I am not sure how old Hammer is today, but I am pretty sure he is old. He is married to my oldest daughter. They live in Longton, Kansas. They are survivalists to the max. They have a 40 acre farm, many cats, a dog or two and are right now down to a couple calves. Usually they buy calves, fatten them up and then sell them to pay the bank the money they borrowed to buy the calves and feed them. It is not a real profitable operation, but it keeps them off the streets. They are also raising 4 grandkids which is not a break even operation, but something that needs done.
Hammer had done his 2 tours in Vietnam before Debbie met him. Needless to say, he had the normal problems that all the boys coming home from there had. Vietnam was a terrible operation and PTSD is a side effect that is never completely over come. He still suffers from the effects of Agent Orange as well as the horrors of a war that should never have been undertaken. Hammer and I are pretty much from the same era. I know other men who served in Vietnam and all I can say about that is I hope our government learned something from those mistakes, because it was certainly an exercise in futility and anyone who was there still has nightmares even if they say they don't.
I do not know how many years they have been married, but I know it is a lot and I was there that day. They had been living up in the mountains above Eleven mile Reservoir as I recall, but were in the process of moving down into Pueblo. Since they were between homes they spent a few days here and in the course of finding a home, they decided they should just trot on up to the court house and "do the deed" which is the equivalent of "getting this shittin' mess over with that Kenny and I had done several years earlier. I would be one witness and witness number 2 was decided to be a lady named Shirley Smith. Shirley and her husband, Bill, ran the UPumpit in Blende. So off we went.
For some reason, on our way to town we decided that Shirley would be Hammers Best Man. I was mother of the bride, because that is what I was. The Judge who was officiating was very understanding. I am not sure he had ever married anyone in Levi's before, but that is what we were wearing. Hammer is a big bear of a man with the full beard, biker tattoos and a gruff whiskey voice. He and Debbie make a great couple. They went to the motel for their wedding night. (I know this because I just called her and asked her.) It was 30 years ago. Damn!
There has been a lot of water under that bridge and a lot of changing on both their parts. Well, maybe not changing so much as just adapting to each others wants and needs. They are talking about moving out here closer to me and I think that would be great. I guess a lot depends on the 3 grandkids which are currently in their custody. When life hands us lemons, we make lemonade! Just the way we are.
Today was also my sister-in-laws birthday. Not sure how old she would have been because she tended to sugar coat a lot of things. Sadly, she is no longer on this side of the veil. Very few of my relatives are.
So any way, Happy Birthday to Hammer! I know he is on a road trip right now, but I trust he will drive carefully and hurry home to Longton.
Peace!
Hammer had done his 2 tours in Vietnam before Debbie met him. Needless to say, he had the normal problems that all the boys coming home from there had. Vietnam was a terrible operation and PTSD is a side effect that is never completely over come. He still suffers from the effects of Agent Orange as well as the horrors of a war that should never have been undertaken. Hammer and I are pretty much from the same era. I know other men who served in Vietnam and all I can say about that is I hope our government learned something from those mistakes, because it was certainly an exercise in futility and anyone who was there still has nightmares even if they say they don't.
I do not know how many years they have been married, but I know it is a lot and I was there that day. They had been living up in the mountains above Eleven mile Reservoir as I recall, but were in the process of moving down into Pueblo. Since they were between homes they spent a few days here and in the course of finding a home, they decided they should just trot on up to the court house and "do the deed" which is the equivalent of "getting this shittin' mess over with that Kenny and I had done several years earlier. I would be one witness and witness number 2 was decided to be a lady named Shirley Smith. Shirley and her husband, Bill, ran the UPumpit in Blende. So off we went.
For some reason, on our way to town we decided that Shirley would be Hammers Best Man. I was mother of the bride, because that is what I was. The Judge who was officiating was very understanding. I am not sure he had ever married anyone in Levi's before, but that is what we were wearing. Hammer is a big bear of a man with the full beard, biker tattoos and a gruff whiskey voice. He and Debbie make a great couple. They went to the motel for their wedding night. (I know this because I just called her and asked her.) It was 30 years ago. Damn!
There has been a lot of water under that bridge and a lot of changing on both their parts. Well, maybe not changing so much as just adapting to each others wants and needs. They are talking about moving out here closer to me and I think that would be great. I guess a lot depends on the 3 grandkids which are currently in their custody. When life hands us lemons, we make lemonade! Just the way we are.
Today was also my sister-in-laws birthday. Not sure how old she would have been because she tended to sugar coat a lot of things. Sadly, she is no longer on this side of the veil. Very few of my relatives are.
So any way, Happy Birthday to Hammer! I know he is on a road trip right now, but I trust he will drive carefully and hurry home to Longton.
Peace!
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