Seasons Pass

Seasons Pass 

The Chair

The old man sits in a chair by the door

waiting for someone who's been there before.

His skin is as thin as rice paper page,

drooping face speckled with spots of his age.

Drowsy head bobbing with white hair askew,

as light leaves the sky and lawn fills with dew

No headlights appear and shaking his head

Weary he rises and shuffles to bed

The old man sits by the door in a chair

no children or friends come visit him there.

Stirring as thoughts of them surface and rise.

With muscles twitching he opens his eyes,

through rheumy lenses and limited view

he sees youth passing, amazed how time flew.

The door remains closed, sealed tightly with rust.

The chair's now empty, filled only with dust.

The Sink Window

The old woman stands and leans on the sink,

she stares through windows to look and to think

Her steps now falter on knees filled with pain.

Wistfully her eyes stare down the long lane.

Wrinkles map her face. Age spots back her hands

wearying quickly from daily demands

No family’s seen, she turns and shakes her head,

closing the curtains she hobbles to bed.

The old woman wakes and on the sink leans,

her body is bent, face lined with ravines.

She stares at her hands, once supple and sure,

resting on the sink, misshapen and sore. 

Puckered lips sag into a toothless frown.

Her youth’s flown away and her clock’s wound down.

The curtains are closed as stray breezes sigh,

The windows are dark. The sink is now dry.

Dungaree Do No Longer

 Dungaree Do No Longer

With Veteran’s Day so recently passed, my thoughts have been channeled along a military path. For me that opens an entire rabbit warren and not just down a single rabbit hole. I first recalled those in my family who served in the military: several of my uncles, my brother-in-laws, my father-in-law, and my dad E. Carl Beck as well as myself. Even though not actually military I thought of my mother-in-law Retha Johnson Morrison who worked in Washington D.C. as a secretary for the FBI during WWII.

My thoughts wandered into all parts of the world where they have served Canada, Europe, Asia, the United States, and Iceland. Once my mind completed the world tour I began to think about the uniforms that the military has worn: the dress blues, the dress whites, the fatigues, the khaki browns, and the olive drabs in plain colored cloth and in camouflage patterns. The designs were created to blend in with the area that the soldier or sailor was deployed. I guess that is no surprise that the military should be less of a target in hostile territories. They would be less noticeable.

In my intellectual wanderings I found out a fact that had escaped me until now…The United States Navy’s dungarees were retired. Because I am no longer active duty nor do I have any recent interactions or knowledge of any active duty Navy personnel, I just found out that the Navy no longer uses the work clothing called dungarees. The pale washed out looking button down shirt and the bell-bottom denim pants have been retired since 1999, which is just over 25 years. I’d been oblivious to that fact. Wow, time certainly flies and I found that I’m really behind in what’s happening, at least the small details.

Because the dungarees were the naval work uniforms, I would have not been aware of their retirement, because I wouldn’t have been in areas where the dungarees would have been worn. The Navy stopped issuing the dungarees in favor of fatigues. I guess it does make sense. If the military can purchase items in larger quantities, the price per unit should drop although it does sadden me to think a little more of me have become antiquated and my memories have been retired. They are kept alive on the pages of history books where they collect dust and cobwebs..

Light in the Darkness

 Light in the Darkness

The world around us is becoming more confused and dangerous. In many cities a person takes his life into his own hands if he ventures out on the street, drives on a roadway, rides a subway, or goes shopping. Even when a person stays at home he isn’t safe from invasion and assault. The world is becoming increasingly corrupt. It’s becoming a place where good is branded as evil and evil is accepted as something good to embrace. The morals upon which our country was founded are being shifted and fading. Laws that once protected citizens and their rights are consistently being weakened or totally disregarded. Lawyers and judges are twisting our laws that the rules that once guarded the innocent citizen now offer more protection for the criminal than to the victim. The truths of the Bible upon which our justice system was based and our Constitution was established are openly being disregarded as wickedness is audaciously being accepted and entrenched.

One thing remains constant; a light shines brighter as darkness grows stronger. Some men hide in the darkness hoping their sins won’t be found out, that their evil deeds won’t be exposed, and they will escape punishment for their criminal acts. They will be judged; if not here on earth, then at the Great White Throne of Judgment. Although man tries to legislate morality, the sinful human nature will do everything it can to avoid the wages of their criminal deeds. They will use every trick and every subtle means to escape the responsibility of their acts. Civilization seems to be crumbling all around us. Anarchy and self aggrandizement seems to be flourishing.

