Daily Archive: January 1, 2010

animals

Niya at the Rainbow Bridge

We lost a very special member of our family yesterday.  Niya, our faithful and loyal  German Sheppard, had to be put down.  She was part of our family for 11 1/2 years. She was our friend and protector.  With Niya (who once tipped the scales at 105 lbs) in the house,  or front yard, no one dared tried to mess with us!   She may have looked intimidating, but she wouldn’t hurt a fly. She was a big baby. A real sweetheart.   A loving dog.  A member of our family.  She slept next to our bed every night. Snored like a lumberjack some nights.   When we had the backyard office built five years ago, she  “went to work”  with me every day.  Comfortable laying under my desk all day long until the work day was over.  As big as she was, it didn’t leave much room for me or my legs, but we adapted.  We have a 4 foot fence in the front yard.  Niya could spend long summer days just kicking back under the shade of the almond tree. No squirrel or black bird dare try to take Almonds from our tree. Niya would park herself under that tree so nobody got by. She once kept a squirrel up in the tree for 10 hours!  She would chase the UPS truck up and down the fence line and bark at anyone who dared walk by.  As big and as strong as she was, she never once tried to jump the front fence. After a while, she never even considered it.   The good thing was that only WE knew that she wouldn’t jump the fence. She learned the ways of the neighborhood and soon only barked at true strangers.  Niya and the UPS guy even eventually made their peace.  We got a new driver who loved Niya and, after a very slow “getting to know you” process,   would stop every day and get out  to give Niya some love. 

Time started to take its toll on Niya in the last year. Her hips and back legs were really starting to give her trouble. She blew a ligament in her hind leg when she was four (chasing squirrels on front lawn) and that looked to be giving her some problems again. In the end it was a huge struggle just to get to her feet,  and stay on her feet. We had to put throw rugs all through the house because Niya couldn’t stand on the tile or hardwood. Her back legs would always start to slip.  It would get to the point where she would get in the kitchen and get “stuck”. Afraid to move for fear of slipping and sliding.  She feared going down the two steps from the house to the front or back yard. The only reason she did it was because I was  asking. She was afraid of losing control and falling (which she did a couple of times)  The last couple of months we just tried to make things as easy as possible. In the end, we asked the vet to come to the house so Niya didn’t have to deal with the stress of going to the vet. It was a good situation for Niya. She lay right in the living room like always. One little shot to relax her, then one to say goodbye.

I’m sad. I’m releived. I loved that dog.

we find great solice in this beautiful writing…

Rainbow Bridge – author unknown

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

sports

981st MP – Football memories

 The year was 1981. I was a Military Policeman stationed in Kitzingen  West Germany. Assigned to work with the fine men and women of the 981st MP company. Tower Rats. Guardians of NATO’s nuclear arsenal.  At the time the US Army was a peacetime Army, but the cold war was still on and there were active terror cells in West Germany. The threat was real. NATO Site 35, two miles from our barracks, was carved out of the Bavarian forest and local farmland. High fences, barbed wire, and America’s finest made sure those nukes never got into the wrong hands.

One platoon would “move in” to the site and provide round the clock security. One platoon would be “on-call”, providing backup, performing tasks around the barracks, doing maintenance on equipment etc. The other platoon would be off duty. The three platoons rotated, so every six days you were back at the Nato site. When you went to the site for your 3 day shift, you stayed. Nobody in, nobody out!  Food and mail (and first run movies!) were brought in. Only the driver was allowed to come and go. I was actually the driver for a while and it was nice! Security measures were in place, and for good reason. To work at the site we not only needed a top secret clearance, we also had to be part of the PRP (personal reliability program). Understandably, they didn’t want any loose cannon carrying a weapon who had access nuclear weapons.

Our primary job while onsite was tower duty. Guarding the bunkers, watching the fence line. Maybe the most boring job in the world. As boring as it was, it was not “observe and report” tower duty. This was “shoot to kill” tower duty. We were armed. We were dangerous. We were authorized to use deadly force.

