Life Coaching, Observations, Reflections, Things that make you go hmmmmm
At 1:58 am on 15 May, 2017 an American Marine passed on. To some that man was and will always be, more than a Marine.
Being a United States Marine didn’t define what the man was. Being a Marine was a part of what made up the whole man.
The man had a tough go before the irony that is the illness that eventually took his life got him. Irony in abundance. He fought the good fight with dignity and grace. Never gave up. I’m sure he thought of it as we all would in that situation. He carried on out of a love of life and family. The duty he believed was owed to himself and his family.
No one would have faulted him had he chose to move along to the next plain of his own volition. He endured that much. He cared that much to soldier on.
This man was given the last rites in Vietnam. He was subjected to derision at the very least for having gone to Vietnam when he returned home. He came home with issues and worked on those issues.
Much later on in life, he was stricken with cancer and the belief is that “Agent Orange” was the culprit. There’s your irony. It took his own country to do what the enemy couldn’t.
A number of years ago that man and I were out somewhere when I was down in Rhode Island working out some of my own issues. I do remember it was winter and damn cold.
We were walking up to the door after getting home and I asked him, “Knowing what you know, would you do it again”. This is one of those you had to be there moments. The man knew my question didn’t come out of anything but interest in how he felt and what he thought.
“Knowing what you know, would you do it again” and the reply was, “My country called”.
Not another word was spoken between us. We both knew and understood what was in the answer.
Three words made up a “you had to be there” moment. I cannot convey everything that was in those three words. You had to see the man when he said, “My country called”. I could tell you about it so you could see and understand. I can’t write what I saw that day because no amount of words is going to be able to describe that moment properly.
I spoke of that moment a couple times with people in conversation because it fit with what we were talking about. I never told anyone about this encounter that is close to the man. The conversation was between him and me and except for those few instances, that is where it stayed.
Toughest man I ever knew. One of the best men I’ve ever known too.
Semper Fi, definitely. Character, absolutely.
Francis “Frank” Connors is survived by my cousin Karen, son Eli, daughters Shannon, Sandra and Michelle. Grandchildren, more family, others who love him and by what is now, a grateful nation.
Gary Hambley, May 15, 2017
(Lazy Sunny Day)
Made time, had to slow this mad mad world down
Easing down, easing in, floating the light fantastic
A little tail spin, a sparkling diamond daze
Nodding on out, letting the sun and sounds win
Down that lazy old river and you just drift away
Eiders fluttering down, settling in the rushes
Relative of Rocky washing his disbelieving bandit eyes
In to the last bend and wanna weep like the willow
Not going to think of anyone or anything again soon
Gonna be gone baby gone to replay this play day
G.R. Hambley ©
April 12, 2017
Lyric
We were young and oh so cool
Back when we were all fools
Feelin’ our way around
Always full of dissension
Lookin’ to cut the oppression
Trying to figure it all out
Everything going so fast
Wondered if some would last
Short days and shorter nights
And you know, oh you know, if you go
once bitten, you’ll never be the same
Parties on the Bluffs
No one ever playin’ tough
That hundred step drop
Fire by the water’s edge
A step out on the ledge
Going hope and a prayer
Walking hip to hip
Hoping for some lips
In to the rising moon
And you know, oh you know, when you go
once bitten, you’ll never be the same
Off in our own little place
Left the others to the case
The tenderness in caress
Those words so softly spoken
Promises not to be broken
Skipping stones and hearts
Waves lapping all around
Night winding its way down
Sailing on the first kiss
And you know, oh you know, that you fell
now bitten, you’ll never be sane
once bitten, never the same
G.R. Hambley ©
April 12, 2017
Here it is Christmas again. Been a crap year according to most and I agree with the most.
Today we here in the northern hemisphere do have the 2nd best day of the year because after today the days start getting longer again! Won’t be long before we’ll be Patio Lanterning again! This is part of my coping skill set as an S.A.D., I know what it is, I know it will pass, ohmmmm.
You can see how happy and festive I am now that the days will be getting longer!
I’m tired of the anger and animosity that has carried over from 2015’s election on Canada’s political front. “We The People” are pretty damn tired of the anger and animosity in their piece of the world as well. We The People will be carrying theirs on for the foreseeable future. Personally I expect it to end somewhere just around the corner from never. History people, history.
The loses in Music kept coming and coming and coming. A statement I made 2 or 3 weeks back is this; as a child of the back end of the 60’s the losses this year have been more difficult for those of us from that era. I also said it isn’t a competition. This is the life experience we have that 20 somethings don’t and companies want those 20 somethings to have.
The most painful and devastating loss for me was Keith Emerson and this is what I wrote in response to the anger and animosity of Emerson’s suicide.
I have things to be thankful and happy for too.
A couple surprises in my favourite coffee spot were quite nice. Dave Thomas came in one day. Yes folks Doug McKenzie himself came in. For my American friends, if you don’t know Dave Thomas, he played “Russell the Pharmacist” on “Grace Under Fire” as well. I looked at him to make sure what I was looking at was correct. He saw me look and watched. I smiled and nodded (like your work), he smiled back and nodded (thank you). This is what you call your average Canadian Celebrity encounter.
The 2nd one was a grand experience. An artist I’ve liked for a long time came in to the coffee spot, Liona Boyd. She became part of the conversation. Ms Boyd told something to me off of me telling her where I had seen her perform one time. She made it fun and personal and I really hope Gordon Lightfoot liked the song that was done for him. I gotta see that video! I was so enamored, as beautiful and elegant as ever Liona Boyd is!
I related the Boyd story to, “Good Friend”. I told her I don’t care if some people consider it sexist, “Liona Boyd, She’s a doll”. Good Friend agreed that it’s a compliment and from what I said, a perfect description. Hell, I’ll admit this too as I write, I’m still enamoured!
I’m going to leave this here with happy thoughts and happy memories.
To all of you whether it’s Christmas or the Seasonal change or just plain weekend, I wish you all the best in the next year and the years after that.
G.R. Hambley – December 21, 2016
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Remembering what those that went before us gave so that we enjoy the freedom we do. Remembering that fighting for freedom is still necessary.
I have family that was in service including one I never met.
The one of my family I never met was my paternal Grandfather. That man was killed in WW II. A dispatch rider hit by a truck at night under black out conditions. It was one of our trucks.
A father and uncle who were in the Canadian Navy. A great uncle who was in WW II. Another uncle who was an Air cadet and went on to Canadian Army Reserve. My Father joined the Canadian Army Reserve too. I have a cousin by marriage that was a United States Marine. The cousin that man married, born in Canada, served in the U.S. National Guard.
My own service was Air Cadets Canada.
You would expect that with all the centuries of warring the world wouldn’t be as tough a place as it is. Sadly and stupidly, this not the case. We don’t have to remember because we are reminded on a daily basis that oppression and war are still integral to the operation of this planet.
There is more talk of making November 11th a holiday in Canada. It’s a shame it is easier to get people to stop for a whole day than it is to get them to stop for 2 minutes at the 11th hour.
Remembrance Day 2015
Remembrance Day 2014
G.R. Hambley – November 10, 2016
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