Christmas Week

It is Christmas Week and I am in the States.  You would think that it would be just what the doctor ordered.

Parts of it are wonderful.  You have more shopping options.  You are with family.  But there are down sides too...
You have more shopping options.  That means that you have to be out there among them.  There are carols playing, but there is pushing and shoving.  Shelves are looking a little bare.  What you want is sold out.   At least in Central America I had a handy excuse.  Now it just my own procrastination.

I love being with my family.  My sister, Helen, Cynthia, and I spent the day baking cookies.  Orin I will apologize right now.  I am not sure that I will be able to get any cookies out to mail to you.  They have guards on the doors.  Rumor has it there will be more baking tomorrow.  I am not sure that my feet can take it.

It has been rainy and chilly.  Dare I say it, I miss the hot and humid of Guatemala.

I think that it is time to put the chanting Monks on and listen to some soothing Christmas music.

Kia Motors America, Inc RULES!

Some of you know that we bought a Kia Soul in August.  It was 2010 model and we loved it.

As we were driving, it appeared that there was a little more play in the steering wheel than when we first got the car.  While in San Antonio it really got bad.  So we figured when we got back to Tucson we would go to the dealer, Jim Click Kia and have it looked at while they did the routine oil change.

The Service Adviser let us know that the bolt that holds the steering shaft in the column was gone!  Kia did not want us to drive the car.  No problem.  We didn't want to drive it.  So they called and ordered the bolt.  The next thing you know they are calling us and telling us that Kia is going to....drum roll please...replace our Soul with a  new 2011 Model.  This is at no cost to us.

Not only did they give us a new 2011 model they paid all the fees to transfer our plates, rental car, etc.  This all happened in less then 48 hours.

The Service Manager at Jim Click and Kia Motors America really made us believers that some companies really do care about their customers.

Some of you may think that they were just trying to save a law suit.  May-be, but they sure made it all painless for us.  I don't know of many companies that would step up like this one did.

Babies and Old Men

My daughter, Sarah, recently gave birth to a little girl.  As with all new mothers she has questions that she is a little hesitant to ask.  I remember those days.  You don't want to look like you don't know how to take care of this new little person that is depending on you for everything.

It has been my experience that babies and old men are very similar in their needs and views on life.  This is of course a generalization and may not apply to the baby or the old man in your life.

Crashed and burned

asleep on the sofa

1.   I am the most important person in the room, house, street, city, country, and world.  PAY ATTENTION TO ME!
2. I want to eat.  Not in 5 minutes.  Now if you please.
3. Both love breasts.
4. Naps are most important to the happiness of the entire household.  If the baby or old man is napping perhaps, you should be napping also.
5. I do NOT sleep well in my own bed.  Swaddling may help with the baby, but be careful swaddling an old man.
6. I sleep best in my recliner, sofa, bouncer, or your arms.  Sending or putting me in bed will only awaken me.  I may ask to be fed.

Samantha and Papa holding hands

Sarah has finally had one night when the new baby actually slept in her crib.  One night Sarah was so tired that she allowed the baby to sleep in her bed.  I warned her that this could start a bad habit.  I know I let an old man sleep in my bed one night and haven't been able to get him out yet!

It's Thanksgiving

I have always felt that I lived a blessed life.
I have parents who were strict, yet allowed me to explore who I was and who I hoped to be.  They were supportive and understanding.  They were the steady hand on the tiller when I was tossed in angry seas.

I have amazing siblings.  No matter how far apart we are now we are so close that when we get together it seems like yesterday.  They have called me out when I screwed up and hugged me when need.  They have loved me without condition.

Husbands, well I have had a few of those.  They too deserve thanks.  They have loved and hated me.  They to have comforted me and chastised me.  They have filled my heart with love I never would have known otherwise.  I have broken some hearts and I am sorry for that.

Children, I have a few of those also.  I have always said that I have yours, mine and someone elses.  Each child has been a gift.  They too have loved and I am sure been displeased with me.  I just want them to know that no matter what I will always love you.  I may not like what you are doing, but I will always love you.

Grandchildren, hmmmm.  Many of you know that I have claimed that I didn't get the Grandmother gene and wasn't to sure about the Mother gene.  Well this new generation is wonderful.  They are hope that all will be okay.  A new baby is a statement that we do believe in the future.

My country is America and I am so thankful that I was born here.  Because I was born here I have had opportunities I would never have had otherwise.  I have protected it and I have spoken against it's policies at times.   But I am thankful that I AM AN AMERICAN!

So as we set down to full tables and hold hands to give thanks, let us not forget those less fortunate, those away from home, those with nothing on the table, those without hands to hold.

Heroes

Heroes are interesting people.  I am not talking about Sports figures or Hollywood elite.  We do sometimes get confused and think that they are heroes.  They are not.

