M
Mike Koewler
Without warning, 3/4 of the lights on the Christmas tree quit working.
Patiently, I trace wire after wire, trying to determine which plug has
come out, what wire developed a short, why it isn't working. Just as I
near the end of a wire I have traced across 48 branches, up and down the
tree, the phone rings.
"You get it, wife, I'm way too busy." "Hello. Child, why are you
calling? You're calling from the airport? which one? Why?" You're in
Greater Cincinnati? Why" You're home? Why?"
Or something similar. My son pulled it off. For three months, he has
told us he would be home from his first overseas tour around January 7.
All of our plans were set up for that. But he conspired with his
friends, my sister and mom, and came home a full month early - and
didn't let us know.
Good thing the cops were busy tonight, because the one-hour trip to the
airport took about 25 minutes.
Oh, his first stop - Popeye's Fried Chicken. After a year on a basically
deserted island in the middle of the Pacific, he was eager to eat real
food, fixed by someone other than a Filipino.
It gets better.
There was a car parked in our driveway. My 12-year-old daughter told us
it looked like some old man had fallen asleep at the wheel. When we went
outside to investigate, it turned out it was an old man - a retired Navy
guy who worked for Delta Airlines. My son had left a small carry- on bag
on the airplane and he was delivering it to us. Not a small matter, as
it is at least a one-hour round trip. Not only that, but when we were
leaving the airport and went to the parking gate to pay our fee, the guy
asked us how we were doing. You know, in that kind of 'Make
conversation' type of way. Of course, I was on Cloud Cuckoo and told him
how great the evening was, that our son returned home early from
overseas duty. The next thing I knew, the gate went up and the guy told
us "no fee, have a happy day." On the way home, the son told us how many
people at airports across the country were so nice to him and made life
easier. It's great.
The US not only has the greatest military on earth, its citizens support
the guys and girls who are serving.
Merry Christmas!
Mike
Patiently, I trace wire after wire, trying to determine which plug has
come out, what wire developed a short, why it isn't working. Just as I
near the end of a wire I have traced across 48 branches, up and down the
tree, the phone rings.
"You get it, wife, I'm way too busy." "Hello. Child, why are you
calling? You're calling from the airport? which one? Why?" You're in
Greater Cincinnati? Why" You're home? Why?"
Or something similar. My son pulled it off. For three months, he has
told us he would be home from his first overseas tour around January 7.
All of our plans were set up for that. But he conspired with his
friends, my sister and mom, and came home a full month early - and
didn't let us know.
Good thing the cops were busy tonight, because the one-hour trip to the
airport took about 25 minutes.
Oh, his first stop - Popeye's Fried Chicken. After a year on a basically
deserted island in the middle of the Pacific, he was eager to eat real
food, fixed by someone other than a Filipino.
It gets better.
There was a car parked in our driveway. My 12-year-old daughter told us
it looked like some old man had fallen asleep at the wheel. When we went
outside to investigate, it turned out it was an old man - a retired Navy
guy who worked for Delta Airlines. My son had left a small carry- on bag
on the airplane and he was delivering it to us. Not a small matter, as
it is at least a one-hour round trip. Not only that, but when we were
leaving the airport and went to the parking gate to pay our fee, the guy
asked us how we were doing. You know, in that kind of 'Make
conversation' type of way. Of course, I was on Cloud Cuckoo and told him
how great the evening was, that our son returned home early from
overseas duty. The next thing I knew, the gate went up and the guy told
us "no fee, have a happy day." On the way home, the son told us how many
people at airports across the country were so nice to him and made life
easier. It's great.
The US not only has the greatest military on earth, its citizens support
the guys and girls who are serving.
Merry Christmas!
Mike
