I have had several very interesting conversations with women in the National Guard that have been deployed to Iraq. Not just once, but two or three times. They had read my book “Lost Survivor” and identified with the main character’s emotional experiences when he returned home from combat in Vietnam. The theme of the book is “what you give up to survive in combat is what you need live when you return home.” Surviving combat force you to thrown away the important things in your life. It is a well recognized fact that a man that experiences combat and has killed another human being becomes a different man. This is why men that have had to kill to survive combat have a more difficult time coming home and returning to the life they had before they left.
In my conversations with these women, all had served overseas in a combat zone and were experiencing problems returning to the life they had before they left. I understood their feelings of lost trying to fit in back home, but talking to them made me more aware of the changing nature of soldiers that serve in the military. There is a lot of talk about how technology is changing the nature of warfare. War is death and destruction to human beings no matter how it happens.
In today’s Nation Guard, women are soldiers, deployed overseas and serving in combat zones. In the Iraq war, like Vietnam, traditional front lines are virtually obliterated. Women are sent to fill lethal combat roles more routinely than in any conflict in U.S. history, the nation may be just beginning to see and feel the effects of such service.
Unlike previous conflicts, where women rarely were pulling the triggers or running the weaponry that left enemies dead on the battlefield, they routinely are doing so in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thousands of women, like the male veterans of so many wars before, are returning home emotionally damaged by what they have seen and done. These female troops appear more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, than their male counterparts. They, like their male counterparts, are being constantly mortared and ambushed by a guerrilla insurgency. They are watching fellow troops go home grievously wounded or dead in numbers not seen since the war in Vietnam. Women have been shown to be at higher risk than men of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic events. It has been stated that 8 percent to 10 percent of active-duty and retired military women suffer from PTSD. Yet the women who most need counseling to help them deal with what they witnessed in Iraq and Afghanistan--like their male counterparts--are the most unlikely to seek it.
There is greater understand of the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and what is needed to treat it. Yet, a Defense Department study of combat troops returning from Iraq found that soldiers and Marines deeply suffering from PTSD and readjustment problems were not likely to seek help because of the stigma such an act might carry. In the study, 1 in 6 veterans acknowledged symptoms of severe depression and PTSD, but 6 in 10 of the same veterans feared their commanders and fellow troops would treat them differently and lose confidence in them if they sought treatment for their problems.
I have noticed during book signing for “Lost Survivor” more women buying the book than men. They are trying to understand what happen to their love ones that changed them so much from who they were before they left home. Men who return from combat do not talk to the women in their lives. Now think about a woman return from combat, who can she talk to? Not the women or men in her life unless they have had common experiences as she. Most people around her don’t. Who does she reach out to? Men who return from combat will tell their wives they are going out to have a drink with the boys and it is accepted as normal. A woman who has served with men in a combat zone will prefer to have a drink with them, many times, than the girls. However, her husband may find it difficult to understand her saying she wants to go out for a drink with the boys.
And then there are expected roles of women, especially if they have kids, no matter where they have been or done. They are expected to come back home and resume being the wife or mother that never left.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
My Flight on a National Guard KC-135
April 18, 2008 I took a plane ride. Not the usual commercial flight from point A to point B. It was on a National Guard KC-135 a Stratotanker, whose principal mission is air refueling. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as aircraft of allied nations. It is a big plane, based on the same basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane.
I was honored to be one of the community members invited to participate in this experience, a Diversity Orientation Flight put on by the Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing. We attended a morning presentation led by Colonel Michael Meyer, Commander of the Fighter Wing, about the 183rd roles and missions in the Air National Guard. After the morning presentation and a brief tour we boarded a KC-135 from the 126th Air Refueling Wing to observe F-16 Fighting Falcons refueling in the air.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a highly maneuverable, single pilot, compact, multi-role fighter aircraft used in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. Seeing one take off, get a few feet off the ground, hit its afterburner and disappear into the sky is an amazing sight. We had the chance to see the cockpit and walk around some parked F-16s. It is an electronic marvel. Electrical wires relay commands, replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. A side stick controller is used instead of the conventional center-mounted stick. Hand pressure on the side stick controller sends electrical signals to actuators of flight control surfaces such as ailerons and rudder. It is a tight fit for pilots. It was clear to me that a seven foot person could not fit in the cockpit. Also, it took a lot of skill to listen to the radio, watch the various instruments in front of you and fly the plane.
