The prices rise daily on electronic toys, computers,tablets,cell phones and more. Yet the materials to build them are the same, and so are the salaries probably of the people who build them. Economics tells us supply and demand is what this is all about, as long as people demand the latest electronics they will produce them at costs to the America people and the world too. Survival of the fittest correct folks, look at Apple and Micro-soft.

        How does a company like Micro-Soft get away with putting its operating system on most computers, if not all? They were charged with having a monopoly already and told they couldn’t do that, but it still exists, because no compatible or comparable operating system is really out there for the average PC. The same can be said of some other products, but not to the same degree as Micro-Soft and it’s Windows Operating System.

       Apple has made numerous big products that sell also from the I-Pod, to the I-Pads 1 and 2 and more. Seems each company has set itself up as a monopoly in many ways, but also are companies on the leading edge of the computer industries period and I congratulate them both.

        The best is yet to come they say, well I believe and will always believe that a company that gives the consumers what they really want wins. Google is one that I have loved from the day I found it. It creates and explores and shares and teaches and gives platforms to people to help others and themselves and the world. God Bless ya Google for your mind bending search engines, your e-mail system and your inventiveness all over the internet. May you always continue to expand, grow and  teach, for you do it well.

        That all said, what new technological miracles can be made or invented next, I wish i knew because I would be rich too then. One more thing to say in this field when it comes to discoveries, inventions and innovations, remember where it all really stems from, the human imagination is a powerful thing. Thinkers, inventors and producers need to say a big thank you to people like Gene Rodenberry, the creator of Star Trek. A Man whose visions for his little TV show he produced are now being made reality and walking around the planet in human hands. Hand held medical scanners, communicators, medical beds that scan patients and see inside them. Computers that talk to people and help them do their jobs. All of these ideas came from people like Gene Rodenberry and his little sci-fi show. Who knows what else could come from writers who think and write things down and invent things for the written or even the spoken word. Imaginations inspire and instill a need, a want, and a drive to achieve and make it all real. God Bless the writers of the world, who love to write to create, to tell a story, to write a poem or song or an article for a paper of magazine. For those who can convey their emotions, ideas,plots and tales and create help to keep mankind going strong!.

Why Must the Days End?

By William

 

 

Why do the days have to end?

Why do the nights have to come?

The Darkness rolls in,

Night reminding me,

Of, my past, my sin.

 

 

I didn’t know what you wanted or needed,

You refused to say,

So now I wonder and think,

All night and through the day.

 

I go thru life, a statement reverberating in my mind,

It’s one I carry with me,

And shall for all time.

 

My father, laid dying on his bed you see,

And these are the words he said to me:

My son he said my days have come and gone,

I shall leave you before for long.

 

But live your life to the fullest and enjoy,

Do today what you love the most,

Enjoy life to the fullest, and love those around you the deepest,

For though I be gone and you may cry,

Please remember these words, I give you to keep and hold.

Live your life with honesty and truth,

Be happy, be true, be honest and be bold.

 

As I leave you now he said:

I shall be gone and you will cry,

But remember this is not really goodbye.

 

We are all put here for a purpose, yes a plan.

When we fulfill that purpose our time has come,

And our life is done, and I am just a man.

 

The days will pass, the weeks will come and go,

The weeks, will turn to months, the months to years,

And over time,  you will, have cried all of your tears.

But live your life for each day you are here,

For the calendar will continue to roll,

Time will pass before you know,

In the end my son,

We all eventually do what we have been put here for,

And our time is done.

 

Then he rolled his head, in his bed,

The vomit came, his eyes rolled back in his head,

And peacefully, and in silence he was dead.

 

I remember that day oh so well,

I remember the fishing trips, the pizzas, the laughter and the tears,

And have carried his words, with me and lived them for all my years.

