Cody Green and the Marines

A Fellow retired  Senior Chief Friend of ours who now resides in Indiana posted this to his facebook. I loved the story, It makes me so Proud of our Active Duty Service Members, and So Proud to be an American. So  I thought I would share it with all of you:

Cody Green was a 12-year kid in Indiana who was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 months old. He loved the Marines, and his parents said he drew strength and courage from the Marine Corps. as he bravely fought the battle into remission three times. Although he was cancer-free at the time, the chemotherapy had lowered his immune system and he developed a fungus infection that attacked his brain.
Sergeant Mark Dolfini heard of Cody Green's situation through his co-worker, and got in contact with Cody's parents. When the call came that Cody was passing, he took action.

"I got the call from David about 3:00 or 4:00 that afternoon," said Sgt. Dolfini. "He made it pretty clear to me that he was terminal and he wasn't going to last too much longer. I thought this is something that needs to happen right away."
"When I was driving down there, I had no idea what I was going to say, I had no idea what I was walking into, I didn't know if Cody was conscious," said Sgt. Dolfini. "I didn't know anything. I didn't know what I was walking into whatsoever."

When Sgt. Dolfini arrived, Cody was not awake.

"He was not conscious, " said Sgt. Dolfini. "I mean, if he was, he was not responsive but he was heading to a better place."

Sergeant Dolfini made the decision to stand guard outside Cody's door for as long as Cody was alive, which turned out to be eight straight hours. When a nurse told Sgt. Dolfini Cody's time was limited, Sgt. Dolfini made the choice to say goodbye.

He presented Cody with his navigator wings and let his family be with him in his final moments.

"I actually went in and talked to Tracy and David and we just talked for a little bit," said Sgt. Dolfini. "I asked them about Cody to tell me some things about him and ironically enough, we have quite a bit in common. Except the Saints. He's a Saints fan. I'm not, so we would have argued about that. Then I let them know I was going to go ahead and go and I saluted them on my way out and gave them their time."

Sergeant Dolfini said leaving Cody and his family was not one of the hardest thing he's ever done. That moment came a week later when he attended Cody's funeral.

"I went and went in front of the casket and saluted Cody," said Sgt. Dolfini. "I turned and before I left I stopped and I turned right to Tracy, Cody's mother. We looked straight into each other's eyes and I saluted her and that was so hard. That was the most difficult thing I've encountered in awhile, but I know for that moment in time that we were locked in each other's gaze, keeping your bearing at that point is a tough thing to do."

"Marines don't do this sort of thing for acclaim," said Sgt. Dolfini. "That's not how we're wired. It's not why we join. We didn't join the Marine Corps. to be rich, we didn't join it for fame, you don't do it for that reason."

"If we all did just something like that once a day or just something small just think of what an incredible legacy that would leave for Cody," said Sgt. Dolfini.

Sergeant Dolfini said he has spoken with Cody's family several times since his funeral. He said they will be friends for life

Hatfields and McCoys Tonight on History Channel

Incase you didnt  know...tonight  @9pm est on the History Channel is the first of the 3 part mini-series on the Hatfields and McCoys, Starring Keving Costner and Bill Paxton.  Senior and I have been looking forward to this since we first saw the trailer some weeks back. . It looks like it is going to be really good...   I absolutly can't wait! 

Beryl Update #2

We survived with no major damage to us or our neighbors. We tried to make it all fun for the boys last night, and made popcorn and let them play with flashlights. We were worried about tornadoes so we moved their matress in to our  bedroom and they got to sleep there.

Today we ventured out and back down to the beach to see first hand the aftermath... the sand was firmly packed with lots of visible erosion..and it was still very windy. The good news is those campers I photographed yesterday were gone. Hopefully they made it to higher ground as it looked like the tide made it all the way up to the dunes. Lots of rough surf still with salt foam and sadly though we saw a washed up dead sea turtle..   : (

The Calm before the Storm

Down tree in a  park near the beach where boys like to  play

Another Tree Snapped Like A Twig

Yet another squall line...and more rain.



Memorial Day...

There are no words for me to express what Memorial Day means in our house...Only Pictures of the raw emotion from loved ones.

Brothers and sisters in arms: Thank You for your ultimate sacrifice to ensure we remain free.

My Update on Beryl.....

Okay, so we were some of those people I posted about earlier..that go down to the beach to "see the storm"...I am happy I did because it really gave me some good blogging material. Besides I felt like it was my blogging duty to go down, tempt fate to get some good pics to report back to my readers.

Winds are all ready gusting at around 25-35mph. standing on my beloved beach felt like being in a virtual sand blaster, we have been there many times during storms, but nothing compared to this. It is during these times that Mother Nature shows you just how little we really are.

