Thursday, December 23, 2021

Conversations

 Conversations with my Grandsons

 

Like most other mornings, I made breakfast for the crew this morning.    For the wife and youngest, Oatmeal. Diced ham and eggs for the eldest and me, and a  PB&J for the middle grandson. I find this relaxing and enjoyable taking care of them.

     The youngest came to me directly (I encourage this) with a problem he had with me.  I said go on. “He asked how sometimes when I ask you questions, you cut me off when I need to speak to you.” I thought and answered. “That is 100% true, and here’s why.  There are times I am fully involved in a task that requires my full attention.  At those times, the task is so important that I cannot stop, so I abruptly cut you off; for that, I am sorry. Here is an example: “If I am dealing with Nana who is going through a low blood sugar issue. Her health is more important than anything I am doing at that moment or, for that matter, anyone else, so I take care of that first. At other times I am making dinner cutting vegetables and meat for dinner on those tasks. I cannot be distracted with a sharp knife in my hand.”  I will say that I do cut you off at other times. “I will work at being better at paying attention to you as I am doing right now,”

            I was encouraged that he dared to approach me directly with a problem, state it succinctly, and listen for what I had to say. This is not bad for a newly minted 7-year-old.  Bringing Grandfather is the most rewarding task that I have accomplished to date, and it is what I have prayed for to atone for the person I was in my former life. 

    With the eldest (I so relate to him), I discussed leadership styles with him. In the realm of my responsibility to him as a mentor/grandfather.  I asked, “you remember me telling your that your life is a series of digital decisions?” Yes or no, on or off, which means that no decision is a decision.  There are things in this household that are my decisions to make. And those that, even though I disagree with, is not my primary area of responsibility.  However, your role is to either comply or not to with things you may or may not like, but at the same time understand there are consequences for those decisions. This is until such time as you have the power or opportunity to leave and do this on your own. Which is at minimum 5 years from now.  I stated there is a process in programming that is called an if-then statement.  If this happens then, that will occur. An if-then-or statement also adds another decision loop that could go in a whole different direction. My if-then statement in my last job. Was scary at first but had to be made. Was I going to continue in what became a situation where I was unable to repair a problem that I did not create nor have the authority to influence for various reasons when I had no need for the income to survive and take care of the family? I did not need to be there to stay, but I believed it was the thing I should do because I have done it for almost 20 years. The endemic problems at that locale were not fixable by me, so I chose to leave something I loved to do for something I loved more to do. Mentoring my grandsons and taking care of my wife, as she needed a lot of help with her medical issues. In fact, that decision was going to be made for me from both directions since Nana’s medical issues escalated while my work relationships were heading in the same negative trend. After finding out, I did not need that income to buy the new home, the decision was easy to make. It was my grandsons and wife, and I would pick that that every time. It was a choice between 150k with stress and anger or 84K and freedom. You will have to make choices sometime soon, and I just want you to be ready.

 I love being a grandfather; I love my family, and I love my life. Right now, it gets kinda crowded to the point where I am writing this essay in a coffee shop, but it's all good. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Field training exercise.

 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Then the Master Sergeant embarked on a field exercise to prepare for an upcoming action; after surviving for 40 days, one of the training cadres approached and said.  If you are the chosen one, tell these stones to become bread.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b].

The Master Sergeant replied. Regulations dictate that I am not to partake of rations provided by you or anyone else. It must come directly from Higher Headquarters. Additionally, I will not deviate from the plan as laid out in said regulation

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone

Then the master sergeant was taken to the Jump tower in the midst of the exercise area.  If you are who you say, you can call air support for an immediate dust-off to take you to a safe area.

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

I am under strict orders to maintain radio silence and not break radio discipline. In an unforeseen circumstance, I will be medevacked by forces already in place to support me.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only

The Master Sergeant replied. You are dismissed; I will not violate the sacred trust given to me by command; I will only follow the orders from a lawful authority. Period!!!

 

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The trainer departed. The Master Sergeant popped smoke and was evacuated to the rear to recuperate.