Darkness all around, pitch black, can’t see my hand
in front of my face, I can hear people moving, but no light, what is next? What
do you do when the lights go out and it’s not right? No more light and the
sounds are slowly ending also, all I can hear now are people breathing heavily
in the dark, I can smell sweat in the air, but I hold completely still, not
knowing exactly what will happen next.
All of a sudden, a lantern lights up and one after another the lanterns
come on around the fire room. Slowly my eyes adjust as I grab valves and close
them as quickly as possible cutting off the fuel to the burner front. I close
all the air registers as the sweat drips from my skin and soaks my shirt. I
reach up and grab each burner t-handle and unscrew each handle as fast as
possible and pull the burner barrels from the boiler, laying each on the deck
plates beside my feet. Finally all six burners out and the burner front secure
I pass the word it is secured and almost collapse. My body shakes as the sweat
continues to flow from me, and suddenly air comes through the vents, and I
stumble under one, the moving air cooling me slightly and slowly I start to
recover. Realizing as I stand there something, caused the loss of fires and the
shutdown, knowing we will have to go through checks next to find what happened.
I stop and grab the manual of safety procedures and checks and turn to the
opening page for loss of fires. Starting my checks, insuring the fuel is closed
off first and foremost, is key.  No fuel
must be in the firebox, so it is time for the gloves, and face shield and the
flashlight and mirror to inspect the firebox for fuel. Staring at the mirror
through the port-hole and bouncing the light off to the floor I slowly search
the box. Finding a small puddle of fuel on the floor, I announce it to the top
watch, who then prepares to purge the firebox, open all the air registers comes
the command and I slap each register open wide and stand back closing the port
hole from the inspection. Suddenly the electric forced draft blower is started
and we can hear it whine and run at low-speed first, then flip to high, the
backup generators are working and so are the blowers now. The purge has to last
at least three minutes this time. Standing back I watch the periscope of the
stacks, for fumes, or smoke during the full purge. None must be seen or the
purge will have to be started over again, and that means as a naval ship we sit
dead in the water, and a solid target for enemy missiles or torpedoes, a
dangerous time for any navy vessel for sure. Navy life for its engineers is no
piece of cake or easy job, and no matter what you do, it has to be done
instantly and in a certain way or procedure that is safe. The purge continues
of course and  once cleared I reinserted a
new burner barrel into the first burner position, my face mask in place and
gloves as my fellow shipmate, my lower level man mans the fuel oil valve. Next
the purge is complete and the torch has to be lit, opening the torch port, I grab
the torch and hold it tip towards the lower level man as he lights it. It
bursts into flames, and you can smell the fumes of oil.  Inserting the torch we count to three and I
flap the air register as my shipmate opens the fuel valve and the first burner
lights, we are on the way back now, and as long as the boiler pressure isn’t
too low we will be back quickly. Each minute we are down without steam, makes
us a sitting duck in the water, so now it is time to make sure we come all the
way back and get the main steam stop valve open so the engines can move us
again. Such is a Boiler Technicians life in the navy. Each minute a boiler is
down or we are not steaming at sea, makes the risk of the ship being hit or
attacked a higher percentage.
As the boiler reaches pressure and the main steam stop is opened, the
generators in the engine room come on-line, feeding the ventilation system and
air flow increases in the space. Our feed pumps, feeding the boiler come online
and the force draft blowers are switched over to steam-driven ones and they
whine as they start-up. The noise levels increase in the space as all the
equipment is put back online the fuel pumps, booster pumps, steam reducers; we
are back now and underway once more.  The
Top watch calls for another burner one at a time until all six are blazing and
the ship picks up speed. The captain is now at full speed ahead and things
finally return to normal as we now run under the fluorescent lights once more
and everyone rechecks the equipment. Haze gray and underway indeed!  It is just another thing to watch as we steam
along, to our mission and next destination. The fluorescent lights burn bright
and the deck plates are hot below my feet, but I know I have done my job now
and I have pride in it. I can feel the sway of the ship it bouncing over the
waves through my boots and my feet.
Knowing I have accomplished bringing back the boiler and steam that
makes us go, makes me proud and satisfied yet tired.  Our job to protect and defend is still intact
and will always be, for we are The U.S. Navy.

