My mind was racing, as I faced the man, my body now only exposing one side to him. I was in San Clemente, California where there was no war, where I was marginally respected for things I had little understanding of, and where I enjoyed my wonderful wife and fantastic little daughter. I moved two steps further away from the aggressive-seeming and bigger man. Rationality overcame me so I dropped my defensive posture and walked toward one of the front windows located on either side of the front door facing South Ola Vista Drive.
“Would you look out there?” I asked the man, having turned my back to him while holding a curtain aside and pointing toward the car parked out front.
Still here since the beginning of Thirty Days. Another great read Jim..
Thanks Sherm, for the loyalty and support…plus the compliment of your writing about it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
It took a while Dan, but we finally addressed your edits.
Thanks again it may seem trite BUT I so much appreciate your valuable input on helping me on this journey.
Semper fi,
Jim
After your dad not wanting to hear of your hero stuff i am surprised he bought the insurance. The lady that figured you sold policys to relatives had never tried to sell to one.I dont know if i am a member or not. I have bought and paid for book four and wonder when to expect it
My mother bought it on him. It was that kind of family. The fourth book is the first of The Cowardly Lion, Book I, and it’s not back from the printer yet.
You will get your book. You have to click on From the Wilderness and go to the introduction page, hit submit and that will instruct you how to join the
members-only section.
I bought the same insurance and invested the difference which helped pay my kids college bill.
Yes, Mass Mutual turned to be a pretty great investment for those who bought whole life policies back then. One of my reserves, who was killed on duty, bought 300,000 and his widow did really well, or as well as can be expected…
Semper fi,
Jim
P.S. My dad did buy a 25,000 policy eventually. When he died, I was the only beneficiary left and the policy paid off 66,000!
Once again, thank you!
“ready on the right”…ready on the left…ready on the firing line…
Yes, you have indeed been to the range a time or two!
Semper fi,
Jim
Back in the saddle James, weaving your story with more twists and turns than a WV mountain road.
I know WV must have mountain roads, although I’ve never driven them. Thanks for the back country compliment, which gives it a sort
of true air of authenticity. Much appreciated.
Semper fi,
Jim
Seems like you never get a dull or boring day !! Great read James, keep ’em coming !!
SEMPER FI
God decided some time back that I would pass through my time on earth involved with just about everything!
I think. Who can predict or even evaluate in our older ages.
Thanks for the depth of your comment, as usual.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great chapter, you always leave us wondering what will happen! Thanks for what you do!
Heart pounding.
Suspense building…!
Well done, LT,
The Walter Duke. Thanks my friend, as I write on into this day.
Your support, and those like you mean a ton. Join the new members-only group and read some
of the truly unknown and secret stuff that I have come to know and understand over the years but haven’t really’written
much about. Thanks again,
and Semper fi,
Jim
“Join the new members-only group…”
Where do we go to do that?
Thank you, Louis
OK, I see where now.
Please bare with me. Only recently came to terms with the telegraph.
Louis
Always liked the telegraph. Learned Morris when I was in high school but never really used it.
Wild the way some people got so good they could tell who was sending the dots and dashes by gauging the ‘hand’ behind
the tapping. Thanks for the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Louis,
Go to https://jamesstrauss.com/from-the-wilderness
Follow the ‘yellow brick road’ >>PayPAL >>> back to the page with Articles
On that page is a form to submit to receive EMAILS every thime a new ARTICLE IS POSTED FOR COMMENTS
Thank you
Lt. – One thing I really like about you storyline is that no one can guess what comes next. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger – nicely written.
Thanks so much Sonny. Stuff like this keeps me going. Here’s a sales pitch, and I hope you don’t mine….for my supporters as committed as you are.
“I would like to welcome you and induce you to join the ‘members-only’ part of this website. I write things there that might help you understand the universe, the country and the culture better if you can accommodate them, or even disagree and argue with them from your ouw resources of like experience. Join and help me to help you, if I can.”
Thanks and Semper fi,
Jim
Nicely done once again James. Seems like Gularte will be an excellent partner, at least for this time in your life. Anxious to see who is behind the acid rock, and the “mist”! Semper Fi my friend!