There were two towers. Tower one was the “nice” tower. The main tower for the site, it was connected directly to the living quarters down below. 75 some steps up a spiral staircase. Big and spacious up top, it was usually a two man tower. Tower two on the other hand was the remote tower. You had to walk the fence line to get to it. Rain or shine, night or day, hot or cold. Nobody liked working tower two. Especially when you had to walk out there at 4am in the freezing cold.  We would spend 2-4 hours in the tower. 

The year was 1981. The San Francisco 49ers were plowing through their schedule and looking like the Cinderella team they turned out to be. They had whipped the cowboys 45-14 in week 6. They had beaten the Rams twice! They were rolling!  I was rooting from afar. I was also getting close to the end of my tour of duty. By Christmas I would be out of the Army and home. My last trip to Nato 35 was memorable.  It was my lucky night on November 29th. The Niners played the New York Giants at home. Fortunately for me, the game was broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Network. 10pm start for us in Germany. I listened to the first half in the comfort of the living quarters and the second half in tower 2. The field radio in tower two could pick up the game! The Niners beat the Giants 17-10. I can remember thinking how cool it was that, here I was listening to the game,  not only half way around the world, but out in the middle of nowhere, in a  8×8 box perched a top 60 steps with nothing but a beat up old field radio that could barely pick up the game. And I was as happy as could be. 

  When the Niners played (and beat) the Giants again in the playoffs 5 weeks later, I was out, and home, and partying like a rock star in Lake Tahoe with my brother and my buddies!!!  Of course, the Niners went on to beat the Giants again, the Cowboys for the NFC championship and the Bengals in the Super Bowl XVI. WOOHOO!!!   Many many MANY great 49er memories over the years, but none better than that first super bowl run, and listening to the game in tower two.

Check out the 981st MP Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/58004173728/

kate~n~kel

Marine Moms – the glue that holds it all together

Last night, Barb Kelly and I were over at Camp Parks in Dublin volunteering at a “going away” party for a group of Army reservists who are deploying to Afghanistan tomorrow. The event was held at the community center on base.   A mix of volunteers were there to make sure these troops had a good old fashion American meal before they head off to “the sandbox”.

We found out about this event from Denise, a Marine mom from Pleasanton who also has a daughter stationed in Okinawa. 

Denise found us when we posted pics on a Marine family website. When we were at Parris Island for Kate’s graduation, we took and posted many pics of female recruits in training, so folks back home could see their girls. All the while Kate was in boot camp, I scoured the site for picks of Kate, but found none.  Anyway, one of the pics was of Denise’s marine, who was still in training.  She emailed us her profound thanks, and we found out she was local.   Her and Barb struck a email friendship, sharing information and feelings that only a Marine mom can have.

Anyway, Denise was instramental in putting together last night’s function.  Organizing volunteers from VFW, American Legion, and Pleasanton Military families, (and two marine moms and their families).  The menu was  tri-tip, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, scalloped potatoes, beans, salad, cake and ice cream, soda, water and coffee. The soldiers really seems to enjoy themselves.  It was really cool to see these old guys from VFW interacting with these young men and women.  There is a special bond that they share. All in all it looked like a successful night. God bless our troops!

friends

College Grad Kelly

A  big, huge, LOUD shout out to Kelly.

WOOP WOOP!!  WOOHOO!! YIPPEE!! YAY!

  Our first born has done the family proud. She  just completed all requirements and earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from California State University East Bay.  A college degree.  *sigh* ~  NICE!   Can’t tell you how proud we are of her. She has shown real dedication and commitment.  Along the way, she  became a national champion water polo player. Kelly acquired knowledge and fundamentals to take her anywhere in life she chooses. She has made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.  She has made her daddy proud!

Grad ceremony in June – party to follow

Great job honey!