      Each day a new political controversy comes up regarding personal actions of candidates. Now I believe certain parts of a candidate’s life deserve to be under scrutiny at all times, not their whole lives should be.

       Sexual misconduct, harassing the opposite sex, touching without permission, or rape of any kind should end a candidates run for office, no matter the office if there is any truth to it at all. This should apply to all candidates for President also and equally too, no matter race, religion or anything else.

       I believe in the old saying, where there is smoke there is fire. Herman Cain is facing the smoke and denying the fire that lit him up. He has at least 4 women making accusations against him and more out there , getting ready to I would bet. Mr. Cain should stop and think what these accusations are doing to his wife, his children and his relatives and friends and back out of his bid for President. It will indeed only get worse Mr. Cain, not better, don’t make yourself the poster boy for this stuff and deny what is honestly apparent here.

       If the sexual harassment accusations are not enough for you to pull from the race Mr. Cain, than you may want to consider your lack of knowledge on foreign affairs and other countries. Or your lack of knowing  security correctly for America. Your gaffs are building as are your shorts being shown Mr. Cain, and you may have business knowledge, but world knowledge lacks.

         Next we come upon, another candidate that should basically drop out and disappear from the presidential race of Republicans, Governor Perry of Texas. Mr. Perry your foolish oops statements and forgetfulness is not good at all for a Presidential candidate no matter what party. Than you have the speech where you ranted and raved like a fool at the cameras and people and many believe you were drunk and on drugs. Bad, bad public exposures both of them and foolish too. Silly mistakes have cost much better men and women the White House Mr. Perry, please go home. Your presence is making a mocking of the Presidential race, for your party.

        Finally looking at the list of Presidential hopefuls for the Republicans we come to one more in my opinion who should pack up and go home. Now mind you, these are my choices as I see it and someone else shall disagree I am sure, my final choice to go home Michele Bachman. Ms. Bachman started out well and had a large surge in the polls and in strength. As time has worn on Ms. Bachman is slowly fading from the race again due to knowledge, stature, political presence and the ability to be heard. I think Ms. Bachman unless you can find an issue besides attacking your opponents in the race well the time has come. Ms. Bachman maybe you should consider taking up the attack on the economy, homeless people and joblessness? Just a  suggestion.

       The Republicans have put up a list of candidates that I believe lack the full ability to be president of the United States. Half have political liabilities, the other half lack of knowledge and events. The alternative is to stay with what we currently have in President Obama, and if you get my drift, the American people may have no choice.  We sure as hell can not elect Herman Cain, Michele Bachman, Rick Perry to the highest office in the land and expect them to do the job, by what we have seen so far. Political mayhem is in process in the Republican party that is for sure.

       Talking about political mayhem and stupidity, lets talk about a Congress, both houses, Representative and Senate not doing a damn thing this year for the American people. When are they gonna get off their rumps and do something to help the hungry, homeless,jobless people in America? When will they make the decisions and create the laws and bills that will help the American people and not hurt them? Good question I bet?

       The American people in general are a smart people I believe and the time for change is coming. Politicians beware, you shall get hit by a torrent of angry voters when you least expect it and you will go back to normal life. We the people vote you all in, we can vote you all out!.

 

         

 

Holiday Season is so very close now, Thanksgiving right around the corner and the Christmas, Hannaka , Season too. The stores are lighting up with early sales events and lights, they are filling with people looking and staring at what they can buy. America will have a problem this Holiday Season, because there are too many out of jobs and money is so tight! Many will be disappointed when they sit to eat Thanksgiving Dinner or Christmas is not so big under that tree.