Most heroes when asked about their heroic action will tell you that they were just doing their job, that there are others who did more, etc.

Recently while reading a wonderful book, Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne, I came across the name of Capt. Nicholas Nolan.  I became interested because of my genealogy research.

I still am not sure if I am related to Capt Nolan, but he has touched me.  He touched me so much that upon finding that he is buried close to where I am currently, I went to the cemetery and took photos of his headstone.  I spent close to 2 hours with the dead that morning.  Capt. Nolan is buried in the US National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.  Not the National Cemetery located on Fort Sam Houston, though they have responsibility for the management of the Cemetery.

Nicholas M. Nolan
March 10, 1835(1835-03-10) – October 24, 1883(1883-10-24) (aged 48)
Major Nicholas M. Nolan, 3rd Cavalry, formerly of the 10th Cavalry
Place of birth	Ireland
Place of death	Holbrook, Navajo County, Arizona
Place of burial	San Antonio National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Department of War–Army
Years of service	1852–1883
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	American Civil War 16 major campaigns (1861-1865) Most if not all of the 166 related battles Indian Wars

As I walked among the headstones I was reminded of all the soldiers that gave their lives in the formation of this country, to keep this country free, and hopefully to bring freedom to others.

They lay next to each other, General and Private, wives, infants, friend and I am sure sometimes foe.  Their headstones give glimpses of lives.  Some have only dates of birth and death. Some have epithets worn by the rain, sun, and time.

Capt. Nolan’s reads: During the stirring event of a civil war and the hardship of the frontier Major Nolan’s character for honesty and honorable purpose remained untarnished.  He was one of the bravest of the young cav. Officers of the Army of the Potomac and was always at the front.

The phrase, always at the front, has made me think.  “To always be at the front”, you open yourself up for arrows, bullets, criticism, and praise.  It means that you are willing to cross the line and stand up for what you believe is right and just.  It means that you put others before yourself.

We have a new National Hero, Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, Medal of Honor Recipient.  He was at the front.  He carried his fellow soldier on his back through bullets and being wounded himself.  He will tell you that the other soldiers there were just as heroic and that he was doing his job.

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, was at the front.

I salute you.

Splendor, Terror on the the Cruise Ship?

First off I am not totally without sympathy for the stranded VACATIONERS on the cruise ship, Splendor.  I am sure there were some tense moments when the fire in the engine room broke out.  It appears that they got it under control.

Of course now they are being towed.  They are without power and food or air conditioning.  They are being towed in by the USS Reagan and the Coast Guard has been doing all they can, oh and they have had food airlifted in.  Okay, it is SPAM, pop-tarts, croissants, and crabmeat.  They have cold showers.  The weather is good and it looked like they didn't have rough seas.  Going 4kts is no fun.  That is damn slow.  Dragonheart can usually make 5 under engine and we have been know to make 9kts with a good wind!

However, the people of Haiti would probably love being on a disabled cruise ship.  The Soldiers that are risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan would love to be on a disabled cruise ship.

How blessed the people on the cruise ship are:  They were able to take a vacation on the largest cruise ship in the Carnival Line.  They are going to be reimbursed for this trip and they are going to be given another trip free of charge.

The media is making sound like the worst thing that can happen.  I can think of several things that are much worse.  I am sure that you can too.

It's Vegas Baby...

This past week was my first time in Vegas.  I always fly into Las Vegas, but never stay.  I can tell you that I won’t do it again.

If you aren’t into drinking and gambling there isn’t a lot to do.  Once you have walked through one Casino and Hotel you pretty much have walked through them all. 

I really can’t think of any use for a purse that cost a thousand dollars or a T-Shirt that costs forty dollars.

Las Vegas was merely the backdrop for a small family reunion.  We gathered there because my brother, Paul and his family were coming from Alaska to go to the races.  Joe flew in from Denver, Mom, Dad, Cynthia, Michael and I drove in from Tucson and Helen drove from Bullhead City.

I must tell you that as Cynthia so aptly put it, “She had more fun with her family than anything that Vegas provided.

No one played a slot.  We did walk Fremont Street and people watched.  We went to Caesar’s Palace to walk around.  We went through the Bellagio and stayed after dark to watch the water shows.

I am told that the slot machines don’t even take coins any more.  It is all pushing buttons and tickets.  Most of the machines didn’t even have anyone sitting in front of them.

Vegas is surreal…Drive Thru Wedding Chapels.  Doesn’t that just say commitment?  Of course if it doesn’t work out you can always drive to Reno.

In the harsh light of day Vegas is dirty and ugly.  In the neon glow of the night it can look like a fairyland.  Trust me Cinderella it isn’t real.

Frankly, we had more fun sitting in a hotel room playing cards and laughing.  I personally laughed so hard that I am sure I cracked a rib.  My ribs still hurt.

It was a time to reconnect, to laugh and just be together.