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Praise God, someone with the right outlook on life, life is great with all the problems. Reading you post was like reading my life, with 23 years in the military and 17 in the civilian work place. I too have had many close calls from my teen age years, to Nam, to many miles on the road in 46 of the states and a dozen foreign counties, some during times of great unrest and not to mention uncounted miles flying many I don’t care to recall. My greatest joys have come from the Lord, my wife, three children, teaching and photography. The most beautiful place in the world to me is south west England, give me a camera and a small village in the West Country and I am a happy man (will be there again in March). One thing that has shown me that the people of the world are all alike and mostly good is just that; a camera and a walk in a village. By walking alone, slow and quiet with nothing but a camera you are un-obtrusive and people will open up in way that they other wise would not, you find a way around the language. If I have one regret it’s the “Ugly American” view, why have we had to be so loud and run in groups. For five years I taught a course in the military that a number of the kids were going to England from the course. I spent a lot of time encouraging them to get out away from the base alone or with only one other friend and meet the people as they live and enjoy what was there. It is their country and you aren’t going to change anything so don’t try or complain because it is not what you are use to, so what if you didn’t get ice with you drink. Enjoy what is there as it is and leave with photos, great memories and new friends. Without exception as I ran into the students on later assignments the one thing they all remembered most and thanked me for was that advise. They all enjoyed the time in England. Life is great, not having been raised by parents, having had polio, been shot, having been attacked and robbed by six men of another race to mention a few things that could have soured it, it has not! I have friends of the other race and welcome more, I hold no hard feelings to the people Viet Nam as many still do, Jane Fonda I have forgiven you years ago. I fought for your right and have no right to judge you for using that right.
Get out and meet the people of the world life if too short to spend it in yourself. Don |