       The economy and jobs, money so tight, it seems that our politicians would work to get it right. Yet the same old day in and day out, filibustering, arguing, fighting and stalemating takes place in Washington daily, why?

        Ladies and Gentlemen of America, the blue-collar ones, the everyday working ones, the one struggling through, don’t you think it’s time for you to do!. Lets change Washington,DC, lets change Congress and both Houses not just one. Vote new people in who will react and fix the economy or at least come up with viable fixes for it.

        When we sit down this Holiday Season and find our tables with less to eat, our Christmas Trees and Hannaka presents thinned out, because our money is so tight, who didn’t get it right? Take a ride in your car to your Congress person’s or Senators home and see their properties lit up with lights and their families and friends smiling bright!. Take a look at the ones who make so much, sitting fat, like the Cheshire cat. Why do we pay them so much and yet they do so little for the American people?.

       I have seen a movement slowly spread across the USA, Occupy! They have Occupied New York, Wall Street, California, and even Southern cities, trying to get attention. Place for you to actually Occupy and make a difference if you stay peaceful and united and threaten no one with silly shit, would be Washington, DC. Take your Occupy Protests, sit-ins, rallies and surround  the House and Senate, and sit till they talk to you and tell you how they will turn the economy and job market around. Take the Occupy Movement to where it will do the best work and make it stay until the Politicians get off their ass one day.

       I have learned though over many rants,raves,complaints and vocal efforts, it’s a waste of time to do so, cause they don’t listen. How do you get a politician’s attention? George Washington said it best, it’s time you get off your asses and make it happen. The Founding Father of America didn’t let his Cabinet,his Congress sit still and get nothing done he made them work and told them earn your pay checks, America got built and borne then.

       The alternative to what I am saying is that the American people get together, and start firing those we are hiring and admit we choose the wrong people to lead and get things done. If any nation in the world can do that it is America, we still vote these political animals in, don’t we?

       Now, that said, let me go on to another subject I think many in America will hate me for mentioning at this time. The facts though say it best, America has a problem with mother’s who want to be free of the children they have!. Yes I know many will say why pick on females or wives, or mothers, well they are making kids disappear is why? Mothering is an instinct females are born with or not born with. It is instinct to most females to protect their own, raise them and teach them and more. So why do we have Casey Anthony‘s in the World/ Why are little babies disappearing like little Lisa Erwin? Why do mothers slap a kid in a store, or roughly drag them around? What is happening in American Society to cause such things?  We have the best Doctors in the world, the best medical minds around, yet we can’t stop mother’s from harming their own, why? Something is wrong in America for sure!. Now, before all females in America jump up and down and go crazy and say this is not just females, I agree men are doing it too. I have one thing to say to these mothers and fathers who harm their own children and don’t want to keep them, don’t have them then. Birth Control is available and so is the ability to give them up for adoption and more.

       Final words for today from me to you out there. I know I am no genius, or brain, nor am I a leader. Yet I believe, that America still can lead, still is the best free nation in the world and I gave 16 years of my life fighting for my family, for my friends and for the children of the future. Many Veterans both male and female now in the Armed Forces will be coming home soon. As they return, please help them assimilate back into the country, help them find work and education and reasons for being here. Say Thanks to them when they come home, they gave up years of their own lives to protect your lives and keep us free!. Take it from a Disabled Veteran that is me!.

      As November now powers through its second half at least it is heading there, the Holiday Seasons are coming around once more. Firmly I believe for many this Holiday season, will be a poor one, the only happiness most will find is in being with family and friends if they can. The tables will be filled with less food, the tree bottoms will show this year, some small child somewhere will cry a tear, because Santa couldn’t bring what they wanted this year! The days of the large Christmas Tree in the corner, with presents spraying across the room is done, the fact is the money doesn’t go as far, and that’s the truth my daughter and son!.

