Comment from nikman
Yes, it must be quite a tricky transformation to have to go through. Your fine photo evokes memories of what my parents went through in WW2. Wonder where in the world this remembrance location is?

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 Comment Written 24-Feb-2020

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reply by the author on 24-Feb-2020

Thanks Nik. This is a scale model of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. It traveled to my home town of Morristown, TN. Yes, sometimes it's hard.

reply by nikman on 24-Feb-2020

Many thanks for letting me know. Hope you cope better when things get tricky.

Comment from Daphne Oberon
I assume that I know what you mean by this; it is as though you have lived a life that required different mechanisms and psychological reference points than civilian life. Figuratively speaking, its as though you grew a third arm, half a leg got chopped off, and your head is fragmented into different worlds. Am I close to the mark?.... I loved your video!

 Comment Written 24-Feb-2020

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reply by the author on 24-Feb-2020

Thank you so very much Daphne for your wonderful commentary and Rating.

Yes being in the military and seeing and doing things is an entirely different way of life and reference for reality. You get used to it after awhile and it becomes your and everyone else's way of life. You really don't notice how your reference point has changed until you get out and find yourself in the civilian world. It takes a bit of time getting adjusted. It takes time to lose your 'Military Edge' if you now what I mean. I don't think that is or will be a time where I will not be in the military or lose the influence of that way of life. I hope you understand Daphne ~ Steve

reply by Daphne Oberon on 24-Feb-2020

Oh I understand JUST FINE, Steve! In a different way of course, I experienced the same. I had so many events to deal with in my memoir, I never got into explain the details of how the ways of my veteran parents who mixed esoteric belief systems with military culture put me into a unique cultural bubble. At the heart of it all, was their war culture with all its trauma. I don't know how much of my memoir you read, and it has been edited some more by now, but at 12 or 13 the name Captain Jinx was bestowed upon me and not as a joke. It was like a derogatory title for their little Moses who was not living up to the mark, lol... The lady writing a musical for Broadway about my character, is making it a military flavored drama gone off the deep end... lol... I wonder if sharing what has been written would terrorize you or make you laugh. She wants to weave it around my absurd "romance" with my first husband... If you feel like reading the first four pages or so, let me know, and I will email it to you for your entertainment ...

reply by the author on 24-Feb-2020

I would Love to read the first four pages or so.

reply by Daphne Oberon on 24-Feb-2020

Alright, will send.

reply by Daphne Oberon on 24-Feb-2020

What was your title in the military -- private, colonel, eh eh....

reply by the author on 24-Feb-2020

Well I started out as a 2nd Lieutenant. Then promoted to 1st Lt. Finally promoted to Captain. Then I got out of the active Army. Ten years later went back into the National Guard. I was too old to get my commission back o they made me a SGT E-5. I eventually made it to Master Sergeant E-8. I guess I just couldn't decide what rank I wanted to be LOL.

reply by Daphne Oberon on 25-Feb-2020

Hmm... the adjustments going back into the National Guard sound demanding and difficult in themselves. Did you volunteer for the active army originally?