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Comment by Frank on Wednesday

Hi Callie2

Ah... Norfolk.  We were there for 13 years.  I Floated in on the Roosevelt CV42 finishing up her last cruise and then decommissioning.  I walked across Pier 12 and boarded the Independence CV-62 and went right back out on another 9 month cruise.  Came back after that and went to NAS Norfolk for 4 years, and then joined the "Gator Navy" with the Saipan a "baby"carrier. This one had a crew of 390 officers and enlisted ...until we went down to the marine base and then we went to a little over 3000.  I retired there and went to ODU.  Poor Susan, We were 6 months married, with two boys of mine 4&8 and Susan with one that was 11 and off I went to sea. I was gone just short a year.  "Haze Grey and Under Way."  We both really appreciated the break at the NAS for four years of shore duty.

Folks really don't understand how important wives are.  For every medal I got she deserved two.  She had no idea what she was getting into when she said "I do."  In a sense she joined the Navy too.

Frank

  

Comment by Callie2 on September 15, 2018 at 8:21am

Frank, my stepson was sent to GL for basic training. I recall that year, still warm in Pa mid Oct.  Hubby and I drove out to see him graduate and during our journey, drove through two snowstorms! It was pretty brisk out there already!

Husband was a Navy man also. He was a corpsman and was sent to V to serve with a marine division. He had to do two boot camps then he was sent to CA for medical training.  He was on the hills and served during the siege.

When we were out at GL, the public had to pass some of the men as they were out doing push-ups. All bodies and heads had to be turned the opposite direction. They do have a way of making certain they will follow orders! My stepson was then sent to Norfolk. We visited twice down there and the one time we were sitting on the balcony overlooking the ocean, we saw a lot of ships pull out all at once. My husband said something is going on. Well, that was the start of the first Gulf War.

Comment by laurajay on September 15, 2018 at 2:36am

Frank....While  you're  waiting  for the possibility  of  an  illusive , isolation-loving  new person to come into  your  life  ---  why  not use  your story  telling  skills  and  write  a book  of   memoirs! You could entitle it--"Frank...about the  Navy...a  retired  sailor  man remembers"  LOL       Seriously.  Aren't  we blessed  to have lived  long enough  to have tales  to tell  no  matter  the topic(s).   Childhood  alone  was so rich  with  learning and growing  and  every  thing  was  exciting  and  new.  Love was  assured  and  watching  clouds  and  chasing  rainbows  were  a given.

The year  after  my husband  died  my daughter and 3 grands  were here  having  lunch-  They were 6,5  and 1yr.   An  impromptu idea  came to me as I brought  an second big bowl of  spaghetti  to the  table   I got  an urge to throw a handful so I told  the children  we were  going  to do something  different  only  ONE  time- play with our  food...so we  began to throw  and  laugh , throw  and  squeal  , laugh  more...we were  letting  go of  our sadness  and  silence in losing  husband, father  and grandfather.  It was  the best  therapy  in the  world.  They learned  and I learned  life is a powerful  forward  moving  force  and  a good thing.  I'm  saving  notes  of my own  because  this  journey  through  widowhood  is  a lot more  and very  different  than most of the books about  grief tell the reader- at least  the  several  dozen  I've  read since  2012  when he died.  I have  things to tell I have  not  read  elsewhere....could  be  I didn't  read  extensively  enough! 

LOL  I just posted  way off topic.  geez.  sorry.   I have  not  forgotten about  the book I said I would send you--written  by  our  WV  friend...just  misplaced  it.   hugs    lj

Comment by Frank on September 14, 2018 at 9:19pm

I went to Boot Camp at Great Lakes outside of Chicago in the middle of the winter.  When we went through the "Smoke House" for gas warfare training, washed our uniforms and then hung them on outside clothes lines they were stiff as boards and hard as rocks the next day.  On Christmas day 1964 I stood Thermometer Watch out on the grinder.  I don't remember what I did to deserve that but I stood at attention in my dress blues and watched the thermometer. Every half hour I reported the temperature to the Officer of the Deck.. It was -27.  I've only been that cold one other time, when I stood Quarter Deck Watch on the USS Roosevelt CV-42 anchored off Sigonella Italy In the middle of a winter storm.

As an enticement to reenlist, they offered me an school at Great Lakes.  I told them that they had better have the same school in a more humane climate, I went to San Diego and then Treasure Island Ca.

