A Soldier's Christmas - A Poem

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." 

- Albert Einstein

One Christmas song I really like is "Happy Christmas (War is Over)", by John Lennon, who ironically proclaimed he was more popular the man the Holiday is for. For years, I never knew what the kids in the background were saying and just now decided to look it up. It sounded good, that's all I cared about. So I looked up the lyrics and discovered they sang:

May 2008 Art Nude Workshop, Model Tiffany

"War is over. If you want it. War is over, now."

Its very beautiful and melodious. I just couldn't understand what the words were. Ironically, as a soldier, I can still relate to the words. I've never been a soldier who craved conflict. I believe, with all sincerity that I was good at being an infantry soldier. I trained may ass off and did my best to make sure those under my charge were technically and tactically proficient, as well as highly motivated with the intestinal fortitude to accomplish the mission. I did the job with the understanding that somebody had to do it. Somebody's got to stand in the gap and every since I was a kid, I've felt like that responsibility was mine to shoulder.

According to Wikipedia in the following quote, this song was written as protest to the Vietnam War. [Ha! Its now playing on my internet radio!].

July 2008 Art Nude Workshop, Model Faerie

"The lyric is based on a campaign in late 1969 by Lennon and Ono, who rented billboards and posters in eleven cities around the world that read: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) Happy Christmas from John and Yoko". The cities included New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Rome, Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Helsinki. At the time of the song's release, the US was deeply entrenched in the unpopular Vietnam War. The line "War is over, if you want it, war is over, now!", as sung by the background vocals, was taken directly from the billboards." - Wikipedia via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_is_over;

I've never been a protester over our own wars. I haven't felt that soldiers have that luxury. There's definitely a time to speak up about orders that aren't lawful, or when you utterly feel that your commander is too stupid to be in charge. So far, that hadn't extended to the Commander in Chief. He doesn't make those decisions alone. That's one place were a soldier's got to have faith that those involved are NOT stupid. Now I'm speaking in general terms. I am by no means trying to defend, justify, or explain why were are at war now. I don't want that debate, here. I'm just looking at the paradox of a meaningful song to me that's was originally made in protest by someone who may or may not share my beliefs in terms of my faith or my former occupation. I find that interesting is all.

Sept 2008 Art Nude Workshop, Model Clarissa

Another song that comes to mind is Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here". You may remember that melody from the Charlie Brown Christmas specials. Either a friend or a relative made an observation that the reason I like that song so much is because of my somber disposition during Christmas. Its not the first time that someone has told me I get moody around Christmas. Moody...? I'd much rather say I'm sentimental, maybe even nostalgic. My Christmases as a kid were the absolute most meaningful days in my life. Christmas at my grandparents in my early years were particularly special, but then we started having Christmas at my own home. I recall an occasion once were I heard something on the roof and looked up out the window. I swore to my mom that I saw a dear hoof slip of the edge of the roof!

Dec 2008 Art Nude Workshop, Model Sarah Jane

After having my own kids, I can recall at times having to be the one to wake THEM up! Me...I could go all night without sleeping as a kid. When I did sleep, I was up by 6am at the latest. As a solider, I was blessed enough to spend most of my Christmases at home. It was late in my career when I was deployed away a few days before Christmas and I spent Christmas night in a barracks room, alone and on the floor wrapped up in my poncho liner, (affectionately referred to as a "Woobie"). I was reminded of a poem in circulation that was supposedly written by a marine in Okinawa. Regardless, THIS WAS ME, on that particular night. And I hope you all take a second to remember our troops still deployed away from home. Whether you realize it or not, that joyous feeling you get when you share that quality time with your family is at the expense of their's! You don't believe, me? Ask my kids...

"A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS"

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

- Author Unknown

The Week After River Walk

Little Known Facts about "The Nutcracker": When the ballet debuted in Russia in 1892, critics sounded off. Some felt the score was bland and the choreography was weak. Like a fine wine, time has been kind to the ballet.

Dave Rudin just posted on his blog about his trip here in Las Vegas. He's actually got one of the better pics of me on his latest blog post. I don't have a single pick of us. I had anticipated on getting to see him more than the once for breakfast that Saturday morning, but that was it. Even than, I had to make short to tend to other business, but we got in a few hours at least. Its always good to have him here.

