TACKLE Grandchildren Time

There is nothing more precious than grandchildren.  They melt your heart with a glance or a smirk.  They make you feel wealthy, especially in the "toy section" of the store.  When you hang out with these little innocent wide eyed wonders, you feel like a kid again.  Visiting the Gillis Farm, NC with an almost 2 year old grandson made these simple things seem amazing to the Pop Pop and Nannie:

                                                                               

    

A tractor with its humongous tires.

A pumpkin too big to carry.

A ride on Pop Pop's shoulders to grab the colorful fall leaves.

The graceful daddy long-legger spider climbing up a stick to tickle a little hand.

The "uh-oh" when the horsey did a "do do".   

The grandson sneaking his carrot snacks to the baby bunnies.

The grandson sneaking his cheese crackers to the hungry chickens.

The grandson throwing his cookies to the Canadian Geese.

The grandson pointing to ice cream for a snack.  (The packed snacks have mysteriously disappeared.)

The heavy sigh and the heavy lids during the car ride home to see Mommy and Daddy.

Nannie and Pop Pop were pooped too.

Darn! why do we have to live 6 hours away from this sweet bundle of joy! 

          

      

TACKLE Sack Lunches



   My Aunt sent me this story to read.  It brought a few tears to my eyes.

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Sack Lunches   Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to  Afghanistan.    After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.  I'll wait till we get to base.'  His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.   I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.  'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq   ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.  'This is your thanks.'   After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.  A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.   Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand.  With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'  I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.   Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.   When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!   Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.  It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'   Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...   A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The  United States of America    ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Remember to thank the women and men in uniform for their service to their country! 

TACKLE Parent Pride

You go girl(s)!  The kids are making me burst with pride!
 
The Airman has completed training in Texas and is now waiting for her next trip to Arizona.  Alaska is her final destination.  She is tired of the sweltering heat and is looking forward to some chill.

She is in the Intel career field, so training was a challenge, but she did it!   The sad part is that we couldn't be there to cheer for her victory.   Way to go Airman!!! 

Theory

The Designer of my crew called with the news that she helped design her company's ad in the current editions of the magazines: Vogue, V, and Dazed and Confused.  The ad is placed in the prized front section of Vogue.  Awesome job!

 

I own a few classic pieces from Theory.  Fashion that fits great and is timeless.   I like to window shop online.  Listed below are my favorites from Theory.







Cool.  Crushed velvet, silk, blazers, red, fur, leather, corduroy, and platform heels for my list.  Hint, hint... Christmas is only 81 days away.   The Airman will be home for the holiday.  I bet she would like to get out of her uniform and into a Theory piece.  Well, on second thought...she is more of a Forever 21 girl: