Run, Robby, Run
When I was driving into work today, I was listening to a talk show as they tried to raise money for the infant daughter of an Indiana man killed in action a few days ago. The soldier, Army Spc. Greg Sanders, was 19.
My brother graduated from high school in 1998 and was nominated by our congressman Gary Condit to join the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He was going for the chance to play collegiate water polo, but also to get a free education, which is probably why most people join the military and not out of love of country. After the initial boot camp summer, he quit. And I have never supported that decision more than when I hear about all these boys our age dying.
If my brother had stayed in the Air Force, he’d surely be over in the Middle East right now. And maybe he’d be dead. I’ve never lost anyone close to me, and certainly not through war. But I can’t imagine that I’d feel like his death meant something sacred because he was a soldier, because of a uniform. I’d probably be angry that my only close family member was now a dead boy.
My dad got drafted to go to Viet Nam, but was rejected because he was too tall, of all things. But if there’s a draft, my brother won’t be too tall. He’ll be smart and fit and any service branch will take him in a minute. And I will tell him to run as fast as he can somewhere else, to Canada or Mexico. Somewhere that he’ll stay alive and keep on being my brother.
I’ve been making paper cranes recently. I’m going to use them in a decorating project for the new apartment. I just learned how to make them without looking at the instructions sheet, and I’m pretty proud of them.
I am amazed that someone figured out how to take a square piece of paper and, after making 25 strange folds, get a bird. People can be remarkably amazing.
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Origami is fun isn’t it?
Aside from missing a dead adopted brother, a heinous plot, and a kick arse metal skateboard, indeed, it’s Gleaming the Cube. Coincidentally also the first and only skate movie I ever saw. Skate videos not counting of course.
Did your skate park have Tony Hawk? Because Gleaming the Cube did!
No, no. Unfortunately none of the Bones Brigade was there. So sad.
Interesting that you’re making cranes. They’re used in Shinto ceremonies to encourage peace, usually peace of the living after they’ve lost someone they’ve loved. The crane is supposed to come take your sadness and spread it around so it weighs less heavily on you. But, you’re smart, and may have known that already. But, I can’t help but feel the irony of your origami of choice.
And, on a side note, a friend of ours always thinks of masturbation whenever you mention the word origami. Doesn’t have much to do with any of this, but its funny.
Dammit, Cinnamon! You promised you wouldn’t tell on me!!
Masturbation and origami? Hey, kids, let’s put on a show!
But not until we can masturbate without looking at the instruction sheet, OK?