50 years

Fifty years ago this week I became a member of the US Navy and left for boot camp at great lakes training center, which is located 50 miles north of Chicago . The boot camp experience was a life changer. The first thing that happen is to make you look and act like ever one else who is there. The same clothes , the same hair cut and ever one is treated the same. All of you personal belonging are sent home the first day and the navy provides you with all that you will need for the next 12 weeks. It didn't make any difference who you were before you arrived now you became part of a unite of 75 or so and you either conformed or you didn't last long . For a small town boy who had gotten by at home for the most part on my personality this was a new game and i learned to adapt and conform . It took me many years to understand why i need to spend four hours in the middle of a very cold December night  guarding a empty trash dumpster .


I left the navy after 4years and 4month , but returned to the navy reserves and retired in 1985 .The medical benefit that results from my services have turned out to very valuable to me and VJ. I never thought about benefits much during my service , just have a good time .


The activity on our house has stopped , even a drop in the list price didn't bring any activity. The mortgage rates are the lowest in my memory , but folk who are worried about their job are not willing to buy a house and if they are willing to buy they have a house for sale somewhere..


The weather has turned quite cool for the weekend , there was snow in the high mountains overnight , guess it is time to go to the grove park for a few days.Trying catch the leaf color at its peak is a guessing game so we go for the chance to get away and when we can get the best room rate.


Vj continues to do well and I think her recent med change was helpful . 


Life is Good!