0801

Nosotros Terminamos...said that in reference to Cook this morning about the damnable 5 mile run...as in, all icare about right now is that it's done...(BTW, this Cook I know here at Fort Bragg is NOT the same Cook I met in basic, that bounced a $300 check on me...) and it reminded me of a moment many years ago, a time I vividly remember as a proud one...
It was at Lone Tree Gold Course, where I'd worked as a Driving Range attendant for many years.  Angle Soto and I were completely stripping the range of every single ball, something we did once a week at the time.  He was in the cart with the trailer on it and I was walkign up the hill with the hand pickign tube in my hand...It was dusk and the light wasn't for much longer.  I said these same words, his native tongue from Puerto Rico,  and he said with a merry twinkle in his voice "Yes!"...It was a simple acknowlegdement, but at the saem time, it was more--a respect of my use of his own language, a certain bit of pride in me as well...

I never really talked to him in Spanish too much--I simply didn't have enough of an understanding of the language, but the pride I felt in that moment as Angel acknowledged me...I revered this man, this simple blue collar immigrant -- working this dead end, low wage job for his family...at an age when most people were already retired at (and he later did while I worked there--that was a sad day for sure...), and never once without a laugh in his voice or a smile in his heart.  The man was a true wonder of the human species and everytime I think of that man I only hope to emulate him in some small way.

It's going to be a busy week for me, but somehow, I think if I just keep Angle in my mind and in my heart, I should be just fine...

I got off work early today? Why? Because I worked through lunch to get all this stuff done that turns out, I don't even need to worry about because a)  the Bde Cdr is on leave for two weeks and he needs to sign the final documents, and b) the SPC I was taking over for boloed out of Land Nav. at PLDC and comes back to work tomorrow...I feel bad for her and all, but can't help but breath easier knowing that things won't be such a mess with SFC Krause gone...wahoo!

So Jen's tickets are sent, I have booze in the fridge, new bills in my hand ;( eh...