Here's To Us and Those Like Us

It doesn't happen very often, but every now and then you meet someone that 'gets' you, someone who understands everything about you because they're the same as you. The deep bond of friendship forms very quickly and stays there forever, even though life eventually separates you by hundreds and maybe thousands of miles. You stay in touch because the two of you are kindred souls, sharing something that words can't explain.

For me, one of those people was TSgt Gary Bumgardner, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Dining Hall at the 3711th Basic Military Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas where I was a Military Training Instructor in the early '80s. Gary and I had so much in common that it was scary, and I daresay I've never met anyone quite like him since. We had so many things in common that it was hard to believe.

We stayed in touch after both of us left Lackland for other assignments and stayed in touch after we both retired, with him going home to Ohio and me going to my new home in New Jersey.

Last year Gary called me to tell me he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though he never smoked a day in his life. 

A little before 8PM tonight his wife Linda contacted me and informed me that Gary passed away this evening around six PM.

To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I've had three people in my life that I would use the term 'best friend' with, and he was one of them.

For me, the world is a little bit darker tonight.

I'll see you later, my friend. 

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

Yeah, I'm "That Guy"

I'm the guy that believes in rules.  To paraphrase the "John Wick" movies, rules are what separates us from the animals.  Rules allow us to live in a safe, civilized society where we can grow and prosper.  (If you need proof of this, just look at Seattle or Portland or San Fransisco or Chicago or Detroit.)  Rules allow us to reward the righteous and punish the evil.  Rules allow us to interact with each other in a sane, mature manner.  My belief in rules is what led me to become a Law Enforcement Specialist when I joined the Air Force.  That, and the opportunity to help others who needed it. 

So yeah, I believe in rules.  Always have, always will.

I'm also the guy who will call you out if you break the rules.  I'll be polite about it, but I'll be stern.  That's just the way I am, and anyone who knows me - truly knows me - already knows this.  Follow the rules and we'll get along fine.  Break the rules and you're gonna hear from me.

This is especially true on Facebook.  (Gee, imagine that.)  I'm the guy that when I join a group or a page which is devoted to a specific topic, I expect the posts in that page to relate to that topic.  I also expect the members of that page to obey the rules, and I absolutely will call out anyone who breaks the rules.  Yeah, I know this pisses people off, but that's not my problem.  If they had followed the rules to begin with then there wouldn't be anything to be pissed off about, would there?

IMHO the world needs more people like me.  We need more people who are willing to stand up and say, "Hey, that's not right, you can't do that because it's against the rules."  And along with that we need more leaders who are willing to stand up next to him/her and say, "They're right, and now here's your punishment."  This is true both in our government and on Facebook.  Moderators and admins are there for a reason; they set rules for a reason, and when those rules are broken then they need to stand up and do their job.

Obey the rules and your society will flourish and grow.  Ignore the rules and your society will end up like Seattle or Portland or San Fransisco or Chicago or Detroit.  And then the good people will up and leave, just like good people are fleeing Kalifornia and New York City. What was once a paradise will quickly become a shithole.

So yeah, I'm "That Guy."  And I'm damned proud of it.

Deo Vindice

IHC