Son's new career path, pretty proud father

[gsganzer]

How much do I owe for the therapy session?

I'm sure your son's passing is something you'll ponder the rest of your life. I think you wouldn't be normal if you didn't. I watched my parents cope with my brothers passing at 45yo from cancer. Even in something they had little control over, I watched them second guess medical decisions and the "could-we have, should-we-have, I wish we did..., I wish we said..." In the end, I don't think there was anything that would have changed the outcome.

Therapy on TBN is free. It's been one of the best things about this place.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm sure your son's passing is something you'll ponder the rest of your life. I think you wouldn't be normal if you didn't. I watched my parents cope with my brothers passing at 45yo from cancer. Even in something they had little control over, I watched them second guess medical decisions and the "could-we have, should-we-have, I wish we did..., I wish we said..." In the end, I don't think there was anything that would have changed the outcome.

Therapy on TBN is free. It's been one of the best things about this place.

You're spot on 100%

Luckily, as a family we've done pretty well IMO.

I know a woman from our old church who lost a 17 year old daughter from an accident a couple of years ago. She's on medications and still hasn't done well over the last couple of years.

I have no qualms about talking about our son who passed here on this forum (now, the first year after he passed, forget it), but would never do it on facebook or some other social media. I read this woman's facebook posts and can't help but feel sorry for her and her emotional state. But like I said, everyone grieves differently.

And I have absolutely no doubt that your own parents hurt as bad as we did, even though both deaths were under completely different circumstances.

Something I've learned in my own journey is that when you lose a child, it doesn't matter what the circumstances are.

It's just odd when people ask you how many kids you have when one passed, because then it can lead into what they are all doing and it can make the person feel asking uncomfortable when you tell them one passed. Just little things you don't really think about.

It gives me a new perspective when I read about families being killed in automobile accidents.

As I tell people, it's the one club you don't want to belong to.

I know I called a member here who offered to talk because I read about how he lost his own son, and I reached out to him via a PM and he gave me his number. I called him to talk, and it helped immensely. It made me realize he knew exactly what I was going through.

 

[deserteagle71]

The military sure has changed over the last 50 years (in the air force, they now have bathroom stalls in the latrine for basic, as well as a phone to report sexual harassment, go figure),

Many changes, and not always for the better!

The Marines have a high-altitude/cold weather training center in the Sierra Nevada mountains just west of the Nevada border. When I passed through there in the 60s they had to train in absolutely realistic conditions - which meant digging latrines to take care of bodily functions. I drove through the area a year ago and was amazed to see sani-huts out under the trees for miles all over the mountains. How realistic is that training? Are the Marines going to be deploying sani-huts when out on a combat mission?

 

[MossRoad]

...

How much do I owe for the therapy session?

My friends and I charge each other five cents...

 

[newbury]

I laughed pretty hard when he told me he has the "hurry up and wait" figured out now.

ARMY - Arrive Remain Motionless for Years
During my employment with the Army I enjoyed several trips to Tuzla from DC as part of a two person training team . Procedure was to fly into Germany commercial, switch to military flight, fly to Tuzla. Twice the connection to Tuzla was canceled after we arrived in Germany. Got quartered in Schwetzingen, Germany because it was close to a USACE unit. Each time we were stuck there for about 2 weeks, nothing to do. Full per diem. Each day routine was the same - Call in to local contact, see if we could get a flight out. Then if not go to tourist mode.

 

[Sigarms]

Many changes, and not always for the better!

The Marines have a high-altitude/cold weather training center in the Sierra Nevada mountains just west of the Nevada border. When I passed through there in the 60s they had to train in absolutely realistic conditions - which meant digging latrines to take care of bodily functions. I drove through the area a year ago and was amazed to see sani-huts out under the trees for miles all over the mountains. How realistic is that training? Are the Marines going to be deploying sani-huts when out on a combat mission?

When we were there in 2023 for our family vacation they were out as well. I really wouldn't mind moving out there, but it's California LOL!

 

[JeepHead]

When we were there in 2023 for our family vacation they were out as well. I really wouldn't mind moving out there, but it's California LOL!

View attachment 2929589

View attachment 2929590

That is beautiful! I could live there too if it wasn't a kommie state.

 

[Sigarms]

That is beautiful! I could live there too if it wasn't a kommie state.

FYI, after spending 2 weeks out there in 2023 and another week out there in 2024, for the small amount of the local population I was exposed to and talked with, everyone seemed to have the same basic gun views as myself. Can't say I met a Californian I didn't like (that said, only spent a half day around San Francisco LOL).

Half my life I was used to a lot of snow (and a lot of it in the North East). Being in Tahoe last year in November (with snow) would make me leery living in the Sierra Nevada's years round due to the snow (lived in NC too long and getting older).

That said...

 

[gsganzer]

I've traveled for work for years and I've always enjoyed California. I've always understood that each state has its own "color", vibe and differences and I've always embraced that. It's no different for me today, than it was 35 years ago when I started traveling. I've always joked that CA was the "cereal state", the land of fruits, nuts and flakes but I've loved its beauty and energy for what it is.

 

[Sigarms]

Luckily he picked up my odd sense of humor, although this one is pretty straight forward. Still finds it humorous...