[LadyX]

Typical Air Force show off, TC..:))
I expect him to call in the Army Guy - HoustonCurmudeon - next,
for backup, and Tonk, of course...

"Carry on" - will be back later...

[El Gato]

I expect him to call in the Army Guy - HoustonCurmudeon - next, for backup, and Tonk, of course...

I'm awash in Army pukes every work day, so I'm not likely to call on another one. A Navy puke might come in handy. Somebody has to haul all those bombs to the forward bases, and the Navy does a fine job of that... or at least guarding the merchies who do the actual hauling. I guess in this particular case the base might be Edwards east of LA or Vandenberg up north a bit, and it might be the Army (Nah the Marines!) that would guard the munitions convoys, so I guess we might need them after all ... unless we decide the use the B61. That *will* kill the cancer, but might be kind of hard on the patient (TC), the Hospital, UCLA and the city of Angels.

I'll try to check in the rest of the week, but I'm going TDY to just down the road from TC, San Diego. Might even try to hop over to the MCRD for a look-see, if we have time, which we probably won't. Place we are going is real close to MC Air Station Miramar too, might get to see a Harrier.

I don't know if I'll be on line until Friday night, or not. Depends whether I haul the old (and I do mean old) laptop to the hotel or not.

[LadyX]

Imagine you're trying to wind down after phone calls from folks, and probably a visit from Faith...to ease you into 'coasting mode,' TC, and prepare you for sleep, Google came through with a series of paintings of one of your favorite subjects -- west Texas, where you were born...

===============================================

,

- -

-

-

-

===============================================

Recalling something you once described to me, TC, here is a painting of the spectacular view from west Texas of innumerable stars in the night sky -- the real view must be truly awesome!!

Rest, dear Cowboy -- close your eyes and 'see' yourself back there,
lying on a mattress and sleeping bag in the back of your pickup truck.

Understand that each of those stars represents a person whose life you have touched through the years - even total strangers you passed, who recognized *Something Special* about you, and smiled inside...

Thank you, TC, for the 4 years of our friendship, linked first through common memories of our childhoods of long ago - our Marine Corps experiences - of serious discussions on many topics, as well as flights of fancy, elevating to the absolutely absurd...we lived, and laughed...

We sailed together around the world aboard ofMagog's vessel with a motley crew, inventing totally off-the-wall adventures as we went along, for a year and a half, until ofMagog put into permanent port.
We worked on a petition to abolish the TSA - you educated us all on the ins and outs of your expertise - gas/oil wells worldwide, hunkering down with sheiks in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and eating sheep's eyes - in turmoil-riddled Nigeria - Singapore - and all over the States and Gulf of Mexico.

Throughout, you showed your heart for the America founded by our forefathers, where freedom and laws and integrity, all under God, was the standard set for the Republic.

You demonstrated that with sometimes standing all alone Freeps, as well as in groups - manned a voting place during an election - often composed deeply moving patriotic tributes for our Beloved America, sending CD's to anyone who asked - and always actively support our military and veterans.
They are the reason we still stand free in an uncertain world.

You shake your head over the attention you are receiving,
but it is true that you reap what you sow..:))

Yes, my friend, close your eyes and drift off, resting in God's hands,
which is where we place you, 24/7...

~ LadyX