The KC-135 four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings made a smooth take off and climbing to it operational altitude quickly. The KC-135 is equipped with a flying boom for fuel transfer. The boom operator lies on his stomach peering out of small windows operating the boom with small joy sticks. I shared the view, lying next to the boom operator. All I can say is what a ride, what a view watching the F-16 come up to the boom. The jets come up to about 10 feet to the underbelly of the KC-135 and boom is extended, connecting to the jet and the fuel transfer begins. The KC-135 pilots maintain a speed of about 535 miles per hour during the refueling.
Back on the ground we had a chance to fly in an F-16 simulator where you could crash a couple of times and walk away to try again. The whole day was a great and different experience and I thank the Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing for it. Though I am an old Vietnam Veteran, I felt a common bond with these young military men and women who are now serving their country.
I was honored to be one of the community members invited to participate in this experience, a Diversity Orientation Flight put on by the Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing. We attended a morning presentation led by Colonel Michael Meyer, Commander of the Fighter Wing, about the 183rd roles and missions in the Air National Guard. After the morning presentation and a brief tour we boarded a KC-135 from the 126th Air Refueling Wing to observe F-16 Fighting Falcons refueling in the air.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a highly maneuverable, single pilot, compact, multi-role fighter aircraft used in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. Seeing one take off, get a few feet off the ground, hit its afterburner and disappear into the sky is an amazing sight. We had the chance to see the cockpit and walk around some parked F-16s. It is an electronic marvel. Electrical wires relay commands, replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. A side stick controller is used instead of the conventional center-mounted stick. Hand pressure on the side stick controller sends electrical signals to actuators of flight control surfaces such as ailerons and rudder. It is a tight fit for pilots. It was clear to me that a seven foot person could not fit in the cockpit. Also, it took a lot of skill to listen to the radio, watch the various instruments in front of you and fly the plane.
The KC-135 four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings made a smooth take off and climbing to it operational altitude quickly. The KC-135 is equipped with a flying boom for fuel transfer. The boom operator lies on his stomach peering out of small windows operating the boom with small joy sticks. I shared the view, lying next to the boom operator. All I can say is what a ride, what a view watching the F-16 come up to the boom. The jets come up to about 10 feet to the underbelly of the KC-135 and boom is extended, connecting to the jet and the fuel transfer begins. The KC-135 pilots maintain a speed of about 535 miles per hour during the refueling.
Back on the ground we had a chance to fly in an F-16 simulator where you could crash a couple of times and walk away to try again. The whole day was a great and different experience and I thank the Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing for it. Though I am an old Vietnam Veteran, I felt a common bond with these young military men and women who are now serving their country.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Aftermath Veterans' Day - 2007
The past two weekends have been an emotional roller coaster ride. It started as a roller coaster usually does, climbing up a steep incline to a peak. November 9th I was interviewed remotely from VFW Post 755 in Springfield, Illinois on Sam Madoina’s WTAX radio show at 7 am. Most of the interview was about my background, time in Vietnam, ‘my book Lost Survivor” and some discussion on the manuscripts I am working on. I had a chance to share breakfast with members of that VFW post and other veteran’s organizations like the Military Order of Purple Hearts. It was a good time sharing stories and experiences with veterans from WWII, Vietnam and Iraq. After work I went over to American Legion Post 32, Pam Furr from WMAY was doing a remote broadcast there. She interviewed me. It was the second time I had been on her show. All in all was a very good day.
Sunday, November 11th, Veterans’ Day. I was the speaker at VFW Post 755 formal Veterans’ Day ceremonial at 11:11 am. I spoke about the history of Veterans’ Day, how it started as Armistice Day marking the end of WWI (the war to end all wars), but was changed to Veterans Day after WWII. The Federal Government had the bright idea to use it as way to give Federal employee another three day weekend. However, Veteran Organizations, State Legislatures, and the American people demand that Veterans’ Day be the eleventh day in the eleventh month, no matter what day of the week or year. My remarks seemed to be appreciated. Channel 20 TV was there and part of my speech was aired that night. It was a very good day, and then I was plunge down into steep dive.
