Gander

Hey All,     Relationships exist in many forms in our lives.  The ones that we have with our pets are unique themselves and our pets are as unique with their "personalities" as we are.  They may be pets, but, are often considered by many us as part of the "family".  For some people..................the are the only family they have.
        Mrs Varga was in her mid-sixties or so in 1988.   She lived alone on her old family farm near Yardley with an assortment of ducks, chickens and a goose that she called Gander.  The farm buildings were all in a state of disrepair............................ everything was antiquated and needed something or another.  Mrs Varga didn't have the funds needed to make these repairs, so at times I would make necessary adjustments to her converted coal furnace or fix faucets as  needed.  She was a talkative old girl..................I suppose there is only so much you can say to goose.  It took her a little while to warm up to us, but, I think Charlie, who 5 years old at the time, had more influence over that than I did. She had no family and refused offers from real estate developers to sell her homestead.
        I met Mrs Varga when I was searching for a place to board my horse.  I had owned a couple of horses at different times back then.  This particular horse  was a registered 7 year old paint named Tiko.  He was gelding and was one easiest to get along with. There were no quarters for Tiko at the farm,  so I agreed to construct one at no cost to Mrs Varga if she would rent space to me to board Tiko in her pasture................. we had come to terms.  I commenced to  building Tiko a shelter.................we also got acquainted with Gander.  He was not like any pet I had experience with.......................he was the farm alarm, announcing the presence of anyone coming down the long lane to the farm house.  He was a constant companion who would talk back with Mrs Varga, as if he understood everything she said...........................sometimes he would even argue with her and she..................with him.  Gander was also a dining companion.....................when we were invited to have lunch, Mrs Varga would shoo Gander off the kitchen table so she could set down our meal.   He also slept....................in the bedroom.
         One day when I went to the farm to feed and water Tiko.......Gander announced our arrival with a series of long drawn out honking.  Mrs Varga met us in the barnyard and had to scold Gander to make him quiet down.  He wasn't very fond of this and he "muttered" as if under his breath, his tail end wiggling with indignation.  Gander could be a bit of bully and at times he would stalk Charlie who was about the same size as this goose...............pecking at his clothes or if Charlie wasn't careful..............his fingers.  Today was no exception and I kept an eye on them as I talked with Mrs Varga...................that goose was going to establish a pecking order and Mrs Varga scolded him again as his head snaked back and forth, waddling after Charlie.  I put out my hand and guided Charlie so that he was behind me and I kept shifting my body so that I was always between them............................that goose was pretty smart though, he eyed Charlie through the space of  my legs and shot his head forward.   Instincts are an amazing thing..................as if on their own,  my knees slammed together and caught that goose by the head, trapping him there.  He complained with loud squalks...................beating his wings and trying to get free.  I thought that Mrs Varga was going to angry........................but she roared with laughter. "That will teach you Gander!  Now you leave him alone!"   she told him.  I released my hold and he retreated about 5 feet away........................muttering and then flapped his wings and settled back at safe distance.....................he never came closer than 5 feet or so from that day forward.
         Mrs Varga, Gander and Tiko will always be kindly etched in my memory.  When I go back to those days, I remember to be thankful for them.....................they helped me to understand how important all relationships can be.  I know that each of us has had experiences that are unique to us......................I hope that yours warm your heart.
             Until next time.............................................God Bless.

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.

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.