It is also in these times, that you see the true stupidity of people, for while we were down there cruising in the  jeep we came upon a bunch of folks, with tents..camping..  Really! No S---t !

One person sleeping in one of the tents, and another person actually lounging in a chair. A small child sitting on the roof of the truck and another woman who looked like she was upset at the man in the lounge chair. Hopefully she was telling him how foolish they looked and that whatever the situation they needed to get off the blasted beach.

Winds are whipping, the tide was all ready high, but getting even higher with an approaching storm surge, so it will be soon that the water will be up to the dunes. These folks will not last out there camping..even during this low impact tropical storm...Heck, we have seen just a tropical storm do more damage then some hurricanes

But now Senior is out getting more gas. We also stopped by the grocery store for a few items...and yes it was starting to become a madhouse..
and this is the lastest radar image...Beryl now has a eye....  

Hot Coffee and Sunday Morning..

I haven't been around too much on blogger...sorry about that, first off was kind of under the weather last week..not I am up and over the weather and feeling better.
Then I took on the task of making a baby album for my neighbours daughter who is due in July...her shower wasn't suppose to be until June, so I thought I had tons of time...then the bomb dropped on me that they had to move it to yesterday...So, I had only 2.5 days to work on a 20 page album...
Lot of margaritas later..I got it done..   : )

Now we have Beryl off our coast...Yippee cause we need the rain!. Senior and I have gone over our little checklist, we know if we loose power ( which I doubt) we have plenty of food..and just in case we did fill up our cars yesterday and got some new flashlights. He also got out and cranked up our generator.. This was a good opportunity for us to go over all our supplies and restock if need be.

I always love it when we are threatened by  storm. I love the natural curiosity of people to flock to the beach to "See the storm"...all the area beaches are officially closed as we have been under a tropical storm warning for 2 days, but we still have those folks who can't stay away, doesn't matter about rip currents, or a rogue wave washing them out to sea...By God they want to pack up the family and go "See the storm"...  lol..I really shouldn't make a joke about it though..my mother is one of those persons who would do that... 

Right now it is really calm, and a beautiful morning, but the wind is picking up and later this afternoon the rain is suppose to start. Once I get Senior up we need to go around the outside of the house and pick up loose things and definitely take down my bird feeder...

The boys think its a reason to party though, they have turned there little bunk beds in to a "bunker" of sorts...complete with coloring books, transformer and star wars action figures - As long as you have Optimus Prime, Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon what else do you need ..right ?

Now good readers, I am off here to go make a big breakfast for the family...Fresh bacon, eggs, and grits...  I must really love them!   Enjoy your Sunday.....

The Walmart Applicant

It was one of those treasured days when the kids were in school and Senior was out working hard. I had just left the bank and decided to go browse around Walmart and enjoy my time alone.
My cart was "quasi-filled" and I needed to find the restrooms.The closest one being by electronics and the little computer they use for applicants... 

And that is when I noticed the "Walmart Applicant".  There he was dressed to impress, wearing a white tank top, red shorts that were about three sizes too big, and hung around his lower waist line, tennis shoes, dread locks and a ball cap that was side ways on his head.. He even had a friend with him, helping read the online application...
"This is the future" I thought..  OMG! not only was it a head shaking moment for me.

Then, the best and coolest thing happened...Either the manager of the store, or assistant manager happened to see the young the man and went over to speak with him...it was then that I was trying not to eaves drop, but I did want to know where the conversation was going...  The manager person looked right at the kid and said " Why should I hire you" ?  " Uh? " he replied.... 
I was glad that the manager as well was African-American, If he had been White, well you know where it could have gone.

The Manager then told the kid : " You are dressed unprofessionally, and basically you look like you belong on the basketball court and not in my store applying for a job, Young Man, if you ever expect to get anywhere in this world, and improve yourself then people must take you seriously..and right now I don't take you seriously"

My eyes got big, and I took another drink from the water fountain..Wow I thought to myself..finally someone with enough fortitude to speak their mind with some of these kids...Must be former military   : )

Both boys just kind of stood there for a second soaking in what was just said to them..It even looked like his lower lip had dropped to the floor...I swear I even half thought he was about to turn white..he was stunned.. they mumbled something which I did not hear and then hastily left. The kid could have gone then and gotten the ACLU involved in a discrimination suit...but honestly I don't think he had the intelligence to think about that..

As I pushed my cart back out in to the store, I gave a small smile to the manager  and he gave me one back with nod of his head.. Inside I was revelling over what happened AWESOME I kept thinking...  : )