“I’m sorry to hear you broke your right arm”

Funny how life replays themes and situations. Remember when I told you about my Mothers reaction to my wanting to quit school and go in the service.  Let me now give you the “rest of the story”.  Again the year is 1955, and it is two weeks to go before I graduate high school.  Mom on this particular day corners me in the kitchen and proceeds to educate me on life.  ”Nelson, in two weeks you’ll be graduating and I am so proud.”  ” But now you need to tell me just what are you plans.” “I don’t know”  ”I guess I’ll continue working at the Sunoco Gas station”  ”Okay”, Mom replies,  ”Just remember that everybody in this house who is an Adult pays room and board and you’ll be expected to do the same after graduation.”  Needless to say the next week I made arrangements to join the Air Force the week after the big event.

Now this is my real first time away from home without the need to return.  It felt great, I was a man or at least I thought I was. Boot camp was fun and then off to Tech School to learn a trade.  I was feeling great and frankly pretty full of myself.  Sent to few letters home and enjoyed hearing from Mom.  She always sent me things, food, candy, and a variety of clothing.  After  Tech School the Air Force gave me  two weeks leave after which I was to report Carswell AFB in Fort Worth Texas.  Now with almost a year on my own I really became consumed with my own life and just forgot all the people from the past.  Just living good life and loving it.

Letters from Mom kept coming but I for some stupid reason I didn’t think I had to write back.  Then one day at Mail call,  I heard my name.  Hey Schroeder, letter.  I took the letter which was from Mom to my room and sat on my bunk.  Opening the envelope and unfolding the neatly folded letter I read these classic lines.  ”Dear Nelson, I’m sorry to hear you broke your right arm.  If I don’t hear from you soon, I’m coming down there and BREAK YOUR LEFT ARM, Love ; Mother.”

Though it is not recorded, I’m certain some sort  of record was set of my getting to a phone to call home.  Mom was always using words and ideas to remind me that the world did not revolve around me, but I have an obligation to others.  That is what makes life on this sphere worth while.  Now about that opening statement above.  ”Funny how life replays themes and situations.”  I experienced much of the same from my own children as they went though those transitional years entering Adult hood.  I’ll not go any further explaining what they went though because they can read and I’m not dead yet.  But I can say this, both of my children have children who at this moment are in or entering this black hole life where the young go to punish their parents.

Yep life repeats itself over and over and somehow we survive. But would we have it any other way.

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