Honest Scrap Tag part 3

More questions have come in for my version of the Honest Scrap Tag that the wonderful ExPat threw my way. So without further a-dew, or-doo, whatever that phrase is, away we go...

~E wants to know "What rank did you end up in when you left the Navy? I'm only asking because I know some people in the military as well."

First of all ~E, thanks a lot for making me look for that character in your name all over my keyboard! ;^) I was in for 4 years between 1975 and 1979, and during that time rose up to Petty Officer 3rd class. That is an E-4 for those with military knowledge. I came close to loosing my E-4 and busted to E-3 because I sent an aircraft I was controlling home due to my lack of sleep. I was dozing off because I had been awake too long and felt I had to stop right then. So I told the pilot to return to base and got in trouble for that.


The lovely love letter writer Cora, has a really great question. She wants the personnel scoop, which is great! That's what I expect folks, so feel free to ask. Cora writes:

I have a question: (forgive my backstory first though) I have a neurological history too. Not CP like Skyler, but I had a bloodclot in my spinal cord which caused all kinds of damage. Long story. But for awhile I was in a wheelchair, unable to take care of myself or my daughter in any way. And I graduated to a walker, then a cane, and beyond, blah, blah, blah. But I lost friends along the way because of it. I guess they just didn't know what to say or couldn't take seeing me like that. When I needed help most, some "friends" just couldn't look me in the eye and then completely disappeared. Did you face anything like that when Skyler was born? Did anyone just run off on you like a coward with their tail between their legs because they just didn't know what to say? Also, do you ever get angry with the universe for all you, your son and your family have to go through and how unfair it is?

We had the same experience Cora, it took awhile for some friends to drift away, some others it was almost immediate. In my opinion, people who have never faced any adversity don't like to look at it and be reminded that life is sometimes tough. Some people I considered very good friends up and disappeared almost overnight. Others took a bit longer, mostly when we couldn't go out all the time with them anymore. They found other couples who could go party with them. They would have drifted off anyway, just because we had a child though...

On the other hand, we met new people. Other parents of special needs kids, therapists, and support people who we now consider close friends. There is a balance to all of this, gaps get filled in our lives.

To answer your second question, you bet I get angry! I think it is just natural to wonder what the hell did I ever do to deserve this. I was only semi-religious before this, now I am not. If there is the all-knowing, all-powerful God that I was raised to believe in, he/she certainly wouldn't have put Skyler through so much pain and so much trauma, even if it was to pay me back for something I might have done in my past. I probably get more angry at the school system than anything else, they just don't see Skyler as a viable, successful human being. they just push him through, doing their time and it pisses me off!

Thanks for the questions, keep them coming folks!

To answer/comment on some of the comments:

WendyB said...

I'm inspired to shave the dogs just for fun now.

You must at least send pictures Wendy, if not a video of you attempting this!

That damn expat said...

Wow now that's a real interview! I learned a lot about you!
And the third painful thing almost made me tear up.

Thanks for starting this in the first place expat.

Jen said...

"Nice shoes, wanna fuck?"
I wonder if they have a t-shirt like that yet??

I am searching CafePress. So far, no luck.

Joe said...

"raining Guinness".... I'd love to see the day..

You and me both sir, I would lay out on the lawn with my mouth wide open.

Dr Zibbs said...

Great post. And which weirdo asked the poop question?

Ahh, you have to understand the marvelous inner workings of Docs mind to appreciate that question Dr Zibbs!

Sausage Mechanic said...

I liked the raft trip comment. My wife is a bit heavy set and attractive, although not what most men would consider a "classic" beauty. However, she wears very little or no makeup and looks great! Such beautiful skin even at 55. My first wife had all kinds of guys drooling over her when we were married. News flash...I woke up to her every morning and without five pounds of makeup she wasn't that great!:)

SM: Those are definately the best looking women, aren't they?

Doc said...I'm tickled that I could provide so much blog-fodder. I never expected a post of my own. I just tried to ask interesting questions that newbies to your blog might ask, like questions about your sexual encounters, tattos, eating habits and such. I was expecting to be a footnote, not an entire post.

You are in a class all your own Doc, I appreciate it very much!

Teri said...

Okay, I'll fess up. I'm the weirdo who asked "the poop question". I just had to know..

Trying to take the heat off of Doc, Teri? He can handle it!

Just Dave said...

Idaho Springs. I broke a chair in the buffalo restaurant there. Sat down and the chair collapsed Wood chair, too.

That's funny Dave, I have heard of a lot of stuff happening in the Buff, most of it under the influence.

kirby said...

Balut?! Are you freaking kidding with that stuff? That's nasty.

~E said...Wow you actually ate Balut??? I'm filipino and even I don't touch that stuff.

I don't think it's the taste more so the fact that my brother once took the embryo out of the shell and made it pretend walk towards me on a table when we were little.

There are a lot of things that I did under the influence of way too many beers and peer pressure. That seems to be a common denominator with my life.