       Where once lived steaks and money filled bliss, now stands a family eating off sticks. They beg for a home on the streets so bare, living in cardboard boxes that are impossible to share. They hold up signs on the street, will work for food, we are hungry and need to eat. The unemployment checks don’t go as far, and at night in my box in the cold, I wish upon a star. I stand looking grubby and unclean, unshaven and not looking like a King or a Queen. People drive by and shake their heads and honk their horns, cause I am not clean, and looking mean and worn. My pride doesn’t allow me to ask for help, and when I lay down at night to sleep and die, I do not yelp. I hope and pray as I shiver and shake, that someone out there will give me a break!.

      As you drive around this Holiday Season, buying and shopping and hoping for pleasing, take a look on the streets and don’t close your eyes, for if you do you will see a surprise. A America now filled with empty hearts, people hungry, no jobs and houses falling apart. Cardboard box homes lining the streets in the back out there, the cold being the worst to fear. As The Bells of Saint Mary’s and churches ring, and rich people sing, the poor sit in the streets with nowhere to go, hungry, dirty and what a waste it is so. The money is tight, the jobs so few, I bet when you go by, you hope this doesn’t happen to you!.

      On Thanksgiving Day a little over a week away, some will have tables filled with food, extra spilling around as family sits down. The lights shall be on over tables filled with food and grace and family smiling all over the place. When you sit and before you eat, Pray to God for your seat and all you eat. Thank the loved ones who fought your wars, thank the parents who provided you with ways once more. Before you leave your stomach all full and the next week send the kids back to school, stop and think what could be, for this is America and we are all free. The food could be abundant and everyone could be warm, in homes filled with lights and furniture all worn. If Congress would wake up and gave a care, then all of us together  could enjoy the Holidays this year!.

As a man who has more injuries and problems than most I think it is important in America to still be as positive as possible, about everything. Sometimes though I wonder if reality doesn’t match what my mind wants for this country. We do have our problems and our share of pure bullshit too. One thing Americans can do and will always do is bullshit, and carry-on. Thats what makes a comedy show out of many American things in this world. Sadly, the comedy and laughter turns to fears and tears when I stop and think about a country with a History as rich as ours, slowly falling in free fall in economic and financial and political status. To what depths will we fall and hopefully not in my lifetime, please.

        We have fallen from leadership roles before due to political problems, now we fall from leadership positions due to economic problems, financial problems and attitudes. Sadly America may have seen it’s best days in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.  The Leaders who led America to greatness, and it’s high staked position in the World began to disappear during those times.

       We had some of the best leaders as Presidents during and slightly before those years and that is why we were so well off.  Stop and think of the run of Presidents we had back then and what the price of things were and how we lived then. It’s amazing, America still functions at all with what is trying to lead us today.

        Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy,Nixon, Carter, Regan each in their own way brought different ways to lead, different paths to take to keep this country great and on top. Their fierce attitudes, loyalties and protection of American rights, America’s way of maintaining economically and financially made us the leader in the world. They made decisions not based on what the opposing party thought, or didn’t think, nor did they put up with political infighting and bickering in Congress during their eras and times. They used the Presidential Office and their position to further America and the World.  We need a new generation of leaders of such scope, such vision and such leadership skills to turn us around and make us rise once more.

       When we got by William Jefferson Clinton’s Presidential terms in office, we were in the black financially by billions of dollars. Clinton was a man who had vision, had the sense and balls to make things happen also. I know all about his scandals also, but in the end when we look back at Clinton his terms we will paint him in history as one of the greats.  So, where do we look today, in 2011 and in 2012’s Presidential Race and Elections for our new leader?

        President Obama was dealt a raw, hard deal when he became President, he took over after Bush totally wrecked our standing in the world economically and financially as well as politically. President Bush slammed us into the backwoods of nations and ruined what was once great. Why did people allow it when they voted I have no idea.  President Obama at least is trying in many ways to correct the situation.

