Sunday, February 19, 2012

Coke Number One!

Hey All,      Sometimes trying to communicate or get your point across can be frustrating.........especially if you don't speak the same language.  You may need to illustrate what you are trying to convey in another way.
      Korea, 1983.  We had three Korean men working as assistants in the motorpool and they all were very friendly and sometimes shared things they had such as Ramen Noodles or Kimchee.  I was a recipient of this generosity for the three years I was there.  Their names were Mr Kang, Mr Kim and Mr Yu.   This generosity was mainly displayed by Mr Yu.........a very kindly man of about 60 years old..............and in accepting his favors, I soon learned that I had to give much more than I recieved.  
       Mr Yu would frequently come into my office and pick up my pack of Marlboro and help himself without asking.................................which resulted in my persistant irritation.  I had to explain to him many times that he needed to ask first..................to which he replied in broken english and in part Korean,  that as he was older than me, that I must show him respect and let him have the cigarettes.  I had a great deal of respect for Mr Yu.................but I couldn't get past what I considered to be ill manners and the fact that he did this almost everyday.  Many times,while he was having his smoke break in my office, he would reach over my shoulder and pick up my Coke and finish it off..................no matter how much was left in it............. when I would turn around to say something about it he would stick up his index finger as say "Coke number one"!  Did I mention my persistant irritation?   I also had a hard time making him understand the same principle applied to my Coke,  and my smokes.  Oneday, I was at my desk having a smoke with my Coke and I almost used my soda can as an ashtray.....................a solution to my communication problem with Mr Yu was found!   I smoked my cigarette down using the half full soda can as an ashtray............................careful not to get any ashes on top and keeping an eye out for Mr Yu.  I dropped the butt in the can when I was through and then had another one and did the same .................................fortunately, Mr Yu was late on collecting his entitlement today.   Once again,  he strolled into my office and helped himself to smoke and lit up.  About two minutes went by when he noticed the Cokle and reached over and picked that up too................at first I smiled, as I had my back to him.  I couldn't resist..............I turned around and watched him as he chugged down my Coke............until he got the first butt in his mouth.  I couldn't understand why he got so upset........................all I said was "Coke number one"! as I held up my index finger and  he gagged on the butt.  He lit in to me in Korean and I had to wait until he took a breath before I could get a word in.   I explained that I had already told  him that I had no problem sharing, but, since these things were mine, he needed ask.  He was silent for a moment, then quietly replied in Korean that he understood.    The next day Mr Yu came into my office....................he stopped next to me and asked for a smoke............and I said "sure" and I handed my smokes to him.   When he asked for my Coke...............I declined.....................maybe if he had a cup I would have considered  it.................nah!
     They all were fine older gentlemen and I will always remember them with kindness.  Mr Yu was rooted firmly in his culture..........................I was proud to have been able to teach him a little about mine.
                          Until the next time.......................God Bless.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Loan Shark

Hey All,   I believe that most people have found themselves, where they ran out of money before they ran out of month. Sometimes, when that happens, you have a friend you can go to...................we had Rich.    He wasn't anybody's friend if you didn't repay your debt on payday...............with 50% interest.
       1980,Fort Lewis,Washington State.   Rich was a tall man of about 6'4" and I'd guess he'd go about 240 pounds.  He worked in the motorpool with us and was a very enterprising guy.  He didn't go out much so he always had money and he discovered how to make even more money..........almost by accident.  One of us was short of cash near the end of the month and desperately needed money.....just for a few days until payday.  Rich had money and he offered to loan it with the understanding that on payday he was repaid.......with 50% interest.  The desperate man agreed and a new business venture was born.  It wasn't long before the everybody in the motorpool, most of the 2/47th Infantrys' enlisted,  as well as some of the Officers, knew of Richs' loan program and became clients.  Rich was never lost money, as far as anyone knew, because of his size ..............and fear for their continued good health.  When a loan agreement was made, Rich would always tell his clients that he better have it by close of business payday.................as he leaned over you........"I better not have to come looking for you".  The loans themselves were not legally permitted.............it was against regulations, especially for the Officers................they knew this and didn't need to be threatened.
     It was Friday, payday, and as of this time, I wasn't one of Richs' clientele.........yet.  I came back from the Px with munchies and soda after work.  I was walking up to the barracks and passed Rich as stood on the sidewalk...........................waiting for the sheep to come for their shearing with their cash.  He reached out, grabbed my grocery bag and asked "what did you buy me?'.  As he rummaged through my bag, I asked politely for its return.......................to which he asked me" what are going to do about it? Nothing, So,just shut the F*** up".  Well, I, being of sound body.of only 160 pounds.............. but not of sound mind...........put my arms around Rich from behind and lifted him off the ground and asked for my bag again.  Oh, he agreed to return my bag alright.........then he chased me up the flight of stairs as I ran for the safety of my room.  He caught me on the 2nd floor landing and the grabbed me by the throat.  He backed me up so that I was leaning halfway over the railing, squeezing my throat as my face turned red.  He said " who the F*** do you think you are?  Don't you ever touch me again.  Do you understand me?"  At first, I managed to say  "go to hell".............but through his persistent persuasion, that is, my back was killing me as I was bent over the railing and I really didn't like the look of the concrete sidewalk below...............if he let go, I wasn't going to bounce.  I squeaked out that I understood.  I, also being of stubborn German decent,  decided to tell Rich what I really thought........................ but, only when he got down to the first landing and I was at my floor.  He came running back up, but by then I was in my door and had it locked.  He pounded on it for a little while as he shouted threats, but finally left.  What I hadn't realized, was that in front of everyone in view......................I hurt his image by picking him up and standing up to him.
    Months had passed.  Mike and I were coworkers in the motorpool and eventually became roommates in an apartment off post.  Mike had gone to Rich for a loan as we were ones short of cash..................but, Rich held us both responsible for the loan when he knew what it was for.   Payday came and I went and paid the debt...............so did Mike.  When we found out we both had paid, I went to Rich demanding the return of  my money.....................I'm sure you can guess what his response was.  Well, there was no way to force him to give it back.......................so I went to our Company's Commanding Officer and reported Rich and his illegal loan program.   Rich wasn't  a happy man..................he was in up to his ears with the CO and his loan program was now history.
     Rich probably could have continued indefinitely..................if he had just returned my money.  I was assured there would be no retaliation for informing on Rich.........I was to inform the CO immediately if there was.   Greed is a powerful sin...............as I'm sure Rich has learned.
                                   Until the next time.................................God Bless.
       

