TO LIVE IS TO BATTLE

August 04, 2023

TO LIVE IS TO BATTLE

TO LIVE IS TO BATTLE

This is the first line in the foreword of the book, The Frog Hunter: a story about the Vietnam War, an inkblot test, and a girl, By T B Stamper

If you are up for a fabulously written book about the Vietnam War, this is the book for you. This powerful and emotional story tells of Stamper’s deadly missions as a member of November Company, 75^th Rangers, LZ English, Vietnam. He developed PTSD and recounts his long recovery.

Dream: "Good Answer." (July 14, 2009, Nineteen years and ten months after my memory returned.)

Man with gun: "Do you want to be beaten, or do you want to die?

"Me: "I want to be beaten."

Man: "Good Answer."

In this dream, being beaten is a metaphor for sex. I was constantly threatened with death unless I did what they commanded. After a while, I complied without objection.

Best Friends Animal Shelter

I want to brag a bit about the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, near where I currently live. On April 1, 2023, I was at the opening of the Best Friends Animal Society in Northwest Arkansas. I quote from their brochure;

“Welcome to the best friend’s pet resource center, a first-of-its-kind, fully reimagined facility that upends the traditional model of animal shelters. From the clinic to the animal areas, every inch of the center was designed to reflect an understanding that pets are an integral part of our families and communities.”

I visited the new facility on an opening day with my niece, Holly Smothers. We were greeted at the door by a volunteer who offered us refreshments from a well-stocked coffee bar next to a sign-in desk. We were allowed to walk around the enormous building. Two open cat rooms fitted with places for the cats to climb, play, and hide, were open to visitors, and we were able to sit and pet the cats available for adoption.

There was an open yard area where dogs were allowed to play together and rooms were provided for potential owners to have private conversations with staff. The facility offered low-cost state-of-the-art services, and busses were available to transport animals to other states where more family pets were needed. It was a delightful experience. Wouldn’t it be nice if other cities had the money for a similar program?

Rite of passage.

My twelve year old niece recently decided to have her ears pierced. She had been reluctant, fearing it would hurt. The occasion became a big deal. The women gathered and watched as the deed was done at Claire's, in Roger's, Arkansas. I had fun taking pictures of the ladies as they watched, offered encouragement, and exploded with delight as the ear was pierced. Needless to say, my niece enjoyed the attention and declared it didn't hurt. Dinner followed.

Three guesses as to which one is the mother.