Chris Writing Anything

I realize, as I continuously hone my writing skills, that, sometimes, I should think of my own topics.  So, today, I’ll reflect on an important time in my life.

First off, I have to make a painful declaration…I’ve never been married.  And, because I believe in family, and family means having a spouse, one who bears children, I have no offspring.  So, yes, that glorious moment, when you see your new born’s face….that’ll never happen for me.

I admit, as I age, it’s literally my greatest frustration.  Is there still hope?  Well, I guess there’s a slim chance at having a woman young enough to bear children.  But, if I were to allow things to gradually progress, well, when that kid graduated, I’d be well into my seventies. Heck, I might even be eighty, and my parents would never witness my kid’s adult years…okay, I have to take a break…grrr!

Anyways, I’m back at it, remembering my late teenage years.  They were rocky.  And, well, sometimes, as I look back now, I’m not proud of some of my responses.  I wish I hadn’t assumed that I had all the answers, and, instead, listened to those that cared for me.  I actually pushed those that needed me, and it really tears me apart, but I pushed them away. 

And when you move from the herd, the wolves seek you out.  Fortunately I’ve survived a few of their assaults.  At the end of my high-school career, I was desperately seeking a new beginning.  I wanted far away from the mistakes I had made. 

So, in the Air Force, even if I was in shambles, life was new and interesting.  Yet, having lived in Door County my entire childhood, I was very homesick. 

It was an odd balance, where something novel would sate my curiosity, and, on the other hand, the foreign would leave me feeling empty.  I was extremely glad I had experienced Texas.  Yet, my heart fell to the floor, and it did leave me a bit angry at the government, as I was saying, my duty station resided right in the middle of Alaska.

I was a scrawny kid, the cold would literally set in my bones.  One could say that, and they wouldn’t be far off, the frigid air hit my bones, which practically shown through my skin, because there was nothing else to me. 

In any event, I had visions of going south, instead I ended up in furthest north Air Force base on the planet.  And I’m not joking, you could actually buy squadron patches, colorful sew ons,  that boasted the base’s geographical uniqueness…of course, the wording on the patch was much stronger.

Anyways, I remember stepping out of Seargent Vaghn’s truck, feeling the warm, still July air.  There, disturbing the windless sky, a clamoring raven screeched a warning.

My heart sunk, as I knew, on that day, the sun would refuse to set…

I was stuck here for three years.. and this desolate, isolated spot would become frigid.

In the end, Alaska wasn’t a horrible experience.  Despite the cold, those frigid winter nights, with me standing alone on a barren flight line, allowed for some magical moments.

Once, as I stood at the liquid oxygen filling station, I was mesmerized by the majesty of gargantuan bull moose. His antlers, giant wings accenting his silouhette, seemed to touch the flourescent veins pulsating across the dark sky.  Yes, the ubiquitous natural world, the constant quiet and the enervating northern lights were certainly a treat.

There were trips to Anchorage, the ocean and Denali National Park. There were also good friends and people to share talents with.

So, I guess, the moral of the story, at least this story, is make lemonade from lemons. You’ll be surprised what a positive outlook can do.

Have an Excellent Day!

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