Vietnam Reflections
 
 
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The Point January 2010
-The Point-
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Chapter 172
17 N. Liberty Street
Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2316
Phone 1-777-7001
FAX 1-301-777-7041
1-800-482-VETS
Email vva172@atlanticbbn.net
The First Chapter in the State of Maryland - The Gold Standard
January2010
2009 (The Year)
2009 is in the books I don't know if it was win or a loss, bur I am sure glad it's over. Not a good year for me and my family although we all made it through alive we did have some close calls. The Chapter has fared well and membership is still trending up we will continue to work to make it better. The next big thing is the Super Bowl we'll start making preparations for it this week. Hope to be having some wild game with the wild game and so on and so forth.
I watched "60Minutes" tonight they said that the VA is 1,000,000 claims processes behind, so what's new. I know how to cut that down to zero. Approve them all, and then quit getting into to wars with every third world shit bag country on Earth, North Korea said that they wanted the bomb because the U.S. has never attacked any country that has nuclear capabilities. Think about it every country we have fought since WWII has been a third world nation, with the exception of Bosnia where we tip-toed.
"Remember whenever you attack, your objective is victory, not a long fight." Sun Tzu, "The Art of War."
"The world is 14 billion years old, seems silly to celebrate one year. Be like having a parade every time I take a piss."
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Cold Warriors
Just read in the VFW mag that Senate bill S.2743 and House bill 4051 propose giving a military service medal to all veterans who served honorably during the Cold War, plus a cold War Recognition Day on May 1.
This will cost us about a 100 million for feel goods, but it is a lot simpler than straightening out the VA mess. Of course that's my opinion I may be wrong.
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"The whole world is fueled by B.S. The kid asked me for advice in his science fair project so I'm giving it to him."
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In case the word never got around to you John Morley won the 40 inch TV at the Christmas party.
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It's Over
Now that Christmas is over and I don't have to hear Christmas music for another 10 months and things are starting to get back to normal stop in at the chapter store and see all the neat stuff on sale, we're practically giving it away to make room for the new spring fashions. Just mention Bob Cook's name.
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Deal Me In
The Holiday Texas Hold'em Poker tournament was a great success for all those who entered. Joe Brennen was the winner and captured the bracelet. He unseated Ray Eberly defending champ from the 25 Anniversary tournament. Steve Parsons (me) took second and Bill (Happy) Lange was third.
Now the Poker Committee is staging the Winter Tournament Wednesday, February 10 starting at 7pm sharp. Buy in is $20, cash and prizes for the four top places. MEMBERS ONLY. If you don't want to enter yes we will have the regular game at the other table. Food and beverages may be available.
Hind Sight
EditorialOpinion
After what was a fairly good year the Chapter suffered a plethora of criticism from some corners we suill made it through 2009 in pretty good shape. What I am curious about after all the bitching did anybody offer any better ideas? I mean we would like to hear them. We would also like some more help with some of the physical work. It is the same just about every year a few members and volunteers doing the majority of the work. I personally am not complaining I would just like to see some new faces pitching in. For example, every Friday TGIF and Saturday Social we would like to have a member work the front door, checking the rooster or cards, keeping out the undesirables. There is always something that needs lifted, pulled, scrubbed, wiped off, cooked, cleaned and accounted for. Just ask. And speaking of asking I would appreciate some newsletter help articles or comments are welcome as long as they make sense, are not personal attacks against other members or friendly people, and try to watch the profanity. You want it better make it better.
Steve Parsons
January 2010
Thinking When Bored
As you can probably tell by this newsletter I don't have much news to pass around. So I'll use this as a space filler to help clear what's left of my brain. This past year 2009 I had a few of what I consider to be near death experiences. As I stood in the shower naked I wondered is this it? Are the paramedics' going to come and have to use the Jaws of Life to free me from the confines of the shower stall? When they get here is my bulldog Lulu going to bite them or just lay down so they can all rub her belly. I was on the second floor are they going to piss and moan about having to carry me down the steps, or they just going to lay me down at the top and ride me down like a toboggan? Fortunately these thoughts stimulated enough adrenalin to get me to the toilet where I could set down and the fire department was not called.
However, a few days later it happened again at the VA clinic and this time they were summoned for assistance. Now don't get me wrong I could walk and truth be told I didn't feel like I was in distress this time, but the heart was doing some weird stuff and it was decided that that I should go to the local hospital. When the ambulance arrived I started to walk out to get in the back, but they wouldn't let me do this it was too dangerous. So in come two of the paramedics' with a gurney and they make me lay down on it and what do you know (just as I figured) these two fine lads can't lift me. So now instead of just being in cardiac distress, I am now also embarrassed as hell and they have to call the station to send a goon squad to lift me into the ambulance. They all seemed to be quite jovial and having a good time figuring out how to accomplish this feat of strength. As you can imagine it did not go as well as planned. The stretcher was about six inches wide and kind of felt like I was wearing a thong if you get my drift. On the way to the hospital the fireman in the back with me asked me how I was doing. I told him now that I have survived the thrill of being placed in the meat wagon I hoped I survived the ride to the hospital and they didn't even use the siren, they said that they didn't want to scare me, well no shit.
The whole adventure got me to thinking. What if this is it? What if there is nothing else. There are some Jewish sects that believe this is it. What we have is right here on earth, this is your heaven for better or worse. There are other people who believe that this life is Hell and that we are paying in advance for Heaven's reward, if this is true I should have been paid up at Parris Island, but evidentially it doesn't work that way.
A lot of people that I knew and loved have passed away and I don't know for sure if any of them made it to heaven and a few I am pretty sure made it to the other place. However, none of them have come back to give me a sign either way. I think my Mom made it to Heaven, but I don't know for sure. However, if she didn't there's not much hope for any of you heathens,
".The Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs The farmers' trees are full of fruit And the barns are full of hay Oh I'm bound to go Where there ain't no snow Where the rain don't fall The winds don't blow In the Big Rock Candy Mountains." +++++++++++++
Things that you hear at the bar
Recently a member told this story while enjoy himself with Mr. Miller.
"I was lying in bed one night with my wife when I let go with a terrible fart, the silent but deadly kind. As my unsuspecting wife lay there I said. "I think that I can spit straight up and hit the ceiling. My wife pulled the covers over her head."
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