OT- Lots of keys

Spectre · Jul 20, 2005

By way of an update/ramble...

My immediate plans are still a little up in the air. The two most obvious choices are that I'm allowed to finish getting my BA, and then enter service, or that I'm required to report to Benning in September. I'm hoping to know either way in the next couple of weeks. Since I cancelled my last summer class when I thought I was going to have to report on the 10th, I started working at Subway last week to bring in some funds.

In the meantime, I had already planned on moving out of my house. My roommate is marrying someone in his home state in the Midwest, and leaving Georgia, so I finally finished moving everything out Monday morning. Since I don't know yet whether I'm going to be around for just another month or so- in which case my stuff gets stored- or another 9 months, most of my stuff is still in the 4Runner. I'm probably going to bounce around between friends until I find whether the Army immediately requires my services; if they do, I plan on spending the last two weeks or so visiting friends out of state, and maybe making another family visit to Alabama.

Besides being hectic and time-consuming, moving is always such a bittersweet experience. There are always nostalgic letters, pictures, and assorted keepsakes encountered, such as the sweet card from Jordy, lots of old movie stubs, and the old pictures of me in Basic. Another thing I've found is lots of keys. I'm not sure anymore what most of them unlock, but I'm hanging onto them, just in case. There are more of them every time I move, almost all of them small padlock keys.

I thought maybe I should write a country song about all the keys I've found, and my confusion about their purpose. It sounds like some analogy about life.

I've received a couple things from AAFES and one from MyPay addressed to "Corporal John Shirley", so I'm wondering if they know something I don't. I've always thought Specialist was a cooler-sounding rank, but if being a Corporal meant I'd get to work a range in the States instead of going someplace far away and very hot, I'd deal with it.

My best to y'all,

John

Green Ice · Jul 20, 2005

John, waiting is always the hardest part. I hated waiting when I was in the service. All I can say is good luck and hope for good things to happen for you.

Ice

Bamboo · Jul 20, 2005

That would make a good song.

Specialist is 100% cooler than Corporal, but the latter might have some perks that outweigh ...

doesn't mean you weren't a specialist for quite some time though. And now you'll be in charge of the specialists ....

Is the decision of when to go at all yours? For example, if you wanted to go in Sept. and get it over with, could you? Would you want to? Is there any chance if you put it off until after school that they won't need you at all?

I have no idea how the army works.

Talk to you soon, John.

~ B

munk · Jul 20, 2005

I remember fondly the days all my belongings could be stored in a 4runner.

Make sure you park it safe until this is decided.

munk

Spectre · Jul 21, 2005

Well, my kuks and almost all of my large MA stuff (spears, staff, etc) as well as my firearms are at the houses of friends and family...

Ken, basically, once you have orders, you have to obey them. Sometimes you can get them changed, but until that time...

John

munk · Jul 21, 2005

That's good, Spectre.

When I was 32 or so only my stereo was worth saving. 2 Polk speakers, a Nak tape deck, Caver reciever, linn axis turntable, Sony CD.

I had a bed/futon worth keeping, but all the rest of the furniture could be burned.

munk

jurassicnarc44 · Jul 21, 2005

I got to the place where loose change and wads of keys were anathema for my continued survival. I even switched over to good , soft mocassins without socks about 35 years ago...no rubber soled 'squeeks', and I've never missed them. Made my living slipping down alleys and screwing my gun in your ear, whispering sweet nothings like "You're under arrest","You have the right to remain silent"......a bad case of the 'jingles' can shorten your life expectency in that alternate universe. I may be retired, but I still get a kick ghosting down the halls in school, and slipping up next to some teenaged miscreant who doesn't think there is a teacher within miles, and whispering "What'cha doin?".......and then helping them pull their fingernails loose from the ceiling. Life is good.....

Yvsa · Jul 21, 2005

jurassicnarc44 said:
I may be retired, but I still get a kick ghosting down the halls in school, and slipping up next to some teenaged miscreant who doesn't think there is a teacher within miles, and whispering "What'cha doin?".......and then helping them pull their fingernails loose from the ceiling. Life is good.....

Hehehehe, Me LoveIt!!!!