The Bible says that the evil will only get worse, but do not be discouraged or lose hope. For those who believe on Christ, hope shines brightly. Our joy and our peace cannot be dimmed by a world in which Satan seems to gain more power. Our hope is in God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ and He is the constant that guides us as we walk in the darkness. Our victory over Satan has been prophesied and sure. So no matter how dark and cruel this world becomes believers have the answer and the surety of the God’s redemptive promise. We understand that darkness is the absence of light. Jesus is the light of the world and as long as we allow that lamp to shine through us, we can be the reason for others to have hope. Keep your wick trimmed, your reservoir of oil filled, do not hide that light under a basket. Share God’s love and His gift of salvation with a dark world.

Marines: Semper Fi, Corpsmen Always Sly

 At the Veteran's Day program at the Mt. Carmel Christian School yesterday, I met a young man who was clad in Marine dress blues. He was still serving. I told him that I had been a corpsman in the U. S. Navy. He said that corpsmen were his favorite people. I told him I had several interesting stories in my blog. I thought I'd share this one to entice him to read and share my blog with others.

Marines: Semper Fi, Corpsmen Always Sly

I recall several incidents where Marines and Navy Corpsmen met; not all of them were mutually supportive of each other. Although many Naval Corpsmen were cross trained to accompany Marines in the field, they didn’t always see eye to eye. One of my friends was a prime example. His name isn’t necessary at the moment, but at one time he had a definite Hippie type personality, caught in Uncle Sam’s military machine. He preferred the feel of sandals on his feet, puka shell bead necklace around his neck, and when he talked about a joint in his hand, he wasn’t talking about a knuckle bone.

Who says that the U.S. government doesn’t have a sense of humor? The fickle finger pointed at him, sending him to Field Medical School and then assigned him to a Marine company. This occurred during the Vietnam War when the feeling between Hippies and the Marines weren’t at their best. I wrote my friend a letter and accidentally included his middle name Felix. He wrote back saying it wasn’t hard enough being with these gung-ho meatheads and now they had his middle name to harass him. Sorry man.

Another tale of crosscurrents between Marines and Corpsmen happened while I was stationed in Keflavik, Iceland. The Marines guarded the base while the corpsmen handled the hospital and ambulance needs. There were times when they would mix at the enlisted men’s clubs to eat, drink, and gamble. One challenge that often occurred was a drinking game. A tab would be opened at the bar with the loser responsible for the bill. Beers would appear and disappear until one or the other of the contestants would allow his beers to reappear. They would take turns fetching the drinks from the bar. When the corpsman had his fill, he would pour ipecac syrup into the Marine’s beer. Ipecac is an emetic agent that induces vomiting. By then, the Marine’s taste buds were dulled and he didn’t notice the flavor change. Corpsmen rarely had to pay the tab. As a teetotaler, I was only a casual observer.

One good story shared with me happened while I was in Orlando, Florida. I was caring for a corpsman who’d been injured in Vietnam. He stepped on a land mine and had chunks from his buttocks and one calf missing. He said the Marines asked a Seabee bulldozer operator to clear a path across a field. The Seabee refused and the corpsman was the one who’d found the buried mine. Only by throwing himself forward was he able to escape death. He said that the Seabee later had fallen to friendly fire. Nobody messes with the Marines’ corpsmen.

Veterans, the Foundation of Our Liberty and Freedom

 Veterans, the Foundation of Our Liberty and Freedom

Today I will attend the Veteran’s Day celebration at Mt. Carmel Christian School. The younger children from the elementary classes usually share memorized patriotic recitations and songs. The older students, clad in uniforms from the different branches of the military will share excerpts of letters from military men and women who sent back the thoughts and feelings of their trials and tribulations from the battles in which they were embroiled. Letters to wives, children, and parents give a small picture of what they’ve endured and experienced to keep all Americans and their loved ones safe and secure.

The ceremony always begins with a prayer and a parade of military flags: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, and the Marines. Each banner will be solemnly and proudly carried down the central aisle to a place of honor at the side of the dais by students wearing donated uniforms of veterans that reflect the branch of service that the flag they bear.

The entire process of the celebration is solemn and dignified. It is centered and dedicated to the men and women who have sacrificed their time, their lives, and their limbs to protect all Americans.

I already know that there will be times that I will find a lump in my throat and will be unable to complete some stanzas of the several patriotic songs. A roll call of each veteran present will be made having each veteran stand to be recognized as their name, number of years they served, and the branch of the service is announced. Elsewhere, the respect for our American veterans is being taken lightly with so little regard for their sacrifice.

After the ceremony has concluded, a meal will be served for everyone who attends. It’s a full meal with delicious pies and cupcakes for dessert. It is a blessing that the students, teachers, and staff of Mt. Carmel Christian School are continuing this tradition to honor our veterans.