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Plumbers Assistant

Hey All,  I spent a great deal of time at an early age at my mother's parents house.  This was mostly for my own safety....................to seperate me from the oldest...........the Beast.  I would spend a weekend and go to work with my grandfather or help him around the house.  It was from his influence, that I chose my profession.
      August 1974.  Grandpop was a plumber by trade and I loved being around him.  He was one of the first adults I had come to trust................he never said mean things or raised his hand to hurt me or anyone.  He was firm in his convictions, but, you knew he loved you, even with correction and would always let you know it...................something that was almost foreign in my life and that I craved deeply.
       The shop that Grandpop worked at for years, Hicks Brothers was closing up................Grandpop and the secretary were the last employees for a few years.  Mr Hicks kept it open until Grandpop was able to retire.  I was asked if I would like a job until school started........................working on Grandpops last job and cleaning out the shop of stored materials and finally sweeping it clean.  I jumped at the chance to go to work with Grandpop...............it would be one of the last opportunities.  I believe that I was the only one of his many Grandchildren that ever had gone to work with him.
      I loved that month..............Grandmom would make us a hearty breakfast.............bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee................. my addiction to caffeine began.   She would pack Grandpop a lunch as she had done for the last forty five years and she packed one one for me too.  Then there was supper...........always complete with everything...............it was like eating at a restaurant every night.    This was alien to me..........I wasn't accustomed to eating like a king and on a daily basis.  I had eaten like this at Thanksgiving and a few times  at the Scalfaro household across the street...........  Mrs Marie was a great cook too.
      The month and my job were coming to a close.  I had picked up a little money in my pocket as well as a couple of pounds added to my bones.  I was to start the eighth grade at Keith Valley Middle School this September.............but the Beast was restless.  Dad was on the road as usual and Mom was.............Mom.  The Beast emerged from his bedroom in his usual surly mood....................on the prowl to strike out at whomever he saw or decided he didn't like at that particular moment.   I was safely away, so he took up the only other prey available................Tommy.  He ended up chasing Tommy all over the house with a hammer................screaming that he was going to kill him.  Mom couldn't stop him, so she had to call the Hatboro police department.....................they were finally able to calm the Beast down and get the situation in hand.  Only thing was,  that the Beast had made a very passionate threat....................... that he would kill me on sight when I returned home.   Given his past history of violence.............especially with me.................it was taken very seriously.  What started out as a month long visit turned out to be year.....................I attended St.  Lukes School in Glenside for the eighth grade.
      The Beast had been seen professionally by psychiatrist as teenager and had been prescribed medicine as well..................we didn't have enough money for medicine, food and booze.............so the medicine got cut.  Instead of dealing with the Beast.....................they removed me.  This decision to keep me safe was offered to me as permanent in my  story "Fork in the Road".
     The first timeI remember going to work with my Grandfather,  I was seven years old..........I cleaned copper fittings with sandpaper.............my little fingers were small enough to fit inside the smaller fittings..............and I felt and was treated like I mattered.............that I belonged.........I was loved.
     Thank You Grandpop................I would have been lost............. without you.
                               Until the next time.................................God Bless.