When planes make their approach into TIA to the south, they pass right over Skyshadow. We’re under the primary southern approach path to runway 18 of TIA and passenger liners can be heard overhead nearly all day long. But I was just outside for the first time today and it was eerily quiet. No planes making it into TIA and no military aircraft making their approach into MacDill which lies south of TIA.
No distant roar of I-75. We’re about three miles from it and
the buzz and hum, though mostly faint, can be very apparent at times. It’s
virtually quiet right now.
Which leaves only the sounds of birds, mostly a couple of
families of mockingbirds, which can ease any stress one might have. They can
sing continuously for hours. It is as if they do it out of simple joy. There
are also cardinals and small “tweeties” flitting about making their presence
more apparent than usual.
So, it is very quiet here at Skyshadow right now, and it
“feels” nice. I wonder why. It is as if something is about to happen, or maybe
already has and I don’t know what it is.
Speaking of the military, I was at the VA’s dermatology
center day before yesterday for a little Mohs surgery, which as you may know is
a process that takes hours as one waits for each specimen to be analyzed. If
it’s positive, they take another, widening the cut and analyzing again.
A VA hospital is a place where it is not uncommon for
conversations between those waiting, to have conversations about one’s military
experience. There is always waiting involved at "the VA." 30 years
ago, the oldest of the veterans were survivors of WWII or the Korean thing.
Today, with a few exceptions, the oldest ones are Vietnam vets. It was
noteworthy to me that that now included me. I remember being much younger back
then and wondering what those older guys' experiences must have been. Now I see
some of the younger guys looking at me the same way.
My waiting included a couple of fellows who were also
Vietnam vets. One was my age and acting very nervous. Jumpy. He said it was
because they had given him some high dosage of prednisone. He kept asking, “Can
you believe it?”, while his wife just kept looking at her phone, ignoring his
tale of how his injuries came about. After hearing this conversation, another
Vietnam vet offered that he must be the baby of the group. He said he was 80.
He smiled. I smiled. But the jumpy one acted as if he didn’t hear.
So, another thing about a VA hospital is that they are
incredibly busy. And for some reason, veterans seem to be prone to complain
about things. Maybe it’s a “just being a G.I.” thing. Part of the culture. But
I’ll say that Haley is an amazing place. They treat thousands every day for
some of the most egregious afflictions, and they are, as far as I’m concerned,
the best at what they do, which they do with great respect and friendliness. I
believe most of the complaints I hear are from those who find it somehow makes
them feel better, and without significant merit.
I know. I’m rambling.
So, anyway. Pam and I hope you are appreciating just what an
incredible country America has become over the last 250 years, and how easily
it can be dismantled. It’s up to you younger people now to fix things when they
go wrong - which they have - and the only way to do it with any lasting effect
is to vote. Please make a special effort to do that.
(I hear thunder outside now. A good thing!)
Happy Birthday America
Best of luck.
