You amaze me with how much of your life falls into the category of above and beyond…. And I say that carefully, respecting the military traditions associated with the phrase. But you did the work you did knowing the risks… and I admire the courage that took. Thank you.
Never underestimate the fact that some people are gluttons for punishment and are too dim to see it coming!
And think about it. Given a choice between working in a cubicle, getting a sparkle donut on casual Fridays and knowing the tv dinner you eat for dinner isn’t going to try to kill you, or flying an ancient C-47 over a jungle while dodging small arms fire, one engine smoking, and side slipping into a too short jungle runway to deliver milk powder to starving villagers, what would any rational person choose for a job?
You make this nightmare sound like a fun adventure. An adventure, for sure, but definitely not fun. Sometimes I lament that I can no longer travel, then I read stories such as these and the desire wanes. ha ha ha. I cracked up about your difficult decision in the bathroom about which way to face the toilet and grabbing the waste basket to cover both ends. Sounds like my every trip to Mexico... Really good writing, colonel. I felt pure unadulterated schadenfreude.
Priya, we do the work in front of us, we are grateful when we can serve to help those in need, and we are overwhelmed when, just when we think we are empty, we are refreshed and refilled.
Oh god! Indeed, what an ordeal. And the carjacking PTSD resonates as does your odyssey getting home. After reading accounts from you and Peace Corp workers, Mary and Bruce Trimble in Gabon, as well as other stuff, I wonder if efforts to bring Africa back from its long fall down the backside of civilization is really worth doing anymore? It sounds like only the women are holding things together while the men can think of nothing better to do than rape, pillage, and make war. I've heard of primitive, but this is ridiculous. It's post-apocalyptic. Welcome home! (Frankly, I had a similar trip coming home from Israel, but decided not to go into that. You're story is far more horrifying.)
I have so much faith and hope in Africa. She will surprise us because of the strength, tenacity, long suffering, and creativity. They will exceed my highest expectations.
Yikes! I mean, really, that's all I can say. You freaked me out when the guns came out but I stuck with you, shaking my head the whole time. I want to ask, "how did you manage that?" but I know the answer. You just kept going, one foot in front of the other. How else does one manage?
You chose an admirable path in life but the risks inherent in that path are beyond me. I had my hands full with classrooms of middle school kids (that I actually enjoyed very much). That job morphed into an office full of staff, students, and parents with whom to take my chances. That was my kind of adventure.....
As always, thanks for posting tales of your inspiring and captivating life.
I always enjoyed spending my days with kids. Even as an administrator, the best parts were the kids and their parents. I will add, though, that in my district, the middle school teachers were a quirky, fun, and deeply caring group of people. The days were good.
I kept a journal. I have my work trip reports. I have all the old passports and date stamps. And I’m not above adjusting the truth when necessary. But one never forgets about the terrible choice between whether to sit or kneel.
You amaze me with how much of your life falls into the category of above and beyond…. And I say that carefully, respecting the military traditions associated with the phrase. But you did the work you did knowing the risks… and I admire the courage that took. Thank you.
Never underestimate the fact that some people are gluttons for punishment and are too dim to see it coming!
And think about it. Given a choice between working in a cubicle, getting a sparkle donut on casual Fridays and knowing the tv dinner you eat for dinner isn’t going to try to kill you, or flying an ancient C-47 over a jungle while dodging small arms fire, one engine smoking, and side slipping into a too short jungle runway to deliver milk powder to starving villagers, what would any rational person choose for a job?
See how easy that was?
Also, you are very kind and I appreciate it.
You have this other quality I admire… relentless optimism! Gluttons for punishment tend to be optimistic… it gets em into trouble and gets em out!
You make this nightmare sound like a fun adventure. An adventure, for sure, but definitely not fun. Sometimes I lament that I can no longer travel, then I read stories such as these and the desire wanes. ha ha ha. I cracked up about your difficult decision in the bathroom about which way to face the toilet and grabbing the waste basket to cover both ends. Sounds like my every trip to Mexico... Really good writing, colonel. I felt pure unadulterated schadenfreude.
Thank you , Sharron. My misery wasn’t in vain.
I didn't realize you wrote horror
I didn’t even get to the part about, well, you know. Now there’s your horror.
So courageous and optimistic. Not many can pull off both. I appreciate all of your posts as you relate these snippets of your life.
I am in awe of how good you’re at putting one foot in front of another.
Priya, we do the work in front of us, we are grateful when we can serve to help those in need, and we are overwhelmed when, just when we think we are empty, we are refreshed and refilled.
Caught myself singing along as I read this… you’ve got a heart so big it could crush this town….
I wish it was true. I wish I was bighearted. Sometimes I have very deep doubts.
Oh god! Indeed, what an ordeal. And the carjacking PTSD resonates as does your odyssey getting home. After reading accounts from you and Peace Corp workers, Mary and Bruce Trimble in Gabon, as well as other stuff, I wonder if efforts to bring Africa back from its long fall down the backside of civilization is really worth doing anymore? It sounds like only the women are holding things together while the men can think of nothing better to do than rape, pillage, and make war. I've heard of primitive, but this is ridiculous. It's post-apocalyptic. Welcome home! (Frankly, I had a similar trip coming home from Israel, but decided not to go into that. You're story is far more horrifying.)
I have so much faith and hope in Africa. She will surprise us because of the strength, tenacity, long suffering, and creativity. They will exceed my highest expectations.
I hope so. And they'll do it in their own way.
Don't know if I could have left with the "demons" chasing me across the "Big Pond" but glad you made it back safely.
Yikes! I mean, really, that's all I can say. You freaked me out when the guns came out but I stuck with you, shaking my head the whole time. I want to ask, "how did you manage that?" but I know the answer. You just kept going, one foot in front of the other. How else does one manage?
You chose an admirable path in life but the risks inherent in that path are beyond me. I had my hands full with classrooms of middle school kids (that I actually enjoyed very much). That job morphed into an office full of staff, students, and parents with whom to take my chances. That was my kind of adventure.....
As always, thanks for posting tales of your inspiring and captivating life.
We all do what we can, and good teachers make all the difference.
I always enjoyed spending my days with kids. Even as an administrator, the best parts were the kids and their parents. I will add, though, that in my district, the middle school teachers were a quirky, fun, and deeply caring group of people. The days were good.
Just wondering how you can remember your journeys so clearly? Did you keep a journal?
I kept a journal. I have my work trip reports. I have all the old passports and date stamps. And I’m not above adjusting the truth when necessary. But one never forgets about the terrible choice between whether to sit or kneel.
Oof...and some days you wonder why you ever bothered to get out of bed. I'm glad you found your way back to yours!