Greetings and salutations to the loyal readers (albeit small) of this blog during this unprecedented time, hoping you are doing well and being safe, while coping with COVID19. I’ve been working from home for the last 2 1/2 weeks and it has been quite an experience. Don’t take me wrong, I am very grateful that the company I work for, has the necessary resources for us to work from home, but it has been quite an adjustment.
I”ve lived in the United States for 40 years and never, in my wildest dreams would I have thought things would get this dicey. And according to Drs Fauci and Birx, things are going to get even dicier. My heart and admiration goes out to all the unsung heroes of society: the health workers, the UPS/FEDEX drivers, truckers, grocery store employees and the list goes on. I heard a story on NPR the other morning, that explained the extreme sacrifices being made by utility workers and water treatment plant operators (click here). Like standing up RV’s so they are not too far from their plants. Why you ask? Because there are not many folks willing to specialize in that type of work – but yet, they are the foundation to our “civilized” society.
This blog is not political; neither is it about parties. I just wish these dunces we call politicians would set aside their personal agendas and do the right thing for the good of our beloved America. My father (who would have been 98 years old today) – member of the Greatest Generation and a decorated WWII veteran – would have been appalled to see what is happening today to the nation he so selflessly defended. Dad was alive for 9/11, and I remember he wept. I honestly don’t know how he would have reacted to what is happening now…
Bill Withers passed away today. An American treasure…
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won’t let show
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
Thanks for your blog. You red Triumph tales have given me a lot of hope for doing the same conversions to the first TR-6 I will buy in the next year.
In “Coping With Covid19” you used the word ‘selfishly’ as the next-to-the-last word in that sentence when describing your Dad’s SEFLESS service to our nation. I know what you meant….
You wrote “My father (who would have been 98 years old today) – member of the Greatest Generation and a decorated WWII veteran – would have been appalled to see what is happening today to the nation he so selfishly defended.” Based on your writing, I KNOW you meant ‘selflessly’ for the next to the last word in that sentence!
I think the description of your Dad’s generation and my Dad’s generation IS apt. They are/were the Greatest. My Father’s experience was different than your yours. Mine was working nights for the FBI in San Francisco as a stenographer and typist while attending the Univ. of SF days during the early years of WWII. When Pearl Harbor was attacked Dad had to sit on the FBI switchboard for nearly 48 hours contacting every registered alien (non US citizen, not space traveler) living on the West Coast to make sure they were where they were supposed to be living; not a fun job, but it seemed necessary at the time.
Big Boss J. Edgar made sure his men had the chance to defer military service, but Dad wanted to help, so in 1943 he ended up joining what was them Aramco (Arabian-American Oil Company), now Saudi Aramco Oil Company and working for the war effort as a civilian in Saudi Arabia. The strategic and military priority for safeguarding and ramping up the production of oil and petroleum products in the Middle East was rapidly becoming a national priority, so working for Aramco became an important job he could do.
He ended up having to get out to the Middle East aboard an un-escorted Navy tanker headed from San Pedro Harbor (CA) Egypt where it left him in and sailed on to the South Pacific. That tanker was loaded with Navy aircraft on the decks and enough aviation gas in the holds to leave a pretty big crater in the ocean had an enemy plane seen them and dropped even one bomb that touched off a spark or more!
Anyway, he made his way from Egypt by rail to Saudi Arabia and worked for Aramco for 16 years. His was quite an adventurous life!
Thank you Gerry for pointing out a correction for my typo. I just changed the post and included the correction. Thanks!
I appreciate you sharing the story about your Dad too.
Love it my dear brother ! ✨ be safe. ❤️
Very well-states, Joe! Wishing health and safety to you and your family.
I’m happy your safe and well. My Wife is also working from home, and it is quite the adjustment. I’m a Deputy Sheriff working in our county jail. I can’t stay home no matter how bad it gets. Stay safe, be careful, wash your hands often, and use the stimulus money to do something nice for your car!