During this time of financial stress, Crestview Florida’s Opal Blackwell Walker has the luxury of having one job, and just receiving a recruitment offer for another. She received a new job offer by registered mail. The letter read “Dear Opal, Do you think you have what it takes to be a Marine? The fact is, if you have the fortitude, confidence and will to improve yourself, the Marine Corps may be right for you!” The letter, from a Sergeant Major of the Marines, asked Opal if she thought she had the stuff to be a Marine. Since her current job is terminating because Opal turned in her two week notice. Opal has indicated she supposed she could consider a military career, especially if her country needed her. You need to know that Opal is 79 and was finally ready to retire. Gunny Sergeant Pauline Franklin, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, solved the mystery; it seems someone submitted Ms Walker’s contact information to the Commitment Center as a 21 year old female who was interested in serving her country. “Gunny” Franklin stated “The Marine Corps appreciated Ms. Walker’s sincere response under the conditions. We apologize for the misunderstanding, and we wish her all the best in her upcoming retirement.” Well if no one else is going to say it, I bloody will; Opal is 79 years old and “if my country needs me”! What the heck is our great country going to do if that kind of ethic dies out with the old guard? I have one son that’s a soldier and one son that’s a policeman, and that’s the only two I sons have, but I’m wondering if any young person between the ages of 17 and 29 reading this has been thinking of the armed services? If so, would you consider reporting to your nearest marine recruiter and singing out loud and clear “I’m here to stand Opal Walker’s duty”. I’ll bet you a dinner at the restaurant of your choice they know exactly what you mean. And here’s a salute to you Opal Blackwell Walker; you may have hung up carrying mail, but you’re still a fine example to the rest of us to reach for, and God bless you for that.
Did you know in the last week of April the numberof Americans applying for jobless benefits unexpectedly dropped last week to the lowest level in almost three months? I’ll bet you didn’t. I watched all major news networks and aside from a small blurb in two of them, no one was crowing. Apparently you sell more with screaming “The sky is falling!” than saying “beautiful sunset today.”
On striking hilltop positions, with beautiful views over land and sea, stand the remains of ancient megalithic buildings. Built of hand shaped yellow limestone, they glow in the sun. These are thought to be the oldest megalithic buildings in the world. No, it’s not the pyramids of Giza or the standing stones at Stonehenge. These were constructed more than a thousand years before the Pyramids or Stonehenge. These buildings are in a little European country of sun and sea, Malta. Some of the stones weigh 50 tons each, yet no fringe amateurs are claiming they were “built by aliens”, or “people from Atlantis”, or the locals “couldn’t have built this unaided”, as is frequently written about the Pyramids and Stonehenge. These constructions were built by a society of settled farmers who colonized the islands about 5,000bce, and began to build in stone about 3,500bce. These buildings were ancient a thousand years before the first stone block was cut for Giza. Some even wonder if the ideas for megalithic construction were carried back to Egypt by early seafarers visiting these Maltese European islands. I am one that considers that possibly true. I am always saying “the only things new in the world are the history you haven’t read about yet.” The Maltese Temples are a challenge though, the best book I could find is only 70 pages long, and that’s out of all three books I could find. Compare that to the hundreds of books on the pyramids. The good news is that’s a great excuse to go check out Malta; Sun, sea, and history yourself.
Here are a few more real answers to the teacher asking “What is love”? Mary-Ann, age 6, said “Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day”. Bobby, age 7, felt “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen real careful.” And Cindy, age 8, felt love was “During my piano recital I was on stage, and I looked out at all those people watching me, and I was real scared. Then I saw my daddy waving and smiling at me, and he was the only one doing that, and then I wasn’t scared anymore”. Now, be honest on that last one, still think it won’t matter to your kids if you don’t get there? Sports, or play, or music, or dance; you could be the only one waving or smiling; get there!
A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply, “I’m Mr. Brown’s daughter.” Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, “I’m Jane Brown.” The Vicar spoke to her in Sunday School, and said, “Aren’t you Mr. Brown’s daughter?” She replied, “I thought I was, but mother says I’m not.” Be careful, kids are very literal! See you in June.
The monthly chatter box is written by Donald Conyngham
To view previous month chatterbox click below
May 2009 Chatterbox
April 2009 Chatterbox
March 2009 Chatterbox
February 2009 Chatterbox
January 2009 Chatterbox
December 2008 Chatterbox
November 2008 Chatterbox
October 2008 Chatterbox
September 2008 Chatterbox
