Oh, well, back to reality! Enjoy your first full week of the new year! ~Michael S. Pauley
Now that the holidays are over, it's back to the daily grind. Back to work, back to school. No more late nights with family and friends. No more staying up all hours watching bad old movies, good old movies, or just old movies. Although we have seen some doozies lately! Like Frogs, Empire of the Ants, Five Million Years to Earth, and Outlander, to name a few. The special effects are old school, but still effective. Then we go see something like the new Hobbit movie in 3D and realize how far movies have come!
Oh, well, back to reality! Enjoy your first full week of the new year! ~Michael S. Pauley
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As the year winds down, I look back at all the changes in my life...a new book published, the last child grown and moving out on her own, how the grandson is maturing...and I am truly grateful. Even with all the minor annoyances, it's mostly been a good year. Thank you for your support and I hope that your year, in retrospect, has delivered more good than bad and that the coming year will be even better! ~Michael S. Pauley
As we try to juggle celebrations, figure out who's going to whose house for what and when; as tempers start to fray a little from the logistics, I remind myself that we are all here and relatively healthy. We have food and gifts to share, we all homes to share them in; that is more than can be said for many. Our hearts go out to families who have lost loved one, especially when those love ones were soldiers, police, firemen, or others who gave their all in service to others. For many, this is their first major holiday without a beloved family member. We have several friends and some of my bride's former students who have lost relatives throughout this past year. The Holiday season can be tough anyway. Add in a loss and it can be overwhelming.
So no matter how hurried and harried you get, keep the spirit of the season. Be jolly. Share memories. Make more memories. ~Michael S. Pauley If you haven't mailed those cards and gifts by now, you're probably too late! If you wait until next week to shop, you will probably just be frustrated. It seems that people get obsessed by getting stuff for other people, placing their orders for what they want to receive, and forget that it is the time we spend together that is priceless.
This year, with the kids more or less on their own, we are resorting to gift cards and items that, while not normally thought of as gifts, are things 20-somethings need and often do not or cannot get for themselves. A book by the oldest boy's favorite author (other than me!), kitty litter for the youngest daughter's cat, a bottle of the middle son's favorite rum. It has long been our tradition to give some gifts that are silly or just fun. One of those gifts for the youngest daughter was several cans of jellied cranberry sauce. She loves it and eats it out of the can with a spoon! As she was opening this gift the other night, we reminded her that some gifts are serious, some are silly and fun. When she saw what she got, she asked, "which is this? I love this stuff!" Our kids do not ask for expensive gifts and are at least polite about whatever they get. For us, it is more about being together. There have been some gatherings where we forgot about the gifts in the fun of eating our traditional buffet and watching holiday specials. Just the other night, the oldest boy was demanding to know when they would start showing 'Ralphie', because that has been one of our traditions together. These are the memories that last long after the gift is used up, out-grown, or broken. Take time to make some memories! ~Michael S. Pauley With the youngest moving out, everyone is asking us if we are suffering from empty nest syndrome. I wish! We may be empty of kids, but their stuff is still here. It's hard to tell if the child is gone when you still can't see the floor in their room and the only real evidence is that they aren't coming home at weird hours of the night. At least we can get into their bathroom now, although it probably needs to be professionally cleaned, and possibly fumigated. They say that while your children may grow up and leave, they will always be your babies. What they don't tell you is that you will always have custody of their stuff. Who knew kids collected so much over the years, all of it sacred memorabilia? Every piece of artwork and every fast-food toy must be saved and cherished, apparently. We are keeping the box-selling stores in business right now and my bride has made numerous trips to the storage facility. I guess that's what happens when you get to live in one place for a number of years. When we were getting transferred on a regular basis, we had to purge regularly. Now we seem to have retained every piece of crap the kids ever touched! Yep, looking forward to that empty nest. ~Michael S. Pauley
On this day in 1991 : The leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine sign an agreement that dissolves the Soviet Union and establishes the Commonwealth of Independent States. - (See more at: http://www.historynet.com/today-in-history#sthash.3advIvUQ.dpuf) .
Many of us remember the break-up of the Soviet Union. While there was much excitement and rejoicing at the time, too often the struggle to change a system does not get the attention that the initial event enjoyed. Other things take the spotlight and our attention is diverted until there is another crisis in that area. Developing and maintaining a working democracy is an on-going endeavor that is never finished. No system is perfect, since we humans are involved, but it is the striving for perfection that also marks us as human. Here's to the struggle! ~ Michael S. Pauley Remember when the Christmas/Holiday season started the day after Thanksgiving? People would watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade while the turkey cooked. The appearance of Santa at the end was the signal to decorate the house, put up the tree, and switch gears to a new holiday. Now with stores having Christmas displays up before Halloween, us old guys get confused! By the time Christmas gets here, we're already sick of carols and never-ending commercials. Except Ralphie. Who doesn't love 24 of Ralphie? That's one tradition our whole family loves.
Before we get too deep into December, we will be remembering Pearl Harbor this coming Sunday. While the world has changed and Japan is no longer our enemy, the lessons to be prepared and ready, to be alert and vigilant, are still with us. ~ Michael S. Pauley Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe in your travels, tolerant of your relatives, thoughtful to those who work in retail or service industries, and grateful for what you have. ~Michael S. Pauley
As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded of the many things I have - A steady job, a supportive family, the opportunity to write and publish, and readers who make that writing worthwhile. Here's hoping that Hell is the Night, The Second Gomer Wars is on your list, either for giving or receiving. ~Michael S. Pauley
Have a safe and fun Halloween Weekend! ~Michael S. Pauley
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AuthorMichael S. Pauley is a Navy brat and an old soldier who served in all three components of the United States Army. Living in Lexington, South Carolina, Michael is now a practicing attorney and member of the United States Naval Institute and the American Legion, Post 154, Tybee Island, Georgia. Archives
June 2021
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