foxhole mystique
When I start thinking of friends, I usually wonder why.
The other day I was considering how I came to gain some of the friends I have. One way, I have decided, is the Foxhole Mystique.
I don't just chose any friend. I take acquaintances at face value, then I'll wonder about them a bit. I didn't realize what I was doing until it became clear to me recently. I am a former Marine. That means I was a warrior 56 years ago. I left warrior and became a civilian through and through. However, that warrior thing remained inside me and kept me in a comfort mode all those years and I never recognized it until recently. Why do I have the friends I do? It appears I have kept that warrior spirit alive somehow, sort of like the embers of a hearth after the fire has dwindled. It's been warming me all this time and I only recently realized it.
What made me chose my friends. Some are not sophisticated, some aren't well educated, some are more intelligent than I (with an IQ of 135 it's difficult to tell intelligence from intellect), some are more talented, some have well developed senses of responsibility, some are just better than I in so many ways. But, there is one thing in common with all of them, they have the Foxhole Mystique about them.
What's that? you ask.
Well, think of combat as a battle with evil. I'm in a foxhole. There is one person next to me. The battle isn't going well. Would this person next to me be willing to take my life as one of importance to them? Would I be willing to "fall on the grenade" for them? Would there be any of that in either of us?
I think that's what drives my feeling of friendship with Jim, Johnny, Allen, Crab, even Melissa and Lisa. Well, there's also the person in my life with me for 44 years + and I feel that person would not hesitate to "fall on the grenade" nor would I even hesitate a mere nano-second to do the same for her. And one more. This is as important to me as almost anyone I know besides the last person, grandson Roy. I don't hesitate to think I would for him and I don't think he would hesitate for me either.
So, that, in a nutshell is the Foxhole Mystique. What would I do for them and would I trust them in a tough time to be there and be counted when it came to that defining moment?
The decision is theirs as much as mine would be toward them, but the feeling I have for all of the above and another 10, well, there is no question in my mind. None. They would as well as I would.
There are those for whom I would sacrifice, but not sure they would, though I would hope so. Those are stand-by me friends and they are always there. Always. Sort of like shadows making me wonder. I think about them and wonder.
Are they part of the Foxhole Mystique? Maybe not completely. Maybe not totally. But, for me, I'll stay close to them and see what happens. Not much time left, but I'm here and they are still in that purgatory of maybe yes and maybe no. Time will tell. But, do any of us have time left?
Foxhole Mystique. To me it's as real as it gets.
The other day I was considering how I came to gain some of the friends I have. One way, I have decided, is the Foxhole Mystique.
I don't just chose any friend. I take acquaintances at face value, then I'll wonder about them a bit. I didn't realize what I was doing until it became clear to me recently. I am a former Marine. That means I was a warrior 56 years ago. I left warrior and became a civilian through and through. However, that warrior thing remained inside me and kept me in a comfort mode all those years and I never recognized it until recently. Why do I have the friends I do? It appears I have kept that warrior spirit alive somehow, sort of like the embers of a hearth after the fire has dwindled. It's been warming me all this time and I only recently realized it.
What made me chose my friends. Some are not sophisticated, some aren't well educated, some are more intelligent than I (with an IQ of 135 it's difficult to tell intelligence from intellect), some are more talented, some have well developed senses of responsibility, some are just better than I in so many ways. But, there is one thing in common with all of them, they have the Foxhole Mystique about them.
What's that? you ask.
Well, think of combat as a battle with evil. I'm in a foxhole. There is one person next to me. The battle isn't going well. Would this person next to me be willing to take my life as one of importance to them? Would I be willing to "fall on the grenade" for them? Would there be any of that in either of us?
I think that's what drives my feeling of friendship with Jim, Johnny, Allen, Crab, even Melissa and Lisa. Well, there's also the person in my life with me for 44 years + and I feel that person would not hesitate to "fall on the grenade" nor would I even hesitate a mere nano-second to do the same for her. And one more. This is as important to me as almost anyone I know besides the last person, grandson Roy. I don't hesitate to think I would for him and I don't think he would hesitate for me either.
So, that, in a nutshell is the Foxhole Mystique. What would I do for them and would I trust them in a tough time to be there and be counted when it came to that defining moment?
The decision is theirs as much as mine would be toward them, but the feeling I have for all of the above and another 10, well, there is no question in my mind. None. They would as well as I would.
There are those for whom I would sacrifice, but not sure they would, though I would hope so. Those are stand-by me friends and they are always there. Always. Sort of like shadows making me wonder. I think about them and wonder.
Are they part of the Foxhole Mystique? Maybe not completely. Maybe not totally. But, for me, I'll stay close to them and see what happens. Not much time left, but I'm here and they are still in that purgatory of maybe yes and maybe no. Time will tell. But, do any of us have time left?
Foxhole Mystique. To me it's as real as it gets.
posted by Kingsugar at 8:37 PM
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