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A recently retired Colonel completed a walk across the USA to raise money for pancreatic cancer and various veteran's groups. This Colonel was an infantry officer, played football at West Point, and was engaged in combat operations multiple times in a leadership role. This Colonel grew up in Southern California, and retired out of Carlisle Barracks, in PA. The Colonel returned to his apartment in Carlisle after his walk. Below is a note he posted yesterday from Carlisle. Of note, this Colonel divorced about seven years- being married is a challenge, being married and in the military can sometimes add even more challenges.
From the retired Army Colonel:
We got our first snowfall in Pennsylvania last night. I must admit that it seemed so strange to me – a month ago I was walking through a desert in California approaching the final stretch of mountains that separated me and the Pacific Ocean. I walked to my favorite coffee shop about two blocks from my apartment, and took up my seat facing the center square of Carlisle with a cup of black coffee. This is a perfect vantage point from which to survey the front of the Cumberland County Courthouse, and the furtive traffic flowing through the center square of Carlisle. I call the people rushing about “Hobbits”. I do not mean it as a derisive term, but as a simple matter of fact. People move in their orbits, rarely deviating from their routine – in a hurry to get to wherever they are going.
I am intrigued by the menagerie of people moving in and out of the courthouse…lawyers dressed smartly and walking briskly with determination in contrast with the mostly slovenly people shuffling in mismatched clothes and smoking cigarettes. It’s a funny game we are stuck in – somehow life launches people into certain trajectories, and we rise or sink to these roles. There’s a quote from Shakespeare that we are just merely players on a stage living out our roles…
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances
Watching the people moving around the courthouse reinforced this notion…I watched a young couple walk past. A pretty woman not more than 21 carrying a baby. She was dressed nicely and for the cold, and had her baby bundled and clutched to her chest. She had a look of concern on her face as she walked beside a slight bearded man with his jeans purposely sagging off his ass. I watched them wander into the courthouse, and wondered if this situation was what that woman dreamed of. I wondered what kind of man and father the young man was, and why they were going to the courthouse. It did not seem to be a happy visit. I thought about the choices people make, and how so many people are trapped by the circles they are born into. My impression is that this woman wanted more for herself, but had chosen saggy pants as her mate. Just an impression…I do not know their situation, and perhaps it is something altogether different – but, this is where my mind took me.
I talked to a friend recently about finances and health care. There is grave concern about the “market” and inflation…we are merely players on a stage, and greater more powerful people control our world – and we are powerless to influence the situation as pandemics and wars and “markets” and “politics” swirl us about like a wind blowing a leaf. I have reached a point in my life where I have chosen to simply move on and past all of this – maybe just ignore it. The journey across America was a way for me to focus my life and actualize my freedom and free will in a very concrete way.
A car drove past me as I returned to my apartment with a “Choose Joy” sticker on the window. It seemed to be a sign…we are all just players on a stage, but we can choose joy. We can find freedom and exercise our free will by choosing joy instead of allowing ourselves to get trapped in a role we don’t want for ourselves.
Deep thoughts…
I wanted to publicly thank my friend and classmate Jamie Schleck for organizing a charity golf scramble to raise funds for The Independence Fund/Operation Resiliency. The Metuchen Army/Navy Golf Scramble raised $7500 for this cause, and these funds will be credited to my fund raiser.
My surreal transition into normal society continues. I enjoyed the “voice” I had on my walk, and I appreciate you reading my thoughts on this cold Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania.
Picture is from his seat at the coffee shop the Colonel frequents. Of note, Carlisle, PA is a pretty nice-looking Americana town- as is a lot of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania.
Americana town.
From the retired Army Colonel:
We got our first snowfall in Pennsylvania last night. I must admit that it seemed so strange to me – a month ago I was walking through a desert in California approaching the final stretch of mountains that separated me and the Pacific Ocean. I walked to my favorite coffee shop about two blocks from my apartment, and took up my seat facing the center square of Carlisle with a cup of black coffee. This is a perfect vantage point from which to survey the front of the Cumberland County Courthouse, and the furtive traffic flowing through the center square of Carlisle. I call the people rushing about “Hobbits”. I do not mean it as a derisive term, but as a simple matter of fact. People move in their orbits, rarely deviating from their routine – in a hurry to get to wherever they are going.
I am intrigued by the menagerie of people moving in and out of the courthouse…lawyers dressed smartly and walking briskly with determination in contrast with the mostly slovenly people shuffling in mismatched clothes and smoking cigarettes. It’s a funny game we are stuck in – somehow life launches people into certain trajectories, and we rise or sink to these roles. There’s a quote from Shakespeare that we are just merely players on a stage living out our roles…
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances
Watching the people moving around the courthouse reinforced this notion…I watched a young couple walk past. A pretty woman not more than 21 carrying a baby. She was dressed nicely and for the cold, and had her baby bundled and clutched to her chest. She had a look of concern on her face as she walked beside a slight bearded man with his jeans purposely sagging off his ass. I watched them wander into the courthouse, and wondered if this situation was what that woman dreamed of. I wondered what kind of man and father the young man was, and why they were going to the courthouse. It did not seem to be a happy visit. I thought about the choices people make, and how so many people are trapped by the circles they are born into. My impression is that this woman wanted more for herself, but had chosen saggy pants as her mate. Just an impression…I do not know their situation, and perhaps it is something altogether different – but, this is where my mind took me.
I talked to a friend recently about finances and health care. There is grave concern about the “market” and inflation…we are merely players on a stage, and greater more powerful people control our world – and we are powerless to influence the situation as pandemics and wars and “markets” and “politics” swirl us about like a wind blowing a leaf. I have reached a point in my life where I have chosen to simply move on and past all of this – maybe just ignore it. The journey across America was a way for me to focus my life and actualize my freedom and free will in a very concrete way.
A car drove past me as I returned to my apartment with a “Choose Joy” sticker on the window. It seemed to be a sign…we are all just players on a stage, but we can choose joy. We can find freedom and exercise our free will by choosing joy instead of allowing ourselves to get trapped in a role we don’t want for ourselves.
Deep thoughts…
I wanted to publicly thank my friend and classmate Jamie Schleck for organizing a charity golf scramble to raise funds for The Independence Fund/Operation Resiliency. The Metuchen Army/Navy Golf Scramble raised $7500 for this cause, and these funds will be credited to my fund raiser.
My surreal transition into normal society continues. I enjoyed the “voice” I had on my walk, and I appreciate you reading my thoughts on this cold Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania.
Picture is from his seat at the coffee shop the Colonel frequents. Of note, Carlisle, PA is a pretty nice-looking Americana town- as is a lot of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania.
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