Somehow in the past my mind was drawn by thoughts of the veterans from WW II for Veteran’s Day. It could be that my dad and father-in-law fought in WWII, but as I reviewed the past Veteran Day celebrations, I understood there were veterans from many other wars; the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, to the Alamo, WW I, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Civil War, and men of this caliber who are still serving in wars even today May God bless our Veterans and thank you to the Mt. Carmel students and staff.

Remarkable

 Remarkable

It has been fascinating to watch the skies at sunrise, sunset, and the hours in between. I have been drawn upward by the sun, clouds, moon and stars. I can be enticed even on the days when the sun refuses to shine and the vast panorama of clouds seethe and churn darkly. Occasionally the clouds are charged with twists of lightning and stirred by the deep rumbles of thunder. Sometimes the ground shakes beneath my feet as the lightning flashes are close causing the earth to quiver responding to the roar of thunder..

Sometimes the clouds are only a misty veil. It stirs, just thick enough to play a game of hide-n-seek with distant mountain tops. Sometimes the clouds sag low wrapping the trees and bushes with a damp blanket of fog yo cover the ground with a thick blanket of cotton. When the cloud is rolled away, the grass is covered with dew tat sparkles as the sun or moon rises.

The moon appears as a celestial orb, full faced and bright or as thin slices. The night shaves away slivers of light to make sickles of light. The moon becomes the smile of the Cheshire cat or fishhooks that snag stars from the dark night sky. Slowly the stars fade as the night ends and the sun begins to rise. This is where another remarkable fantasy begins. The sun’s rays pierce the darkness and dance on the passing clouds. Pale yellow light cuddles with the surface of the clouds. The light intensifies, turning the rosy glow into colors of glorious orange-gold or into a blazing hot red hue. Then the sun itself rises. It shows its brilliant face above the horizon and the clouds reclaim their virginity, white and pure.

The clouds scurry across the sky pushed by prevailing breeze. The sky’s color may vary from a pale milky blue to a deep azure blue. The wind swirl the clouds like creamer in a cup of coffee. The sun continues its journey overhead. Its path marked by shadows that the light paints on the earth beneath. Hour by hour shadows lengthen as it nears the end of the day and the time for the sun to put on its pajamas and go to sleep. The sun leaves goodbye kisses on the clouds to create fantastic scenes of light and as it settles in for the night. The sunset colors rival the morning’s sunrise, but in reverse. As the light lessens and the sun finally slips below the horizon, I sometimes think that we are looking at the underside of heaven, what will our actual view of heaven be like. It’s too grand for me to imagine. Remarkable.

Thankful for Thanksgiving

 Thankful for Thanksgiving

During the French and Indian War, the area known today as the “Point” was a critical military stronghold due to its strategic location at the Forks of the Ohio River. By 1758, the French controlled Fort Duquesne after thwarting several attacks by the British.

Despite their victories, the French knew British forces would eventually return with a larger army, so they decided to strategically destroy Fort Duquesne by setting fire to it and fleeing before British Gen. John Forbes arrived to capture the site in November 1758.

Following the capture of Fort Duquesne, Forbes declared the following Sunday -Nov. 26, 1758 -“a day of public thanksgiving.”

Rev. Charles Beatty conducted the first Thanksgiving service in Pittsburgh. Nearly 5,000 soldiers, including Gen. George Washington, attended the sermon. Far from a turkey-filled feast, Beatty’s sermon served as the highlight of Pittsburgh’s first Thanksgiving due to the More than 40 years later, during his first year as president of the United States, Washington designated Nov. 26, 1789, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer.

It wasn’t until Oct. 3, 1863 — three months after the Battle of Gettysburg claimed 50,000 lives during the Civil War — that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday.

We are quickly approaching the holiday of Thanksgiving season. Many American citizens have almost forgotten it and eliminated it from their calendars. If it wasn’t for many companies giving the employees a paid day off, it would be less remembered than it is. The commercialism of Halloween and Christmas has almost pushed aside this time for us to be grateful. Less money can be garnered from this holiday than the others, so stores promote it less.

We live in a country where we should be thankful for each freedom that we have. No matter how little we feel we have, we are so much better off than much of the world. Countries where they aren’t free, the people are near starvation, and they would consider having food at mealtimes a luxury. Shoes and clothing makes them rich, even having clean water at their fingertips and not having to carry it for miles after scooping it from dirty rivers and streams. We are blessed that we were born in the United States of America. Our hearts desire should be thankful a joyful expression for each blessing that we have.