        When our choices as citizens of America come down to reelecting President Obama or electing the current batch of Republicans who oppose him, well, that list is a joke to me.  Romney has his problems  and every one knows it even his own party and backers. Cain is a man with too many problems to be elected at all, sexual harassments and improper advances on women, come on, we did this one with Clinton and survived do we need it again? Governor Perry of Texas can’t speak straight or look Presidential if you pinned the word President to his own forehead and he is a joke to most. The rest of this list of candidates is a joke to me. Why oh why is this so today? It makes one wish for and think of what was and what could be if we had the older leaders back today.

       When I think back in history for America, and our list of Presidents who were great Leaders in times of peace and war and who did things this country needed and helped us as a people, I realize what makes America great, is our way of having the Freedom to choose who leads us all.

       Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln,Truman, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter,Regan,Clinton all led by leading not following, by paving a way and making Congress understand it was the best way. Thats what we need in our next President and Leader, is one with the guts, and balls to stand up and tell Congress stop screwing the America people and lets work together now. The men I have named as Presidents in American history led by having guts, and courage, bravery and moxey. Not being wimpy and crying.

       As we have gone by November 11, 2011 and into the newest election cycle to deal with who shall be in the White House  once more, stop and think of who your electing and why and stop and think don’t we need a decisive, tough-minded, open-minded individual who can stand tall, and lead instead of stumble, fumble and be a walking joke in the World? If our choices are Reelect President Barrack Obama to four more years or pick one of these Republican Candidates I call jokes, well my choice is easy than, Reelect Obama. He at least is pulling us out of wars, he created a Health Care Bill and made it law, he at least stands proud and leads instead of cringing and crying. Let him lead four more years, he may lead us back to the promise land we once were! The Republican side well they can’t stop going opssssssssssssss!

 

     Today is 11/11/11, Veteran‘s Day. Across America today we should all give  thanks to our Veteran’s who sacrificed their lives, health and well-being to protect and defend America and others as assigned in the military. We were all young, healthy and in great shape when we entered and we gave up all of it to defend and protect.

       Before I go on and on about what it takes to  become a veteran in America and why we do it, let me state beyond a reasonable doubt one thing, Veterans who served do not want pity, we do not want proclamations or awards, we want peace. We want only for someone to say Thanks for Serving as we limp on by or walk by, or to acknowledge us is all. Awards, ribbons, medals do nothing for a Veteran, Disabled or not. What helps is medical, dental benefits, and places to go for our injuries and problems as we age. And all Veterans who have these benefits and served and earned them say Thank You to America for having them for us.

       American Veterans did not serve for glory, we did not serve to promote ourselves, we did not do so for honor. We did so for simple reasons if you listen to most of us. Some were drafted and served in Wars and others protected the nation in times of peace, but we all had one thing in common, our main reason to serve under it all, our families, friends and loved ones.

       We are Veterans for serving and we do not cry or moan from injuries, or illnesses. And we do not just run to Doctors for fun and medications we do not need. We are proud of ourselves for serving and we try to carry our heads high is all.

       So as you lay your head upon your pillow each night, and close your eyes to sleep and feel safe and sound, just remember somewhere out there in the world of darkness and light, and day and night are Veterans who serve to give you that right. I served, and did so not for myself, but for my family, my friends and all my loved ones. I sacrificed time, effort,body and soul, and stayed away from my loved ones to make sure each night they could sleep in peace and each day exist happily and well off. God Bless America!

 

Time we know never stops, it continues to tick away whether we are here or not. Time brings with it knowledge, experience and new inventions and innovations also. Time mostly brings new human beings to a planet already over populated really, yet still it maintains. Amazing isn’t it really?

          Some years ago, 1990 to be precise, my step-father, who I never called anything else then Dad, died of cancer. He lived a short life in comparison to most men of his time period as did my mother, who followed him one year and a day later to her own grave. We put the two of them together for eternity after their deaths of course.

