“OURS IS NOT TO REASON WHY, OURS IS BUT TO DO OR DIE”
When I was a youngster attending class at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Bandera, I received a lot of ear thumpings from the nuns because I was forever staring out the window wishing I was outside.
The days and months passed ever so slowly as I counted down to the freedom of summer vacation. It was a highly anticipated three-month break that passed quicker than a New York minute.
Once I reached high school I could still be easily distracted by the outside world as I longed to be on the river with my friends as the hours would grind on.
Those days of swimming, fishing and tubing never got old. It was especially
enjoyable when we gathered in groups at 'The Swing' because there was always added distractions as the girls would join in.
Hours in a classroom passed about as slow as a snail on a long journey over rough terrain. Those fun times were gone in a flash. After high school graduation I started working in San Antonio in addition to attending trade school in the evening several nights a week. It was a challenge as I was young and hadn't yet figured out how to adjust my schedule to enjoy my free time and yet be prepared to go to work early the next morning.
Adding in the drive back to Bandera after school at night I figured out in a hurry what adjustments needed to be made. I only fell asleep once behind the wheel during that time and it scared me so bad that it never happened again in all my years of commuting to San Antonio for work.
The most trying times for me were the many months I was separated from my family due to my military service.
After advanced training in microwave radio repair, I spent nearly all of my time in the U. S. Army as part of a three-man team sitting behind a desk. I was doing twelve-hour shifts alongside a master sergeant and either a captain or lieutenant.
Daylight hours we would have additional help from a major and a colonel. I say help even though I rarely saw them between the time they arrived and when they left.
'Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die.”
On the bright side I learned how to play every card game that was ever invented.
We did take a break during the first moon landing to go out on the balcony to gaze at the moon while listening to the broadcast of astronauts talking to earth on Armed Forces Radio.
Here in my later years Growing Up In Bandera has become a roller coaster ride. I have three great grandbabies who have become the reason to continue on my journey after wanting to give up after losing the love of my life.
I still have nights when I cry myself to sleep but by the grace of My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and with my son helping me along the way Bandera will have to tolerate me for a while longer.