The wife and I stopped at the grocery store on our way home. While she was going through the check out line I stood by the store’s door waiting for her. I was dressed in my blue suit, tie with American flags all over it, and my Marine Corps pin with the American flag on my lapel above my Purple Heart lapel pin. On the other side of my coat I had a pin that had the cover of my book ‘Lost Survivor’ on it.
A white couple, who looked a few years older than me, walked past several young white kids that worked for the store that had blue shirts with the store’s name and logo and asked me if I would take their groceries out to their car, load their trunk and bring the shopping cart back inside the store.
I told the couple I only do that for my wife, who walked up at that moment. You need to get one of the young kids who work for the store to take your groceries to your car. They said oh, and walked towards one of the check out lines where several young kids that worked for the store stood talking to each other. I grabbed my wife’s arm and walked her out of the store. She was upset, that in this day and age, something like that would happen. The couple felt free to walk past store employees up to a black man dressed in a suit and tie to ask him to serve them as a grocery boy. What do you say, what do you do, how do you respond? Such a wonderful day spoiled by a causal act of strangers. A natural act to them, a wound of words to me.
My wife shared her anger with other through an email. Silence was not an option for her, she understands that it can be an acknowledgement that it was okay. Dave Bakke, a writer with The State Journal Register, did an article on the incident tying it to the extreme views in the community concerning the 1908 race riot that sparked the creation of the NACCP.
The response was overwhelming with many different views intensely expressed. Check it out:
http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/20665.asp
Sunday, November 11th, Veterans’ Day. I was the speaker at VFW Post 755 formal Veterans’ Day ceremonial at 11:11 am. I spoke about the history of Veterans’ Day, how it started as Armistice Day marking the end of WWI (the war to end all wars), but was changed to Veterans Day after WWII. The Federal Government had the bright idea to use it as way to give Federal employee another three day weekend. However, Veteran Organizations, State Legislatures, and the American people demand that Veterans’ Day be the eleventh day in the eleventh month, no matter what day of the week or year. My remarks seemed to be appreciated. Channel 20 TV was there and part of my speech was aired that night. It was a very good day, and then I was plunge down into steep dive.
The wife and I stopped at the grocery store on our way home. While she was going through the check out line I stood by the store’s door waiting for her. I was dressed in my blue suit, tie with American flags all over it, and my Marine Corps pin with the American flag on my lapel above my Purple Heart lapel pin. On the other side of my coat I had a pin that had the cover of my book ‘Lost Survivor’ on it.
A white couple, who looked a few years older than me, walked past several young white kids that worked for the store that had blue shirts with the store’s name and logo and asked me if I would take their groceries out to their car, load their trunk and bring the shopping cart back inside the store.
I told the couple I only do that for my wife, who walked up at that moment. You need to get one of the young kids who work for the store to take your groceries to your car. They said oh, and walked towards one of the check out lines where several young kids that worked for the store stood talking to each other. I grabbed my wife’s arm and walked her out of the store. She was upset, that in this day and age, something like that would happen. The couple felt free to walk past store employees up to a black man dressed in a suit and tie to ask him to serve them as a grocery boy. What do you say, what do you do, how do you respond? Such a wonderful day spoiled by a causal act of strangers. A natural act to them, a wound of words to me.
My wife shared her anger with other through an email. Silence was not an option for her, she understands that it can be an acknowledgement that it was okay. Dave Bakke, a writer with The State Journal Register, did an article on the incident tying it to the extreme views in the community concerning the 1908 race riot that sparked the creation of the NACCP.
The response was overwhelming with many different views intensely expressed. Check it out:
http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/20665.asp
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Veterans’ Day
Why do we have a Veterans’ Day?
November 11 is officially veterans’ day. It started in November 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, based on the end of WWI “the war to end all wars”.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans."
The Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Veterans’ Day is a time for Americans to remember the commitment of men and women that served their country. To honor those that served and sacrifice for the common good. This is the day Americans collectively express the country’s appreciation for their veterans.
America is the country she is today because of her veterans. Every family has military veterans and any member of a family can be one. They are the men and women in our lives that gave us life and help us live it, like our fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers. Some are war heroes who faced unbelievable challenges to survive. Some sacrificed all for their country. So, on Veterans’ Day let us not let the jangle of our daily routines over shadow what we owe our veterans for their service. Let us not forget that Veterans’ Day is a day that honors people we love.