       Anyway, Dad prior to his death made sense about time to me one day before he died, in his own unique way. It was the summer of 1990 and we were watching Red Sox Baseball in his bedroom as he lay in bed sick as hell. We were chatting as the game played in the background and I remember turning and staring at him for  a bit as he watched and growing sad, knowing he would one day soon be gone.

       He caught me staring and looking, and he looked back finally, he told me he said son, I have two things to say to you. I listened carefully as he spoke, his word not as strong as they once were but still as powerful as a man’s could be. He said first and foremost I want to thank you for the present you gave me for Father’s Day so many years before, 1971 20 years ago. That lazy-boy recliner I sat in so many years, and would today if i could, I watched ball games from it, movies and more and even slept in it at times. I smiled and told him he was welcome for all he did for me. Then he looked at me and said one more thing I want to tell you.

       I listened more, as he told me, Son he said, a man plants a seed, but as we both know he doesn’t always stay to nurture and grow it. So I took over for your real father and raised you. Again I thanked him, than he said, Son one day soon I shall be gone and the minutes will turn to hours, the hours to days and the days to weeks then months and years. Don’t cry for me, or waste your time and have no fears. Time waits for no one is what he said and it shall go on and on long after man is gone. So do me a favor son, live a life of good and have fun, do want you really want and get it done. I smiled back at him and just watched him breathe slowly that day.

       Then came October 1990 and his sudden death from cancer. As we gathered for his wake, and after at home, people I had not seen for decades came out of the past. They gathered at our home to bid him goodbye. We all sat and talked of him and what we loved most about him as a man. And I told them all what he said of time, it is too short for the human mind. But it will go on and on forever more, and it will be here long after we are all gone, so live full, live happy and have fun, before you know it life shall be done.

 

Raging fires in a glass to look through on a boiler  front ,painted silver and reflecting back at
me, metal plates, beneath my feet, with diamond designs, not so unique. The
pumps and the valves all have their own special roar, and the fluorescent
lights go on, forever more.

The life
of a boiler man in the Navy is boring, yet rewarding and sometimes crazy. A
call comes down we are shifting speeds, more burners, more burners is what we
need! My hands flying over air registers and valves, as I lite more burners and
the pressures rise. The water level fluctuates as the steam is pushed to the
main engines and the shaft on the lower level speeds up more. This is the life
onboard a ship for the Navy, oh so grand and more. The machinery roars and the
fires too, even more the commands shouted down in the pit, fire room, as we
call it, come to my fellow sailors and we move with speed, for we know ,it is
what the ship, does need.

A boiler
front is a large silver panel of steel you see, with burners sticking out back
at me, the air register handles you use to flap and then the valves to allow
the fuel in you see, all are memories for men like me.  So many pieces of machinery, in constant
motion to make one ship sail the ocean. It’s what we do to keep our country
free.  Who are we, but the Engineers of
the U.S. Navy?  Boiler Technicians they
call us you see, each a different pay grade and level working together to keep
our country free, it seems so amazing to me.

If
you were to feel the heat, and feel the steel  beneath your feet, like a breathing monster so
unique, you would swear it was all alive you see, for that is what it was, for
so many, like me. We sweated and we bled to make sure no American would be
killed or end up dead!

So,
when you see on CNN, a Navy ship has arrived somewhere again, it’s the men who
are down here below, yes the ones they say live in The Hole, that in the end
make the Navy go. We sweat and moan and sometimes hurt down to the bone, but we
make the steam to get us there and in the end back home, because we care. We
don’t serve to be happy or gay; we serve the Navy each in our own way. While we
steam along and around the world, it is of our families and loves we do think,
for we want to go home and see them in the pink. We do it so our children and
parents and more, can live a life free, for evermore.
So when you see a veteran like me, who walks bent over or stumbles you
see, stop and think of what they sacrificed, just so you can live free and so
nice!. Freedom is not for free, just ask the disabled Veterans like me.