Saturday, July 11, 2009

Spirit of the Pioneers

The Colonel is proud, and a bit jealous, of his #1 son and daughter-in-law team. They don't realize, and would quickly assume a glazed-eye stuporous state were I to indulge my desire to provide them an hours-long dissertation on the historical context, that they embody the spirit that centuries ago animated freedom-seeking American pioneers to leave behind the comforts of the East, load their worldly goods in wagons, and trek into the relatively unknown West to begin again.

For #1 son, pulling up stakes and plunging into the unknown is of little terror, given the bi-annual practice his father's career in the Marine Corps forced on him. Uprooting and replanting comes almost naturally to him. My daughter-in-law, she of the highly exalted and fiercely protected position of provider of grandsons, has been uprooted from the only hometown she has really ever known, has boxed her every possession and treasure, and has followed her husband from the comfortable sandy shores of the Redneck Riviera to the hills at the northern end of southern nowhere. This is no small event. Despite our best attempts, the Colonel and the comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda have not been able to identify with the trauma and trepidation she is experiencing, and our encouragement, born of our nomadic wanderings the first fifty years of our lives, that this move is no big deal and that she will survive it and thrive, does not seem to reassure her. Understandable--I'm sure Rebekkah Boone gave ole Dan'l the gimlet eye the first time she was uprooted and transported westward into the wilds.

But, the Colonel is of the envious belief that they are embarked on a grand adventure that will strengthen them like it steeled their pioneer forebears, not to mention this old bear and Miss Brenda. Further, the Colonel is convinced that the greatest blessings come to those who seize God's hand and plunge into the unknown. And that they have done.

Two centuries ago American pioneers faced hardships unimaginable to the comfortable, spoiled generations currently occupying beakers and Petri dishes on the laboratory desks of the American experiment. They endured the physical challenges of hunger, hard labor, and lawlessness. They also withstood the emotional challenges of isolation and culture shock. Many succumbed. Most survived. Most of the survivors thrived. There is a lesson in this for today's Americans.

If they would only read a little history beyond the public school pablum.

1 comment:

Miss Em said...

Hello Colonel,

I've been thinking about what you wrote in this posting and one of the comments in the last posting. It appears to me that the population of Camp Eee-Gee-Bee-Gee has increased. That your fine son and lovely but tear-ree-eyed daughter-in-law with all of the small wee- ones have staked out a plot of land for their very own residence with the must have screened-wrap-around porch to enjoy the night breezes without feeding the flying wild life.

IF SO, Hurray!!!!!

The Marine Corps has spent thousands of dollars and had you do houndreds of strategic planning and now you will have Troops to help carry out the plan sneak attacks on the fresh baked cookies that the Comely and Kind-Hearted Miss Brenda will undoubtedly be baking to soon fill that notoriously empty Cookie Jar.
And after the plan attack has been carried to perfection the Troops retreat with the prizes in hands and head for the rendezvous point where the LT[son] has the milk poured into large wide-mouth coffee cups ready for the 'dunking of cookie' process out behind the Man-Toy-Shed where the evidence of the spoils will be thourghly and completely remove from existance by a great deal of yumms and
lip-smacking coming from Command as well as his Troops.
And finially from Command will come the words Job will done on our Secret Mission Gentlemen just as the Comely and Kind-Hearted Miss Brenda and the Teary-ree-Eyed Daughter-in-Law round the corner of the Man-Toy-Shed to discover just what all the 'Boys' have been up to because it has been just to quiet for the Moms of Eee-Gee-Bee-Gee.

GOOD-LUCK on the Great Cookie Caper and have fun with the 'Boys'

Miss Em
Austell, Ga.