My son, Mike, and I had a wonderful evening with Paul Jr., Damon and families. Paul and Mike found some common ground in their Volunteer firefighting, are only a few months apart in age, and hit it off swimmingly.
We met with Pauls' Sister, Jamie, her husband Steven, Jamie, three of their four kids, I hope I get this right- Josh, the youngest, Alyssa and Allison- all very cute and very well-behaved!
Paul Jr., Paul Sr., Mike and I visited Damon and his Mom, Sharon, in Damon's room. Kim, Damon's wife, was resting up for the "night shift".
This Lieutenant is one tough customer, and the
bond of mutual respect between 1LT Armeni and
SGT Schmitz was clearly evident. It's clear that they're destined to be lifelong friends.
Damon was also visited by LT Tammy ...., a pretty Wally World Nurse, with whom he was commissioned...
Paul and Damon are now on virtually unlimited solid food diets, and tolerating hospital food well. (It's usually pretty good at Wally World-
I've been an Inmate there three times, and I'm still kickin' purty good).
Damon has a little more surgery tomorrow, to enhance some drainage and get a little lazy tissue out of the loop; even in his current situation, his attitude and professionalism are 'way above that of most of the young Lieutenants I knew over the last 35 years
(Shoo not included)...
Damon's Mom, Sharon, is a Licensed Practical Nurse, and a definite asset to the situation.
And Damon's Dad, Dan (not here right now- taking care of Grandson Delan in Seattle) is a USMC 'Nam Vet, 68-69, and later in the Army. Another tough customer. Damon's younger Brotherm Bryce, is a USMC Tanker, and he visited yesterday, then off to Gunnery, and then likely to Iraq. God Bless Him!
Stacie's family is here from Columbus, and I couldn't for the life of me be sure to name them all.. I'm sorry, folks- it's been a GREAT, but long day.
At just-about-time-to-go, my daughter called the hospital and had me summoned to the phone- my wife, Linda had discovered two snakes in the utility room, had one isolated with a Tupperware bowl, but the other is still awol. Just garter snakes, it appears. The prisoner is only a few inches long, and the awol one, maybe a bit over a foot long, is likely the Momma. Makes me wonder how many more babies there are, and how in blazes they got in. we don't live in a barn, but mebbe the're's a small crack in the foundation somewhere out of sight..we'll have to find out...
Animal control will be here in the a.m. to find the 2nd one.
Damon and Paul Sr. were furnished adequate
Gator/Croc coins to bestow upon special folks,
and I even got to Tattoo SGT Schmitz!
(thanks again, Doc-)
I wish everyone could be here to see the bright faces of these salty troops...challenged, but certainly determined to emerge whole and virtually re-born.
Great day...but I gotta go... there are herds of ZZZZZZZZs sneakin'up on me....
more to follow when I get more lucid.
Sleepy