I'm OK

First the good news, I'm OK. While at work today I nearly had a heart attack! But, I'm ok. My day started off quite normally as can be for a semi-retired part-time produce employee for the world's largest retailer. Toss the potatoes and squeeze the tomatoes. Stack the CoC (Corn on Cob), cull the lettuce etc. You get the picture. I was a little discourage because I had planned to have a little cook-out this weekend with my daughter and her family, Pastor and Linda, my partner from the county and his wife and Jacob, if he got a 3 day pass.

My, partner Steve emailed me and said he and his wife would be out. That was nice. I hadn't ask Pastor yet, figured I'd do that at church on Sunday. Jacob had been in the field since Monday and I had few messages from him save, "I in the field" Wednesday. Wednesday night, "I'm in the field". Thursday afternoon my daughter called and said she and her family were not going to make it as her husband, "J" as we call him as signed them up for a Corn Seed Selling dinner a month ago and had just told her. Besides farming about 500 acres he sells corn seed and paints silos for other farmers. I was a little disappointed and told Steve, my partner it may be a threesome as Sarah just canceled and I hadn't heard from Jacob.

Wrong thing to say. Shortly after the conversation with Steve, I get the text from Jacob, "I still in the &%%$#@@#&**&^$ field. Well that about bottomed me out. Held my head up high and said a couple Hail Marys, which is interesting because I am not Catholic. But, I felt the need to do something.

This morning I get a text from Jacob saying "How's work today?" Keeping a stiff upper lip I say doing well, 8 skids/pallets, for those of you from Loma Linda, still at work until 1045hours. That was at 0945hours. Text: "Just got back from the field" Well, I have something to be thankful for another exercise completed and Jacob back safely. Back to work. Needless to say more than slightly disappointed but nonetheless thankful he is in one piece. I don't like those night jumps but he doesn't seem to mind. I guess that's why he is AIRBORNE and I was military intelligence. No wisecracks please. I have heard them all.

Now I am sweating culling the lettuce 'cause I am running out. I'm getting mad at who does the ordering, my manager, my store manager and Sam Walton just for starting the business. Then with 3, 4x4 foot skids on the floor some jerk is tapping me on the shoulder saying "Hey, Buddy, where can I find some watermelons?" Can you say I D I OT! Do you know what that really spells. J A C O B!

I turned around and there stood Specialist 4th Class Jacob. That's when I almost had the heart attack! He had a grin on his face from ear to ear like the canary that ate the cat! I was so excited I literally was speechless! And for any of you that know me personally that's saying something. It took me a full five minutes to somewhat regain my composure. I know I looked like a fool but my eyes welled up and all I could say was "what are you doing here?" The reply, "I just wanted to surprise you". He succeeded! He even conned his sister and brother into keeping up the ploy!

Folks we so often hear about the bad side of the younger generation. We so often criticize them. We so often say we are blessed to live in this county. I am very much aware I am not the only parent who has been surprised by his/her soldier child but........This kid (our kids) are truly great. Yes, we must at sometime let them leave the nest and fly but we are blessed by the Grace of God to have them in our lives if even for a short time.

Thank you God and Thank you Jacob.