August 28, 2007
Semper Paratus
Mr. Skinny (age eight & 1/2) just started third grade. As part of the first week's assignments, he had to do a little project collecting five things that represented him to the class, and do a little write up for each. He picked his ribbons he won this summer swimming and at the County Fair, his favorite science fiction book (because, as he explained, he really loves science, and he loves to read 'fake' books [as he calls fiction]), a picture he drew of himself running (he's a little Forrest Gump when it comes to running), and the last two things---which counted as #1 and #2 are in the picture below:
That's Mr. Skinny, wearing the Red Sox cap his Gramps got him this summer, holding the picture of Gramps as a very junior Ensign in the Coast Guard talking to some Emperor Penguins on the edge of a glacier in Antartica.
So number two in the "get to know Mr. Skinny facts" is his status in Red Sox Nation. Number one is that his Gramps was in the Coast Guard.
So, Gramps, I thought you would get a kick out of that.
My dad was also in the Coast Guard (briefly). He enlisted in the late fifties because he had grown up in Prov, Utah and wanted to see the ocean. And I think the lifesaving, firefighting aspect of the service appealed to him.
Several months ago, he emailed me this video about one of his German counterparts:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FrYRY6kx550
Funny stuff.
Posted by: House of Payne at August 28, 2007 11:14 AMEsteban -- I was thinking about your folks recently. First, we took the whole tribe over to Long Island on the New London ferry. On the way back, I took them through the Coast Guard Academy. The newest recruits were marching about and I did my best to get across ideas of Service and Duty and all that. So hat tip to your dad, and my apologies that I made up a story or two about his time there. Secondly, we just last weekend went to Mystic Aquarium, checked out the bridge, ate at Mystic Pizza, etc. Flashbacks to the Seaport and GLP. Million years ago.
Mr. Skinny sounds like he's got his head screwed on right and is ready to have a great third grade. And BoSox/Scumbags tonight at 7:05. How about a nice 9 game lead?
Posted by: tdp at August 28, 2007 12:40 PMNone of the five things about me are anywhere near as good. Well, the mostly-empty bottle of Jack Daniels comes kind of close, but otherwise, Mr. Skinny's got me beat.
Posted by: The Colossus at August 28, 2007 08:08 PM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 