November 11 is officially veterans’ day. It started in November 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, based on the end of WWI “the war to end all wars”.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans."
The Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Veterans’ Day is a time for Americans to remember the commitment of men and women that served their country. To honor those that served and sacrifice for the common good. This is the day Americans collectively express the country’s appreciation for their veterans.
America is the country she is today because of her veterans. Every family has military veterans and any member of a family can be one. They are the men and women in our lives that gave us life and help us live it, like our fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers. Some are war heroes who faced unbelievable challenges to survive. Some sacrificed all for their country. So, on Veterans’ Day let us not let the jangle of our daily routines over shadow what we owe our veterans for their service. Let us not forget that Veterans’ Day is a day that honors people we love.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thought note: Food ingredients?
I remember when food was simply mixtures of ingredients like flour, milk, sugar, and eggs. You cooked them, sat down and ate your meal. Now I am not a TV chef with recipes from around the country and abroad. I am the chef in my house and I do cook from scratch, using basic ingredients. If I eat out and enjoy a dish that tastes good I will go home and find the recipe on the internet and cook it at home. In my house we eat very few prepared foods from the grocery store.
I understand that today lifestyle moves at faster pace that when I was younger. Both mothers and fathers have to work to make ends look like they meet. Everyone is doing more to fill up the time in their lives. Kids have schedules that rival their parents. It is not just filling up all available time. It is the rushing to do it fast as possible. No matter fast the movement, there is never enough time. We feed with quick spurts to get something in the stomach. The microwave oven has become the major appliance in a kitchen. Our food ingredients reflect this pace of life. They have become chemical compounds designed in labs.
I don’t understand what is advertised as ingredients in food. You need a scientist to explain what they are. Corn maltodextrin, hydrolyzed soy and wheat gluten protein, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monoglycerides, sodium sulfites and sodium bisulfites (preservatives), disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, yellow 5 and yellow 6 are ingredients. What food group they belong to? I have a sense that ingredients in today’s prepared foods are for the time they spend on shelves. But I’m sure that some government agency said it is okay for human consumption which I think means it’s okay to eat
I understand that today lifestyle moves at faster pace that when I was younger. Both mothers and fathers have to work to make ends look like they meet. Everyone is doing more to fill up the time in their lives. Kids have schedules that rival their parents. It is not just filling up all available time. It is the rushing to do it fast as possible. No matter fast the movement, there is never enough time. We feed with quick spurts to get something in the stomach. The microwave oven has become the major appliance in a kitchen. Our food ingredients reflect this pace of life. They have become chemical compounds designed in labs.
I don’t understand what is advertised as ingredients in food. You need a scientist to explain what they are. Corn maltodextrin, hydrolyzed soy and wheat gluten protein, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monoglycerides, sodium sulfites and sodium bisulfites (preservatives), disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, yellow 5 and yellow 6 are ingredients. What food group they belong to? I have a sense that ingredients in today’s prepared foods are for the time they spend on shelves. But I’m sure that some government agency said it is okay for human consumption which I think means it’s okay to eat
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Thought Note: Product Recalls
I have had friends call and get on my case about not consistently writing my blogs (Lostsurvivor.com and TJThoughtsthings). My reasons, job and writing new manuscript (Ghost Watcher) was not good enough. I have to agree, especially when I wrote in TJThoughtsthings I would. I have to admit it was good hearing there are readers out there that wanted me to spill thoughts out of my mind.
So here is a thought note:
What happens to things that are recalled?
The media lets us know about products that are recalled, but I don’t remember ever seeing or hearing about what happens to the products. For example, meat recalled receives attention of being pulled off store shelves. I, like many others, assume it is send back to the company that made it. Then what? Do they destroy it? I have seen and heard of diseased cows and chickens destroyed in the media. But I don’t remember the media saying what happens to recalled packaged meats. It is a vast distribution system for these products, consisting of warehouses and delivery trucks before they get on the shelves. How do they handle recalled products in these cases?
And what about those toys that were recalled? What happen to them? Were they put a boat and shipped back to the manufacturer? If a recalled product is not good in American, does that mean it is not good in other countries?
Perhaps there are simple answers to these questions and I just missed it in the news.
So here is a thought note:
What happens to things that are recalled?
