First Blog in Years

 

It has been more than two years since I posted a blog and I have forgotten everything I knew about how to do it.  I did manage to load my favorite photo (that is, my favorite photo that I took).  

Since I served in Vietnam in 1967 - 1968, about five lifetimes ago, I've returned twice.  First, alone, on what was going to be trip with a number of Vietnam Vet friends who, one by one, for various reasons, dropped out, until I was the only one left on the list.

I remember as we took off from Bankok that this was probably a Viet Cong trick to get me back in the country and like most VC tricks it had worked.

At luggage claim in Saigon I got it that this wasn't a VC trick.  The large room was crowded, not with tourist, this was before the day of tourist going to Vietnam.  There was me, standing about six inches above almost everyone else, and there was a room full of Vietnamese returning home.

I was working my way toward the baggage train that had just arrived when someone shouted, "American, American, American."  I raised my head to see who had caused all the commotiona and did a double take when I saw everyone was looking at me.  Before I could take a breath the entire group began applauding, laughing and cheering and I flashed back to the night I arrived at that airport the first time.

Far away from the terminal the 200 plus of us, all first timers in Vietnam, were unloaded from the plane and herded to Japanese made, diesel powered buses, all equipted with heavy wire mesh windows.  The Sergeant assigned to my bus explained the mesh was keep Viet Cong hand grenades outside.  Then he added, "They may get you son, but it won't be on my watch."

Welcome to Vietnam, I thought.

For the Lewis Family

Here is the postcard that will be in the mail to you Tuesday (Monday is a U.S. Holiday)

I love books and like you all, I love postallove.com post cards.  There wasn't enough room on this postallove card to tell you about my all-time favorite book from my kid days - The title is Big Red.  Actually there were three books in the Big Red Series and I read them all, more times than you would believe.

If you can't get Big Red, let me know.  If you do get it, let me know what you think of it.  Thanks for reminding me of it, I just ordered a new copy.

Take special care of yourselves through these uncertain days and always have fun.

Yours to count on,

Bert 

Bert Carson

Heading for Pocahontas, Illinois

Lesly,

I didn't want to wait for Tuesday.  Here is your card (actually traveling Tuesday, May 26th & I suppose this is actually not your card, but rather a digital preview).

Have a wonderful holiday weekend,

Bert

Sail on my friend!

Heading for Asheville, North Carolina

Hollis,
She is coming your way and it appears she is traveling fast.
Have a great weekend my friend,
Bert

It is still spring in Huntsville, Alabama

In these "different times"  I've had some extra moments to become more active on Facebook.  I wrote this post for Facebook and could find no way to add a clickable link to a post.  I spent way to much time looking, then it came to me that I could post it in a blog and put the blog on my Facebook.  This is my first run at that:

It is Sunday morning, April 5^th.  Bright, sunny and 67 degrees in Huntsville, Alabama.  I just found this Logitech Tablet Keyboard that I used on my old Microsoft Surface 3 (now blown up and departed).  I took one look at it and knew it would be perfect to use at my still, almost new, Stand Steady desk. 

This is a trial run of the old keyboard, attached to my work computer for the first time and after my first few lines, I know it is a perfect match.

The “stand up” desk has been awesome, and I know it will be even more fun with this keyboard and a hot cup of Death Wish Coffee.

  

Now, I’ll prove that… first though, I have to fill a few bird feeders and scatter some peanuts for the squirrels and chipmunks.

Have a great spring day!  Be well, stay well, love everyone – we ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, let’s remember that as we travel through.

Heading For Norway

Dear Nihan,
This is probably one of the first Postcrossing postcards you will receive (I'll put it in the mail tomorrow 2/19/20), so I thought it should be special.  Since this is one of my favorites I'm hoping it will be one of yours.
Happy Postcrossing,
Bert

To Kazakhstan

Dear Polina,

This is the front of the postcard I will put in the mail today - it is a reproduction of a painting by Norman Rockwell called The Bookworm.  I picked it because you love books (so do I).

This is the message.  I printed and taped it to the card.  I got the idea from a card I received from Hong Kong - Here is what I posted about it: