Subj : Hawaii was: Lost Message To : Dave Drum From : Ruth Haffly Date : Sun Aug 03 2025 20:35:59 Hi Dave, RH> I've read it several times, not exactly accurate but a good read, as RH> most of his books are. DD> What did you find inaccurate? Michener was well known for his DD> extensive/ exhaustive research. RH> I don't remember off the top of my head; it has been some years since I RH> read it. But I do remember reading it while over there and at times RH> thinking "this isn't quite right". DD> But may have been "right" at the time it was written down. Things DD> change, especialy when there are people involved. Bv)= Probably that's the reason; I was reading it close to 50 years after he wrote it. When we went over last month, we noticed more physical changes; probably if we'd been there longer, would have noticed others. While we were stationed there, the state elected its first divorced, female, Jewish, Republican governor--quite a change from the male Democrat guys they usually elected. (G) DD> Under the spelling our family uses (single "M") I found writers, DD> artists and even a preacher. I write - and have made my living doing DD> so in the past. And I draw, pAint and do artsy/craftsy stuff. But, DD> I'm a "devout" agnostic. Bv)= RH> I've got all sorts of people in my background, including a number who RH> have made their living using written words. I've been told many times I RH> should do more writing (for profit) but haven't, yet. DD> Don't leave it too late. No glory is becoming a best-seller DD> posthumously. One of these days you may see something with my byline. DD> 8<----- ELIDE ----->8 DD> As my brother says of his time in the Army - he went where he was sent DD> and did (mostly) what he was told. RH> That's the way to do it. Our original plan was 4 years and out, ended RH> up being 26 years, introduced to lots of new to us foods and parts of RH> the country/world. DD> Phil volunteered his draft and as a thanks the army sent him to DD> Vietnam. He's a very lucky man. Only one of his squad from basic that DD> made it home more-or-less intact. RH> Steve had a high enough draft number that he escaped that mess. Both RH> his and my brothers missed it also. Afterward, before we got married, RH> he debated the Navy at one point but decided against it at the time. RH> When he did enlist, the Army was his best option. DD> Phil says he "volunteered his draft". I've no idea what that means nor DD> what his number was. IOW, he knew he was going to be drafted so enlisted before he got the notice. My dad knew he was going to be drafted for WWII so enlisted in the Navy instead. One advantage of doing it that was is that you have more say so in what you want to do (job, MOS). DD> I had visions of making the Navy a career - but, raging hormones got DD> in the way. I was in lust (I thought it was love) when time to re-up DD> came around ... and I know if I signed on again I'd be sent to Spain DD> or Greece. So, I listened to the wrong head and stayed in Memphis ... DD> turning down a U$10,000 reenlistment bonus (in 1962 dollars). RH> We were married, had 2 kids and a dog when Steve enlisted. He was able RH> to get a bonus several times he re-enlisted, forget how much but it was RH> nice. DD> Re-up bonuses tend to be rather nice. Definatly! Helped pay down some bills and treated the girls to a clothing shopping excursion, usually with lunch out included. DD> A case of "Too soon old. Too late smart!" if ever their was one. Still DD> I've had a pretty good life and even if I whine once in a while my DD> heart isn't in it. RH> I was somewhat skeptical when Steve enlisted but it turned out to be RH> one of the best choices he ever made. DD> I've an aquaintance who did 20 years (19 years + six months sctually) DD> for a retirement cheque of 2/3 pay (monthly) and used his military DD> training to secure a job with Garrett Avaition's fixed base operator DD> system (Machinist union job) And had two pension cheques per month DD> before he was 60. Then. at 65 added Social Security. Steve went in at 6 months short of 30 when the job market wasn't that great in eastern NC and the church he was pastoring closed. Post Army he went to seminary, planning on pastoring a small church, but after some health issues, fully retired instead. DD> Title: Navy Bean Soup DD> Categories: Soups, Beans, Pork, Vegetables DD> Yield: 6 Servings How close is this to the Congressional Bean Soup? I had a recipe for that decades ago but that pamphlet was recycled a long time ago. I only tried one recipe from it; it was flawed so never did try any more. --- Catch you later, Ruth rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28 .... If you think you are confused now, wait until I explain it! --- PPoint 3.01 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28) .