For the handful that actually read this blog (you rock, Mom!), apologies for being offline for a while. CobraMrsFit and I were on vacation. Nothing too fancy, but a nice, relaxing trip to her folks’ farm and then a reunion with some Marine buddies. Rather than bore you with the details, I’ll just….
Ahaha, just kidding. I’m gonna bore you with the details.
Let me begin by saying that I have the best In-Laws on the planet. Hands down. They’re a close family and I feel truly blessed that CMF and I lucked out with our kin.
Anyway, the In-Lawless (as I like to call them), live in West Tennessee which is about 13 hours from everything, but with a surprising amount of history and personality.
FISHIN’
I’ll let the picture speak for themselves here.
FARMIN’
Post fishing, I had the chance to visit the In-Lawless’ farm. Located in a little town near Brownsvilled called Nutbush, the farm has been in their family for several generations. They live in a growing city, but their farm (and their history) is tied to a little town called Brownsville.
FLYIN’
Rounding out the vacation was our trip from
Tennessee to
Orlando for the USMC Combat Helicopter reunion, aka: Popasmoke*. Held every 2 years, the Popasmoke gang is primarily comprised of
Vietnam vets, although a few years ago they opened the organization up to any Marine rotorhead with combat experience. That was a special treat for me since I’d been going to the reunions with Dad for some time, but was finally able to join on my own.
Anywho, this year the reunion was located at the JW Marriot Grande Lakes in
Orlando, FL and I have to say, it was the nicest venue we’ve ever had. 5-Star all the way across the board which is a little bewildering for a bunch of old farts who are just as happy with a case of beer and a packet of Twinkies. But hey, sometimes it’s nice to be spoiled.
Much of the reunion was standard fare: Wine, golf, static display of aircraft, lies about how great we were in our youth, toasting fallen comrades, etc. Not much that is worth mentioning other than the fact that there’s a certain level of kinship had with people that have been through similar experiences. One of the great bonds Marines have is that no matter how old they get, there is a common connection that bonds them for life. From the Barbary Pirates to the present-day conflicts, Marines will still sit around, drink beer, and gripe about their Platoon Commander, the terrible chow, and uncomfortable boots. It’s a relationship that is hard to put into words, but one that links every Marine from the beginning of our history to today
*Note: “Pop a smoke” is a term used when helos are inbound to a position and want the ground bubbas to toss a can of colored smoke in order to indicate where the LZ (landing zone) is.