The weekend after Dave was here, another good friend of mine also came to town. Cameron and I served together some 15 years ago at least and have stayed close since then. He got to spend 5 days here with his fiancée. Right now, he sort of looks after my young'uns even though they are all grown up. He's got his own kids who are quite young. He got to see several of the sites of Vegas and he brought me along on several. I think the best highlights was in seeing Hoover Dam and getting to enjoy Phantom of the Opera on our last night.

The weekend Cameron got here, I had RSVP'ed for a hike out at Valley of Fire. It was some big time scrambling, which I loved, but its hell on my knee when you gotta wear a metallic brace. Trust me, I paid for it in pain-killers that night. Some of these hikes are hard on me, but if I wasn't doing them, I'd go plumb crazy and that's no joke. So I'll do them while I can. I have to go be out in nature from time to time.

That reminds me... I was glad to hear that the knuckle-head(s) who defaced ancient petroglyph out at Red Rock Canyon, just west of Vegas, were caught. Tourists travel out there by the thousands to see some of the most beautiful rock formations in the world. But then we've got stupid people. I really don't understand how stupid you have to be to not know that you can't be that stupid enough to spray paint ancient artwork. Fortunately, they caught the guy, but they think its gang related. He's 17...still a minor. I'm curious to see what they do to this kid and what precautions they'll take to prevent future stupidity like this. You can't do security checks on everybody for spray paint cans. So are they going to make an example out of this kid? And if so, how so? They've got to create a deterrent of some type to make people respect our parks and natural areas. Til now, people have simple known to leave natural areas alone. Stupidity knows no bounds.

No pics this time. Enjoy this "How it Should Have Ended: Holiday Special", instead.

River Walk

"Before you walk off into a river, check your pockets. You may need to remove your iPhone!" ~ Me

As always when its been more than 2 weeks since I make a post, there seem to be lots going on. My friend Unbearable Lightness has certainly been getting some attention in her world and that's putting it mildly. She's fed up with dA and yesterday she "came out". Not about being gay, but rather came out from behind  her alias and has revealed her true identity as Dr. Carla Johnson. You can read more about it HERE.

Recently, I've had my hands full in photo projects, but its slowed down a little now. For the first time, I think that's a good thing. I need the time to prepare for some other endeavors and shooting and editing will have to wait for a spell. I've taken up helping teach a photo works to a few people, one of which is an aspiring young woman whom I recently met through her dad. He and I had been in conversations recently and we both have daughters who are starting out in photo. Its a good thing to teach every now and again. Its always the right thing to give back, but it also helps you stay sharp as well. For me, it brings to my attention the unconscious things I do naturally and makes me think about ways to improve the way I see things. Its also sort of refreshing since I am no longer running my art nude workshops. This is another way to help aspiring photogs. Someone once argued that I am potentially creating my own competition. Well, that may be, but I know I feel better giving back and its part of my good nature to teach. I don't see how I can go wrong with that. Granted, there are some that abuse my hospitable nature. They look at what I do and use it to their own design and interests. This has happened to me a few times and at times from people I thought were my friends. I try not to worry about that. All I can concern myself with is getting better, developing healthy relationships and partnerships, and letting the rest of the cut-throat riff-raff do their thing. I'll control whats in my power to influence and with the help of God, I'll be content with that.

I lost my phone on a recent hike. The scenery was so beautiful that I walked off into a river with it in my pocket and was none the wiser til I was chest deep. I tried not to let it spoil my day and it eventually worked out. My initial concern was that I may have had to wait a month for my phone upgrade, since the iPhone is not insurable. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do without my phone. It took me about 2 days before I got a new one. I wanted to let my iPhone 3G dry out as best I could. I kept it in a bag of rice for those few days before I took it in to an AT&T store. I can't say AT&T have been my favorite carrier. Verizon was much better in my opinion and I had been with them for 8-10 years. I only switched 18 months ago because their phone selection sucked. I only see one Service Rep at AT&T and he's always left me satisfied. The 3G worked momentarily, but it wouldn't hold a charge. So I upgraded and got the iPhone 4G. I didn't even know I was already eligible for the upgrade, so that was good. All is well now.