting spiritual experience I have ever encountered.

* (Not a Christian Nationalist movment)

It is caled "MARKED MEN FOR CHRIST" and we use a promo card tha asks if you are ready ro "Step out of the Boat?" (started by 2 Catholic men, but now multi-denominational)

this is the card

The card is outdated now. We are past 25,000 members including about 20 states and a large group on Slazburg Austria + Poland, Ukraine, Africa, Korea and the Phillipines. I've done most of them - including Cursillo - wondefrul) - but this tops them all by a mile..

** There is a womans group called "Womens Walk with Christ". It is much newer and smaller, only reaching about 3 states and Salzburg. Its an offshoot from wives of MMFC coming back so changed they wanted "in on this".

05/13/26 02:45 PM

#17149

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Some of you may recall a shocking murder trial here in my neck of the woods about a Lawyer who murdered his wife and one of his sons. it was about two years ago. He was found guilty. And he also tried to have himself killed - it failed - and also probably covered up the death of a house maid.

Today this whole area is shocked to hear the news that his sentence has been overturned because od a mistrial.

The story is so crazy it's hard to grasp all the parts of it.

05/13/26 03:30 PM

#17150

There are moments in life when the winds become so violent that even the strongest hearts begin to tremble. There are seasons when pain knocks relentlessly at the door of the soul, when disappointments pile upon disappointments, when prayers seem delayed, and when darkness appears louder than hope. In those moments, fear becomes real. Anxiety becomes real. Tears become real. The storms are not imaginary. The battles are not fiction. Life can become heavy, confusing, and terrifying. But standing above every storm, greater than every fear, and stronger than every darkness is this eternal truth: Christ is real too. Many people think faith means pretending that storms do not exist. No. Faith is not denial. Faith is not acting strong while secretly breaking inside. Faith is not smiling publicly while dying privately. Even the disciples of Jesus, men who walked with Him physically, were terrified when the storm arose on the sea. The waves were real. The wind was real. The danger was real. These were experienced fishermen, yet they believed they were about to die. Fear entered their hearts because the storm around them looked bigger than the faith within them. And that is exactly what happens to many people today. The storm outside becomes louder than the voice of God inside.

But the beauty of the Gospel is that, Jesus was in the boat. That changes everything. The disciples were panicking while Christ was resting. Heaven was calm while earth was screaming. Why? Because Jesus knew something they did not yet understand: no storm can destroy a boat that carries the Son of God. The waves may shake it, the winds may hit it, the rain may beat against it, but if Christ is present, destruction does not have the final word. Many people today are battling storms nobody sees. Some are smiling publicly but crying secretly at night. Some are drowning in debt, confusion, loneliness, depression, rejection, betrayal, sickness, family problems, spiritual dryness, or silent frustration. Some have lost people they loved deeply. Some are exhausted from fighting battles that never seem to end. Some are terrified about the future. And if we are honest, there are days when fear feels stronger than faith. But fear may visit you, but it must not rule you. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is deciding that Christ is greater than what frightens you. Even David, the giant killer, admitted that there were moments he was afraid. Yet he declared, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” He did not say, “If I am afraid.” He said, “Whenever.” Fear is part of human experience, but surrendering to fear is a spiritual defeat. Fear will knock on your door, but faith must answer it.

POPE LEO XIV

05/14/26 01:57 PM

#17151

Something got switched around there??????

05/14/26 11:25 PM

#17152

Clouds Within A Cloud

While sitting in the car while Janet was in a grocery store, I watched the clouds forming just prior to sunset. There seemed to be different types of clouds forming within the majority of dark clouds and catching the last rays of the sun as it settled behind hills and homes of the surrounding landscape. The backlighting of the trees also caught my attention so I grabbed my cellphone and snapped off a few shots before the sun set behind the hillside and distant mountains as darkness prevailed.

(The last time I saw a scene similar to this it was 2012 and was caused by those forest fires that resulted in so much damage to the west side of Colorado Springs and many - including us - being evacuated from our homes. Certainly not the case this evening .)

Jim

05/15/26 11:16 AM

#17153

Mark Schweickart

Jim - This definitely looks like a a scary fire situation. So glad it wasn't.

05/15/26 07:30 PM

#17154

Jim: Is there another form of snowfall other than preciperatory? Just checking,

05/15/26 07:46 PM

#17155

Mike McL,

Hmmmmm.... Maybe an avalanche?

Jim

05/16/26 12:45 PM

#17156

Mike,

My all-time favorite form of frozen precipitation is graupel (sometimes spelled groppel) which is quite common here in Colorado. It is a form of frozen, small snow pellets - not flakes and not really hail - like small, BB- sized , soft, white snow drops. So far this strange winter (yes, I never say winter here is over until at least June) we had none of these.

Jim

05/16/26 05:53 PM

#17157

Joseph D. McCarthy

I just received an Email concerning a Reunion that I wish I could attend, unfortunately I will be packing for my drive the next day to Columbus. Besides Aquinas, I imagine there will be people from St. Mary's. St. Joseph's and Ready to ame a few schools.

05/16/26 05:55 PM

#17158

Joseph D. McCarthy

If anyone wants I can forward the original email.

Joe

05/17/26 11:02 AM

#17159

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Stunning photo of the clouds, Jim!

05/17/26 12:53 PM

#17160

Donna,

Thanks! Nature provides the drama and cellphones are often around to capture it!

Jim

05/18/26 09:23 PM

#17161

well gee I'm usually so quiet and shy but I'll see if i can come up with something.

hmmmmmm.

I've probably mentioned this before but my single story concrete block home has a shaded back porch that faces north, across a concrete deck on one side and a swimming pool and shaded garden on the other, and ilove sitting on the porch and knowing that home, meaning ohio, is out there, though I can't see it visually but my heart picks it up via invisible long distance vibes, otherwise known as heart strings.

I really do love sitting out there looking due north toward what will always be home.

05/19/26 09:40 AM

#17162