Rave!

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Milkshakes, Muffins and Mud.

The question today is:
If you had to choose between a healthy liquid,a fattening solid, or a single serving of imagination... which would you choose and why?

You never know...

Have you ever wondered why you are drawn to some people and repelled by others? I met a man yesterday that was so offensive to me that even I was surprised how icky he made me feel.

Oops, he can’t make me feel… okay. Let me re-phrase. I surprised how my reaction to this man was immediate, so intense. What was it about this man that was so horrible?

Was he a murderer, a shark, a woman-beater, a child-abuser? It had to do with something like that, because I believe if he was responsible for some type of white-collar crime (embezzlement, tax-fraud, supply-room pilfering) he wouldn’t have had that kind of effect on me.

I couldn’t wait for him to be out of my office!

And then there was a young lady (very early 20’s) I met on the plane back in June when I was flying to Florida – my mom had just passed away two days prior. This young lady’s aura was so beautiful I spoke to her. Normally, I speak to no one when I travel – it’s ME time. I also have an allergic problem to people’s cologne and perfume, so I try to keep to my self in tight situations. And lastly, being that I fill-in my airline seat quite fully, I am always happy when someone smaller than me sits next to me. I was so delighted that not only did the young lady next to me not have perfume or a smoke smell, she was tiny. So tiny, she could sit cross-legged in the middle seat without taking up someone else’s space.

But this girl (I wish I’d gotten her name) was one of those people that radiate warmth, goodness, and purity. We had a great conversation. We talked about her goals and her background. Then we talked about her dreams. She was limiting herself to one year, this year coming up, to try out on American Idol. If she didn’t get selected, she was going to give up her dream of singing and performing and focus only on teaching. She was attending school to be an elementary/middle school music teacher.

And then, me being me, I had to give my opinion. Why one year? I explained to her that un-realized dreams stay in the mind forever. They’ll always be back there, tugging, nudging, making regretting noises, and so on.

But dreams pursued are a whole different thing. So say you pursue your dream – in her case to sing and perform, and you realize during that pursuit that it isn’t really what you wanted. Maybe the late nights, the throngs of adoring fans, the lifestyle, the fluctuating pay—maybe it isn’t what you thought it was going to be—but you still love to sing!!! What to do then? Maybe there are ways to sing that fulfill your dreams (choir, chorus, church, fund-raisers) or maybe an opportunity for something else comes up – like studio work. You take it, and find that this is what you love, this is what your singing purpose was meant to be.

But if you just let your dream sit there, un-realized, un-pursued, it’s going to nag you like a five-year-old in a toy-shop.

When the plane arrived in Florida, my row neighbor and I parted ways with good-luck and best wishes. On the return flight, I was again delighted because the person sitting in the middle seat was small in stature, thin, and didn’t smell. What luck! I was so blessed.

This time I read my book, hardly speaking. It has been a difficult ordeal dealing with going to my mom’s house, getting documents in order, and the like. I did notice however that the girl had an awesome aura, and I could feel her love of children radiating from within (we happened to have a small child in the row behind us.)

When I exited the plane at the terminal I started to veer right while everyone else was veering left. Then the young girl who had sat next to me commented, “I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you’re going to be okay, and my best wishes for your family.” I immediately gasped inwardly, wondering if my sorrow was so outwardly apparent. Then she added, “I though all weekend about what you said, and I want you to know you had an immense impact on my life! Thank you.”

I looked at her. It was the girl I sat next to on the way out to Florida! She looked different (she’d straightened her hair and spent the weekend in the sun). I was floored! “You’re welcome,” was all I could stutter.

CSM Caffie

Ranting, Raving, and Remarking (A jumbled mix)

I went to a retirement ceremony the other day for a man which was someone I had a great deal of respect for, and that I’ve known, or rather had acquaintance with for 10 years. We don’t really know each other well. We didn’t hang out, our families didn’t hang out, but our paths crossed quite a few times over the years.

A good question, then, would be, “Why do I respect him?” I would have been hard-pressed to answer that question, other than, “I just do.”

At the ceremony he said some and his boss said some things that touched my heart and illuminated the ‘why’.

They were talking about soldiering. They were talking about self-less service and taking care of the troops. His boss (LTG Stultz) was commenting on how it was never about him (CSM Caffie) and always about the soldier. I realized that’s why I liked him! That’s why I respected him! The light bulb went on.

Taking care of people without having an agenda is something I believe in. I like to believe (I wear rose-colored glasses and in my mind good things happen to good people) when your first thought is about someone other than yourself, it’s usually on a good path.

And I’ve heard that when you take care of others, you don’t have to worry, someone will take care of yours.

Sometimes, that is true, and sometimes it is not. My gut feeling is that there are fewer mentors today than there was yesterday. Hopefully, someone will rise up and say, “Nay!”

I believe that yes, you take care of soldiers, or children, or elderly, or subordinates. Teach them what you know, demonstrate proper methods, be a positive role model. But in the midst of everything, stay on track with yourself. Get your schooling, your training, and your physical fitness. Determine your goals and set out to achieve them. Make it easy for those who want to help you – help you.

As you take care of those around you, remember that you too, need care.

Command Sergeant Major Caffie of the United States Army Reserve – I salute you. Thanks for everything you and your wife Sylvia have done.

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Opinion

Today, while driving to work, I saw a bumper sticker that said "report abuse." There was also a bumper sticker about animal rights. I totally agree.

Then, I watched as the driver stuck her hand outside the window and tapped the ashes off her cigarette. I noticed the window only down about 4 or 5 inches, and the back window rolled down about two. Then I noticed, (I was actually stopped in traffic) that there was a child/baby seat in the backseat.

Report abuse? Is it abuse to share your smoke with another who has not given their opinion?

Direction?

A day doesn’t go by that there isn’t something to be thankful for, but sometimes, I get so caught up in what’s going on I forget to take the time to breathe, to stretch, and to re-focus on what’s important in life. At least, what’s important in life to me, and sometimes, to be thankful for what I have.

I’m at a point in my life that I want to grow and I want to be successful. My problem, as many have told me, is that I am not focused on one single thing, one path. My interests although inter-related and connected by theme, scatter my energies.

I realized I don’t know which way to turn and which way to focus. I have a lot of items on my ‘to do’ list, my ‘want to do’ list, and my ‘it would be beneficial if I did list.’ I just don’t have the time, the resources, or the knowledge to get it all done.

I need guidance. I need mentoring. I need a clear path to follow, one with someone telling me, “Do this and this, and you will be successful.” I just hope and pray that I’ll be able to recognize good advice when I see it.