City Vision

When I saw in the Argus Leader that Steve Metli of Sioux Falls SD was retiring. I wanted to hear what he had to say. It didn't come as a surprise to me when I read that he loved all 31 years of his service.
He related that he was raised in a military family stationed out of Germany. It was there his love of city planning sparked interest. "Germany has well-planned communities that became 'urbanized' much earlier than the U.S."he said.
Metli watched how the Germans protected their natural resources which included riverfronts and floodplains. It's apparent that he brought that ideology to Sioux Falls.
Metli played apart in many projects. He helped coordinate a common direction for all city departments as well as developing plans for major streets and the city's growth management.
One thing I like about Sioux Falls is that you really can't get lost. The city is set up in such a way that if you keep traveling you will hit an interstate highway.
For many years I have thought about how well Sioux Falls is set up I knew it's planners were visionaries.
I contrast Sioux Falls, SD with Sioux City, IO. Both of these cities came about nearly at the same time. But these cities are so different. Travel around in each and you will soon learn what I mean. The road systems are different. Sioux Falls is well mapped out. Sioux City has many one way streets that lead to confusion. Sioux Falls is one city with many different attractions. Sioux City has many attractions in several different areas of the city.
It is clear to me that Sioux Falls had a future vision that made it's paths straight. I can't say I believe the same thing for Sioux City. Don't get me wrong I like Sioux City. There are plenty of things to do there and I visit it often. I'm speaking strictly about structure and design.
"Sioux Falls has always had people with vision," Metli says. I agree

In Love

In uniform and smoking hot, she paraded her self with confidence. Her hair was parted down the middle while touching her shoulders. I loved her playfulness and her smile. Her brown glasses accented her brown eyes.

The McDonald's picnic raised my awareness of her. It was a perfect day, around 70 degrees. A gentle breeze blew giving us the freedom to frolic in the sun. To give their employees an added bonus the fast food restaurant held an annual picnic. We wanted each others attention right from the beginning. She by dumping water on me and me by not trying too hard to stay dry. It was a fun summer day. One that changed the course of our lives.  We were inseparable.

We planned an engagement within months of that fun filled afternoon. She, with love in her eyes, wore my ring. Her confidence jettisoned me into the Navy. One word and I would of not signed the enlistment papers. With her encouragement and foresight of the future I became a sailor.
We married and journeyed to San Diego. We were in love.

Those first days in the beach town called Imperial, was one of excitement, trepidation and apprehension. We were young, inexperienced and naive. Those were ingredients for an adventure. Those stories at a later date.

I will relate one of those adventures. Kim was due to have our first baby. My ship was deploying out to the Pacific for routine operations.I was to be on board USS Kitty Hawk by March 24th, unless Kim went into labor. Kristina listened to my voice and made her appearance on March 23rd but not without putting us through several hours of labor. I can say us because of our lamaze classes. I'm not sure the pain and anxiety was decreased because of the class or from being tired.  

I enjoy looking back on those days and I wouldn't change a bit of it. I am who I am because of a nice summer day

Fire on the USS Joseph Hewes

The ship was taking rolls and I had to watch my balance. I held onto the counter. The "battle station" alarm was a routine in our ship board life. When we heard, "Battle stations, battle stations, all hands man your battle stations," each sailor headed to his assigned area. It was a drill in speed. It didn't matter what you were doing, you dropped everything, even Z's, and headed to your battle station.

I heard the alarm and as usual I ran to my area, securing doors behind me. My place was the galley, which was good because if I got hungry I could eat. Well not today.

After several minutes men dressed in breathing masks rushed into our area. A person lifted his mask to tell us to follow them. His tone was urgent. My heart began to pound. We followed the group of men to a more secure position. Sailors were scrambling in every direction. One of the strongest rules we were taught was just violated. We had to stay in our own battle station. Something was horribly wrong.

A sailor stopped long enough to say one dreadful word: "FIRE"

My entire life flashed in front of me. Would I see my family again? Would I be burned alive? I remembered my training in fire fighting. One of the worst things that can happen to a ship at sea was fire and we had a shipboard fire. We were told we were moved because the fire originated below the galley.

It seemed like time stood still. I can remember it right now as it just occurred. My life all of a sudden took on a new significance.

I think of Galations 2:20 when I look back on that day and those moments. When I was faced with death I had a different outlook upon life. It was like taking a picture and putting a black background behind it. The picture stood out. My life stood out that day. "I have been put to death with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." That verse was made real for me in the possibility of death. What if I lived as though I were dead? My life would be highlighted. I would live differently.

Mind Like a Train

I usually shut down after supper and relax. Yesterday was one of those days that I had put everything into full throttle. I mean I was motivated and I had a full head of steam. The day started at 6:00 am and I hit the computer running. Ideas flowed out of my mind faster than the speed of thought. It was great. My mistake was forgetting to make the stop at "I need sleep." No matter what I tried my thoughts were not going to allow inner eyelid preventive maintenance. i.e. pm.  I shut the light off. I turned the light back on and wrote. I shut it off again only to turn it back on. I decided at around midnight to force the thoughts asleep. I resisted the urge to light up and throw more coal into the burning furnace. I think after minutes seconds the fire went out and I saw 6:00 am. That was rare as I usually wake up several times during the night.

Stinky Skunk

I was headed down the road. It was a gravel road. I had been driving for some time and was looking forward to getting home. I came over a hill and saw something black and white. I slowed down. It was walking straight down the middle of the road. I slowed even more. I got closer and discovered it to be a skunk. I tried to go around it and that little thing just wouldn't let me. I followed it until it turned around. I threw the car in reverse and headed backwards down that gravel road. I probably went about 100 to 200 feet in reverse and the skunk turned off the road and went its way. Why did it control me like that? Because I knew what it could do to me. I had hit a skunk in the past and the smell doesn't go away.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.
The spray of a skunk is stinky.

Wedding Day

The Cobra II was decorated and parked in front of the church. A trail of cans attached to the bumper was guaranteed to make a lot of noise. "Just Married" spray painted in white foam across the side windows. It stayed alone waiting for its guests.

Inside the church, anticipation fills the air. I stood at the front in my blue tuxedo. My chest filled with fluttering butterflies ready to fly. My eyes glued on the entrance of the church. With an usher on each side, the white carpet flowed down the aisle. Arm in arm with an escort, the family members took their seat. The wedding party in cadence with the love music proceeds to the front in a slow and easy manner. Perfume and after shave linger in the air. Two by two the groomsmen position themselves next to me. The Bridesmaid and Best Man stand their positions. Thee flower girl and ring bearer walk down the aisle. The flower girl spills her flowers as the ring bearer holds the small pillow. The music begins - “Here Comes the Bride.” Heads turn toward the back as each person stands. The bride and her dad appear in the entry. Beautiful and dressed in white, she is escorted to the anticipated ceremony.           

Mosquito Repellent App

There is an app for your smart phone that claims to repel mosquitoes. It produces a unique, high-frequency sound that keeps mosquitoes and other bugs away. The human ear can't hear the frequency, so it won't bother you.
What think you?