A day late and a dollar short (my true Veterans Day Story).

[cherokeeprogressive]

So yesterday I found myself driving a truck we call a "front loader" because our normal commercial trash guy was out. 'S okay, working yesterday was worth almost $60 per at 2 1/2x. A front loader is pretty much a marriage between a dump truck and a fork lift. It picks up big trash bins and lifts them over the cab, dumping them into the back of the truck to be compacted and dumped later. I did the "commercial route" yesterday... stores, hotels, restaurants, B&B's, and various businesses...

So, early in the afternoon I roll into the Marine Corps Air Station campground we have up here in the valley. It's very nicely kept, and though it's only a half-mile of dirt road out of town, it seems totally isolated because of the way it's situated. Anyway, I turn the corner to where their bin is located and find two young Marines unloading freshly cut 6" diameter tree trunks about 6' long from a pickup truck. One older Marine is standing by holding a chainsaw. Now mind you; they're not putting one end into the bin and letting the other stick out... they're laying them across the TOP of the bin. No way they would stay in place while on their way over the cab of the truck. Pretty obvious they'd roll off as soon as I lifted the bin but that's not the issue at the moment.

I shake my head at the Chainsaw Marine; he walks over to the driver's side of my truck and says "Yes sir?" I politely tell him I can't accept anything over 4' in length because the refuse station won't allow it (anything 4' or shorter would fit nicely into the bin anyway...).

What does he do?

Chainsaw Marine: "Well damn, that sucks. Sorry about that Sir. Hey guys? He can't take these trunks because they're over 4 feet long."

Tree trunk Marines: "Damn!"

Chainsaw Marine sets the chainsaw down and goes to help them load the trunks back INTO the pickup truck. It's all I can do to keep from laughing out loud...

Before I drive away, I lean out the window and say "Hey guys! This Old Squid thanks you for your service. Semper Fi!" With big smiles, two of them snap salutes so smart you'd get a hitch in your breath if you were a Veteran, while Chainsaw Marine mimics a high-five.

I fucking love Marines. Always have. Besides being total badasses, they can be so entertaining at times...

I certify this story is true, and that no Sailors were harmed in its re-creation.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear cherokeeprogressive!

That's a great story! I can just see those tree trunks hanging out over the edge of the bin. I wonder what they did with them?

Good to see you tonight...

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Good to be seen, Dearest Peg. Good to be seen. Might I add...

It's good to see You too.

And for all I know, the chainsaw might have been out of gas... but the whole situation was comical. Marines are a breed apart, and I mean that with all due respect So Help Me God. Bad ASS, but still able to play with a kitten and make little children laugh til they gasp for air... I'm glad the Veteran's Day Wars at DU are over for another year.

As for the tree trunks, I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar some senior Marine calmly took charge and somewhere at the camp there is a freshly split, neatly stacked half-cord of 18" long pieces of firewood curing to be used next year.