Sunday, May 27, 2018

Memorial Day

If you haven't been online lately, or just not noticing that there are new regulations on privacy popping up all over the place ... well then you might not know about the new GDPR rules Europe has just rolled out. I did get a notice from Blogger (who's parent company is Google) stating that I must make people aware of these rules in order to blog. The thing is ... I don't have advertising on my site? I blog for my own pleasure, and if you all want to read my rambles, then enjoy.

So let's get to it shall we. Memorial day always makes me think of my Dad. My parents lived on military bases for roughly 10 years from Texas, to Nebraska to Florida. Both my brothers were born on the Lincoln Nebraska Airforce base, and this picture is of my older brother. 

I remember lots of stories from my dad about flying, in harrowing situations. One that particularly stands out in my mind is one where dad was flying in a hurricane and was literally in the eye where it was calm, but impossible to maintain altitude. So he had to push into the storm in order to stay in flight. I cannot even imagine the nerve it takes to do that.

My dad was always strict growing up, but not necessarily mean. He had a low tolerance for laziness, and people who did not roll up their sleeves and pitch in. There was no sleeping in, at least never past 8am ... ever. When dinner was being made, you got up and helped, and when dinner was over you picked up and did dishes ... even if you were not yet tall enough to reach the sink. You simply pulled a chair over and climbed up.

I remember this picture of dad taking a short nap on the base in McAllen Texas where he went to flight school. I asked dad about it, and he responded with a story. He told me how exhausting flight school was physically. And that the temperature was somewhere around 115 degrees, the flight suit was crazy hot, and then he'd climb into the cockpit of the plane where the temperature would be another +10-15 degrees. He said that running around in the heat was physically draining.

I did not grow up in an age where 'everyone gets a trophy.' If you received recognition you earned it. There are days when I wonder where the hell that work ethic has gone? 

As I said above ... if you are interested in reading my rambles, then please do and visit often. 

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your memories of your dad! Work ethics like his are dwindling it seems. It's pretty sad. I don't do heat very well so that Texas heat he endured in flight school would've done me in. Heck I thought 87 degrees in TX last October was gonna do me in! Lol! Hope you enjoy your holiday weekend!

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  2. Parents used to teach their kids a work ethic at a young age. Nowadays you don't see that.

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  3. Love your blog, keep on rambling!!! Thanks for sharing your dad with us! It's so important to get the stories while parents are still around and able, they become treasured memories.

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  4. I can completely empathise with your Dad. I've got a similar ethos, and can't abide the new generation of snowflakes.

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  5. always happy to visit here ... Larry grew up the same way and has pretty fond memories of it all. love the pictures of your dad.

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  6. Good parents still instill that kind of work ethic in their kids but I agree, they seem to be few and far apart these days.

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  7. All this GDPR stuff really is a headache. I feel like it's very difficult for 'normal people' to figure it all out and comply!
    The hurricane situation really does sound scary! My grandmother was a very no-nonsesnse kind of person who would always make everyone pitch in, but she also cared deeply for her friends and family.

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  8. The GDPR stuff is a nightmare. It applies to my shop, blog and newsletter. I've removed all ads, will not be doing sponsor posts and probably have to turn comments off :-/
    It was lovely reading about your Dad. I wish people were more self-disciplined like they used to be!

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  9. I love your rambles and I will always be here to read you! What a beautiful post! Your father was a good man! And, I have to say, a very handsome man too! He instilled very good work ethics in you! I do wonder where that has all gone? Big Hugs!
    (about blogger, I am so confused about the entire thing!)

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  10. Thanks for sharing your story, it was nice to read about your Dad and what work and life was like for him. Many people in other professions wouldn’t even be able to imagine work that disciplined.
    As for the whole privacy thing, I am confused too!

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  11. I always love hearing what you have to say. I grew up with a dad in the Air Force too. Weird, right!?

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  12. Your Dad sounds a lot like mine. And I think we are all the better for those high expectations and work ethic!

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  13. I did enjoy reading your story for my first visit. My dad was Army and I grew up the exact same way, except I was always up earlier than 8 even on weekends. Dad really instilled a strong sense of duty to self and country. Looking forward to enjoying your blog. - Julie, housekeeper to the parish cat Fr. Tom Fishworthy

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