The media lets us know about products that are recalled, but I don’t remember ever seeing or hearing about what happens to the products. For example, meat recalled receives attention of being pulled off store shelves. I, like many others, assume it is send back to the company that made it. Then what? Do they destroy it? I have seen and heard of diseased cows and chickens destroyed in the media. But I don’t remember the media saying what happens to recalled packaged meats. It is a vast distribution system for these products, consisting of warehouses and delivery trucks before they get on the shelves. How do they handle recalled products in these cases?
And what about those toys that were recalled? What happen to them? Were they put a boat and shipped back to the manufacturer? If a recalled product is not good in American, does that mean it is not good in other countries?
Perhaps there are simple answers to these questions and I just missed it in the news.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Journey: New York, New York
New York, the big apple with Broadway shows, Empire state building, Harlem, Wall Street, and the 8 lane George Washington Bridge. Three or four miles before the George Washington Bridge we ran into a traffic jam. The smell of gasoline and diesel fumes from the slow crawl of cars mixed in stifling heat was overbearing. No one could go anywhere. People turned off their cars and stood or sat on their car’s hood watching the frozen stream of metal.
There are no bathrooms on controlled federal roads except at the exits. Some people had blankets and were lying in the grass on the side of the road drinking alcohol. People were yelling at other people, some cussed others passed a bottle between them. A few were peeing on the side of the road. It was a party to some, to others a pain in the butt. We had the CB on listening to the truckers. The chatted that filled the air was to watch out for the Mexican 500 that would start when the bridge lowered. The traffic started moving slowly, cars filled with Mexicans sped over highway embankments and dodged dangerously between cars. I don’t understand how there were no accidents.
We could see the Empire State Building outline through the smog. I asked Carol if she wanted to go into New York and see some sights. She was not interested in seeing any more of New York. She had seen more people in the traffic jam than she had ever seen in Springfield were enough people for one day. She said the only way she would see New York would be in a tank.
Stamford Connecticut, we stayed at the Stamford Inn, off 195. An older hotel, which in it’s hey day was a Holiday Inn catering. That night an assortment of characters filled the hotel. Highway travelers reflect the nature of America. They are from and going to every area of America. Regional differences of clothes, living, and thinking clash in hotels like the Stamford Inn. The local police visited the hotel twice.
One of Carol’s friends, in Springfield, had given us a contact name that was the owner of one of the local radio stations. Carol called him and talked about living and working in Stamford. He wasn’t very encouraging, but offered to help us.
I don’t know if it was the hotel setting, the constant buzz of traffic, the lack of encouragement, or our expectations that made up our minds we were not going to stay in Stamford. Whatever the reason we decided to leave and continue our search for a place stop and live.
We decided not to travel the main federal highways, but to meander on two-lane tree covered back roads.
There are no bathrooms on controlled federal roads except at the exits. Some people had blankets and were lying in the grass on the side of the road drinking alcohol. People were yelling at other people, some cussed others passed a bottle between them. A few were peeing on the side of the road. It was a party to some, to others a pain in the butt. We had the CB on listening to the truckers. The chatted that filled the air was to watch out for the Mexican 500 that would start when the bridge lowered. The traffic started moving slowly, cars filled with Mexicans sped over highway embankments and dodged dangerously between cars. I don’t understand how there were no accidents.
We could see the Empire State Building outline through the smog. I asked Carol if she wanted to go into New York and see some sights. She was not interested in seeing any more of New York. She had seen more people in the traffic jam than she had ever seen in Springfield were enough people for one day. She said the only way she would see New York would be in a tank.
Stamford Connecticut, we stayed at the Stamford Inn, off 195. An older hotel, which in it’s hey day was a Holiday Inn catering. That night an assortment of characters filled the hotel. Highway travelers reflect the nature of America. They are from and going to every area of America. Regional differences of clothes, living, and thinking clash in hotels like the Stamford Inn. The local police visited the hotel twice.
One of Carol’s friends, in Springfield, had given us a contact name that was the owner of one of the local radio stations. Carol called him and talked about living and working in Stamford. He wasn’t very encouraging, but offered to help us.
I don’t know if it was the hotel setting, the constant buzz of traffic, the lack of encouragement, or our expectations that made up our minds we were not going to stay in Stamford. Whatever the reason we decided to leave and continue our search for a place stop and live.
We decided not to travel the main federal highways, but to meander on two-lane tree covered back roads.
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