I don't have good memories of Chicago....lol

Comment by Don on September 11, 2018 at 8:40am

Mrs. L; I grew up in Racine but we went to Chicago often.  Had many relatives on my Dad's side, in the entire Chicago-land  area..    Lived in Powers Lake for 12 years and knew many Chicagoans  while on the Ski Patrol at Mt Fuji (Lake Geneva) and Wilmot Ski Areas.  Are you familiar with those areas in Southern Wisconsin ?

Comment by Don on September 11, 2018 at 8:10am

Those were the day  -   we walked everywhere until we could afford a bike. Walked to the beach, waked to the movies. Walked to Sunday School.  Hitch-hiked out to the limestone quarry to swim and do Tarzan dives from the cliffs and search for pearls we imagined to be on the bottom.  No lifeguards.  We lived on the edge but didn't realize it was  dangerous.   We even  climbed large stacks of lumber in the lumber yard .   I survived with Gods help and scoldings from my mother and a good thrashing from dear old Dad. 

Comment by barbee on September 10, 2018 at 9:22pm

Frank and Mrs. L, your comments about growing up sure did bring back memories! When I look at kids today, I wonder how they will survive. Their lives are so instantaneous -- they'll never smell a pot roast cooking. They get photos on their phone and don't have to wait for the Poloroid to develop. Their items are so replaceable -- they'll never fix a car or vacuum cleaner with only a screwdriver. They are so connected -- can they find their way home from school if the power grid went down? Will they ever experience the joy of reading a book (a real paper box) while resting in a hammock on a summer day? Will they come home from a day of sledding using a garbage can lid, in soaking wet clothes instead of using parkas and ski jets?

I know that their lives are not better or worse than ours were, but it sure is different. There no longer are farm chores or paper routes to learn responsibility. I wonder how these kids will learn accountability when their parents and teachers tell them everything they do is great or wonderful. Some concepts are disappearing like moving in a clockwise direction or setting an analog anything. 

I'm glad I'm past those years and can now just sit back, shaking my head at grandchildren and smiling at antics of great-grandchildren. Someone at long time ago (maybe Socrates) said "the younger generation is going to the dogs". The challenges are immense in today's world. Well, I think these youngsters are smart and talented and will succeed in a world that I cannot even imagine.  

And, Frank, the route to and from school was five miles, uphill both ways, in the snow, everyday, carrying a heavy load of books, and no boots!!! LOL.

Comment by Mrs. L. on September 10, 2018 at 7:59am

Frank, I read how you grew up.  Yes, grew up in Chicago with plenty of cold winters, freezing days and walk to school.  Never complained, it's something you had to do.  If you got caught doing something you shouldn't you got the strap, also had to kneel on a bean bag in the corner!  What did we do so terribly wrong compared to kids of today.  Thanks for your post.

Comment by Frank on September 10, 2018 at 7:48am

It's interesting reading how some of us grew up.  I have a younger brother, and an even younger sister (spoiled brat).  She was the first girl in 6 generations, could do no wrong, and only had to wish out loud to get whatever she desired.  We had what they now call Free Range growing up.  There was a lantern in the front yard to light the driveway and when it came on, we had to head for the house.  Later, as we roamed further, that was accompanied by a whistle.  If we missed dinner it was in the refrigerator (no microwaves then).  If I did something wrong, I got my butt chewed by my mom, always ending with the statement, "Just wait till your father gets home."  Then, it was a trip down to the cellar with dad and his strap.

IT made two impressions on me... At least not to get caught a second, or third time, and to never inflict that on my children.

Living in the Lake Effect area of Western NY, we had school buses and if I missed the bus, it was a 5 mile trip to school.  Having trudged that route many times,  I can truthfully swear that it was an up hill trip each way.  Especially, in the winters.

Hugs,

Frank 

Comment by laurajay on August 29, 2018 at 8:40am

Oh, Faolan  I agree!  The  pains that come  with  aging  really need  our personal attention  and  from experience I  know  pain -physical  pain   chronic  or  on again off again can be  very  tiring and exhaust  you  to where  your thinking  gets very  negative.  I have  mentioned  to sweetlady  to seek  help....maybe  sweetlady  if you are reading  this  a  visit  to   doctor  would  help  you get  to some method  of relief. 

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