Comments on: Milestones

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:30:42 +0000

Welcome aboard the readjustment express. Many of the ‘bad’ things you worry about will happen, but so will many of the ‘good’ things.

A lot of those ‘bad’ things will turn out to be good after all.

After this long in uniform, you have a heart to serve and the ‘lack’ of service may be what bothers you most.

There are LOTS of ways to continue serving; many of them not really obvious. So find what works for you and enjoy life!

Don’t be surprised if it takes some time, though. I’m still struggling with the idea of being out of uniform after seven months; and I was ‘only’ a Reservist.

Thanks for your service.

By: Fast Nav

Fast Nav — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:42:27 +0000

while the hole from your fist may be filled rapidly when you pull it from the bucket, the ripples that it leaves behind will mark your presence for a long time to come.

Shipmate, you stand relieved. We have the watch.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:34:12 +0000

I’ve been wanting to say something here, Lex. Just not sure exactly what.

What everyone else has said, I suppose. Sounds truly bittersweet, although I sense you’re a bit more aware of the bitter part of the moment.

Fair winds and following seas, sir.

By: Some Soldier's Mom

Some Soldier's Mom — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:49:18 +0000

here’s what the DH says after 25 in and 20 out:

you will miss it every single day forever.

you will bite your tongue a thousand times when you feel, “Here’s how we did it in the Navy…” coming on

you will be astonished at how rewarding (personally and financially) a well-chosen second career can be…

and appalled at the lack of honor in some and the absence of discipline in many.

Best wishes for fair winds and following seas. And a big BZ for a job well done and service well-rendered.

By: HomefrontSix

HomefrontSix — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:48:47 +0000

Most everyone knows the beginning of Ecclesiastes 3:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

But I doubt that many know the following section:
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Verses 12-14 strike me the most. What a gift from God it is to find satisfaction in your toil. To have done that for the better part of 30 years is an incredible blessing. The faith you must have is that God will continue to bless you with the ability to be satisfied in your new job – whatever that may be. Know that there are many of us out here praying for exactly that – that you would continue to find satisfaction in the things you do – both in work and in life.

And I have faith that you will.

By: GeoSTI

GeoSTI — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:17:25 +0000

Browsing through a suite mate’s text books, I see some of those names.
Around here, saying that one studied under Malakooti, the great Persian professor, whose handouts and work problems blot out the sun, trains you to sleep only on national holidays.