All Peace

Emily and Ivy are taking a nap, Ari is wandering around the house alternating between Captian-Hooking everything in site, and slowly bouncing off the walls with blanket over his head.

And I am drinking fresh brewed coffee. How is life? Good.

Pre Air Show

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to be volen-told to work at the Air Show. Basically I had a 12 hour shift directing traffic. The first part they drove myself and one oher guy several blocks off base, dropped us off and said, "keep people from parking on this street, and tell them where to park." Without telling US where they were supposed to park, they drove away. After a while we got things sortd out and the rest of the time was spent telling people they could not park here, which rarely made anybody happy. Aside from the constant stream of grumpy folks, and the occasional sneer from hippies, it wasnt so bad. One young boy came up to me and said "when I grow up I am going to be a soldier!"

Which instantly made me start tearing up. I think part of it was that it's a strange exprience to be looked up to like that. It also struck me as a somewhat depressing thought. But at the same time, in some way, at some point, I think that is the dream of most young boys. I think that violent ember is a beautiful thing. It should be encouraged as an element, and directed towards purpose (not specifically physical violence, but rather, a violent momentum.)

Anyway. Taking the kids to the airshow today. Perhaps some pictures are in order.

Yet more military....

I was able to go out with Emily for a little while today for coffee while Amy watched over the children. In my current phase at tech school if I go off base I have to wear my service dress uniform. This presents me with a rather humbling/awkward situation. When you are in uniform everybody notices. And I notice them notice. It is not that everybody tries to show they notice, but it is easy to see their internal reactions to the sight of a military uniform. Some feel proud, some feel guilty, some feel jealous, some feel superior, some feel pity. Above all of this, some actually approach me and offer a hand shake and some sort of "thank you for your service" remark. In fact, I have yet to go out in public in uniform and not get thank several times.

If people are not randomly coming up to you and thanking you for something, there is no way for you to really get what this might feel like. I have yet to really get a handle on how I even feel about this whole dynamic, as I am still working through and learning how to feel patriotic myself. But I can say that it is incredibly humbling as well as a source for a strange and awkward strength and pride.

This is learning.