Thanks again Jack, you are a class act. At that time and with that job I didn’t have the same partner all the time, like on television or the movies.
The schedule was always changing and the guys for duty were not always available.
Here’s the invitation I’m sending out to all the people who comment on here, to join the members-only part of the site. I don’t think you’ll be
disappointed:
“I would like to welcome you and induce you to join the ‘members-only’ part of this website. I write things there that might help you understand the universe, the country and the culture better if you can accommodate them, or even disagree and argue with them from your ouw resources of like experience. Join and help me to help you, if I can.”
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Mickey Thompson, Haldeman, walking with Nixon on the beach. Great read. What’s next? I’ve been hooked since 30 days. Glad your back, keep them coming & thank you.
Thanks Phil. Yes, it’s been a helluva ride so far, and I’m not done! Much appreciate the support and loyalty in sticking with me.
Here’s a piece about something new I’m doing that I sure as hell hope works:
“I would like to welcome you and induce you to join the ‘members-only’ part of this website. I write things there that might help you understand the universe, the country and the culture better if you can accommodate them, or even disagree and argue with them from your ouw resources of like experience. Join and help me to help you, if I can.”
Yes, that’s a sales pitch for the new thing…and I’m not apologetic…just worried a little about the effect of asking…
Semper fi,
Jim
So here I sit, loving this chapter and eagerly awaiting the next.
As always, I so appreciate your loyalty and input,
Arnie.
Semper fi
Jim
Whoa, sh&t’s about to get real!! This chapter had me on the edge of my chair reading it. You’ve come a long way and yet back to the same place again. Great read LT, keep it up!!
Thanks for the great supportive comment Bob, and sorry to take so long to comment back!
Semper fi,
Jim
James.
From what I have learned in life. people will denigrate those people and situations that scare them or make them uncomfortable when comparing themselves, While you may not have felt comfortable in whatever situation you found yourself in, your aura you unconsciously projected spoke differently, You are an Alpha male. The confidence and intensity you project, while not knowingly, surrounds your persona and is very recognizable to those around you. You scare weak minded people.
Interesting analysis Rob, but then you are an interesting and very bright guy. I am thinking about what you wrote
and, of course, cannot gauge the effect of my own comportment to this very day. I am just a nice easy going buy projecting
that at all times, the way I view it…although I know that viewpoint is rather skewed to own advantage.
thanks for the depth and for writing it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
That sounds like a good partner to have. It will be interesting to see what, if anything happens with Ava. I enjoyed the read.
Ava is back in this chapter. Insidious and toughly brilliant woman…and the bane of my existence for awhile
back then. Thanks for the comment H Kemp…and the support through time and troubles….
Semper fi,
Jim
Hot damn you get to play with one of yours…
In a manner of speaking…yes. Thanks for noting that, but of course a man like you would.
Great comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
I got through the door, happy to be leaving, and failing, once again, to understand why people like Wilson seemed to find some form of malice coming from me while I was engaged in the gentlest of dialogues. I hadn’t really threatened him at all, physically, and not much psychologically either. I’d just offered him the course of least resistance for everyone concerned, and he’d wisely taken it.
We are misunderstood and we have no concept of how people call them civilians view us. We have a quiet intensity we usually stifle through silence
I remember a few years out in a business leaving with a co worker who asked me if i was Ok
Why i inquired? he replied that during the meeting my eyes became focused , my breathing slowed and my face was blank
I said I was fine just having to really concentrate on what our asshole boss was saying to bite my tongue
he then said sometimes my looks sccare people. Me? i thought
Truth when the asshole spoke a switch in my brain flipped and i was figuring out how to kill him
some training never leaves us
also James wonderful pacing in this chapter
Rich Brayer, the man himself. We are supposed to have lunch some day if we can work it out. Move closer, or vice versa.
Thanks for your interpretation of what can occur in such circumstance. Much appreciate the depth and the expression of it on here.
You going to the Marine Ball in November?
Semper fi,
Jim
Further suggestion:
some with coffee cups in their hands and resting on the table
Maybe change “and” to “or” place “either” after “cups”
some with coffee cups either in their hands or resting on the table