Basic Training

Hey All,     This is one of those stories..................maybe to graphic or personal for young people.  I'm going to tell a story no one had ever heard until a year ago........................and then I only told it because I was specifically asked a personal question.    Seems the VA is doing a survey.  Maybe it was better kept as a secret but, I had come to a point of no return in my life....................so I didn't care anymore.
         June 1979.  I went to Columbia, South Carolina for Basic Training.  Fort Jackson was really a hot place in the summer.  I was looking forward to a new life.  The military was structured and disciplined by most accounts and I was anxious to start fresh from the life I had known up until this point.  I had hope that I could have a normal life, that I would be given a chance to prove myself and be treated as everyone else.    I was a fool ....................................people are still sinners, even in the military.  The next part of my life begins......
          We got to Columbia by train from Philadelphia.  It was an overnight trip and I got drunk on Southern Comfort bought by a guy in Philly.  I was hungover but sobered quickly when we got there.  The Drill Sergeants were yelling just inches from our faces    They were SGT's Blenis and Powell.  I'm not sure how but I ended being chosen as assistant squad leader for the 4th squad.  The squad leader was a female and as such I acted as squad leader for the 4th squad in the male barracks. I had found favor with Sgt Powell for some reason  and he always treated me with respect as soldier and a person.  One night he had CQ, which is Charge of Quarters.  He was responsible for the Company overnight.  CQ's had runners,  enlisted that would go and check on things or occupy Company Headquarters while the CQ did security checks.  Normally there is one runner..................but this night there were two . There was a female soldier who was attracted to me and I her........................... she and I had duty together that night.   Drill Sergeant talked to us and told us that we could do whatever we wanted for the next hour but told us not to do it on the Commanders desk.  You don't need a road map here....................but back then I did.  I never had sex and was very uncomfortable with what was expected of us.   We left and wandered around Headquarters until our hour was up........................no sex or even a kiss.  Yeah, I realize what many guys would have done.........but I honestly and maybe foolishly  wanted my first sexual experience  to count for something, more than just the experience of sex itself.  I wanted control for once in my life over something I felt was so very personal.   I was an idiot.
            When we got Basic Training, we all were immunized against God knows what.   I ended up ill from something and was found late at night on a security check by SGT Powell.  He called for medical assistance and I had an upper respiratory infection and a fever of 102.  I had to be removed from the barracks and was taken to the hospital and admitted while I was still ill and contagious.  I was given medications for the symptoms and the usual hospital attire.  I awakened in the night...........................because I had ejaculated.  I sat up and was confused...................... I was exposed.  My penis was wet but there was no semen.  I sat there trying figure out what was going on.................................it didn't make sense or register with me.    Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement in the the dark by the door................................I looked with just enough time to see someone running out the door.  I immediately understood what had happened and had a temper flare.  I was going to kick somebody's ass. I got myself together and ran out in the hallway.......................nobody insight.   I started a room to room search and then realized after awhile that I would not find this person and returned to my room and remained awake the rest of the night.   I don't know who it was or if they were male or female.  I only know that I was robbed of my personal choice.    Yeah, I know that most guys would look at like so what's the big deal....................... you got oral sex, wish it was me.    It was and is a big deal.  It's not about the physical act,  it's about having a say for change about something very personal in my life.  If I was a female,  then it would be viewed differently?
            A day later, I was released and returned to my Company.  I will never be the same person or will I ever view my life the same way.  I thought I was free from the past..................................I only had reaffirmation that I would never be safe and I was angry with myself for being an idiot and expecting that things would change for the better.   What's wrong with me?  What can I do to stop these things from happening?  I would find an answer but it wouldn't be the one I was looking for.
                       Until next time....................................God Bless.
       

You Need a Sledgehammer.

Hey All,    There are some people that fail to see things, especially when it comes to themselves.  In some ways they are naive, in others, things that are hidden jump out at them.  It's just how their brains are wired.........it can lead to some interesting outcomes.
        It was January 1996.  I was a regular attendee at church and Charlie was involved in the youth group. I sang in the choir and attended extra church functions on a regular basis.
       I had met Mark and Becky at church and would see them on regular basis at different events.   I was a single parent at this time, which is not unheard of for fathers these days. I had opportunity to talk with both of them on many occasions and in one of these, I revealed my story of being a divorced dad.  Becky asked the usual questions that many women have asked me regarding my circumstances.  When she got to the dating part,  I answered that I wasn't, which was true.  I had become extremely "gun shy" by this time in my life as do many from dates that don't work out or relationships that don't end well.  I would view everyone as a friend and was so naive that if a woman was showing an interest in me that I wouldn't notice. I told Becky that woman would have to hit me with sledgehammer to get my attention.  I just thought these women were being nice.  Believe it or not some people consider me intelligent.......................just not when women were concerned.
       Becky's sister had also attended our church.  Her name is Penny, and she had introduced herself to me and in usual fashion I treated her as anyone else.............friendly.  Of course, I didn't notice the way Penny looked at me and when she made soup for me when I was sick.............I thought she was just being nice........ um, Duh. This went on for some time, until the Sunday when Becky who was sitting behind me handed me a manila folder.  I opened it and there was an artist sketch of Penny holding a sledgehammer, which a friend of hers from work had drawn for her.  It took me a second to realize what this meant as Becky sat there with a big smile.
       Penny and I have been married for 14 years now.  I can't say for sure how things today would be if it wasn't for that sledgehammer.  I do know that I'm glad that somebody pointed me in the right direction. Come to think of it.................that sketch did look pretty intimidating..................just kidding!     I love you Penny.
                                       Until Next time......................God Bless.

The Farm Job

Hey all,    We all have a story to tell.   Sometimes they bring a smile to your face.   These are the best kind.
       I was a self-employed Plumbing-HVAC contractor for 17 years.  I have worked in many houses and buildings for a lot of different people.   The Parks Farm was one of my favorite and most memorable jobs.  The owners were great people and a pleasure to work for.  I've done quite a few different jobs at the farm from plumbing, heating and electrical.   On this particular day in early March, it was quite cold.  We still had frost every morning, but all of winters' snow was gone.   The toilet  in the addition to old farmhouse overflowed all the time.  After checking it out,  I determined that their was a problem with the buried sewage line.   The owners had a friend they always used for excavation work by the name of Floyd.  They made arrangements for Floyd to come and dig the line and since it was cast iron and buried for many years, I was  to replace it with PVC.   I met Floyd at the farm that morning and he had his backhoe already in place.  I wore my carhart insulated coveralls since it was so cold and had a big cup of coffee since I couldn't do anything until it was all dug up.  About halfway through the dig I could see somebody had already replaced 10 feet of the sewage line with PVC.  Floyd however couldn't see it from his position and got hooked on the end of the Pipe.  PVC is flexible and that pipe bowed in a great big arc.  Problem was it was packed full with raw sewage and the farmhouse had brand new vinyl siding and windows installed recently.  Floyd could tell he was caught,  but not on what and kept pulling to get free.  He did and it flung sewage all over the side of the house with such force that it went through the screens to the windows.  It was a mess!   The whole side of the old farmhouse was just coverd in sewage.............except in one place, in the shape of a guy holding a coffee cup.    I had barely enough time to close my eyes as I realized what was going to happen.   I stripped of my coveralls and washed my face in the house.    Floyd could see what happened just after he got his bucket free..  It must have been a sight because his face was so red from laughing it took him a minute to catch his breath.   The owners pressured washed the house off after I went home to shower and get another pair of boots.   Penny refused to wash the coffee cup and I had to throw it away.  I miss that cup.
                   Until next time...................God Bless.