THE SCENE: Clears skies, 74 degrees F., 92% humidity
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Completed
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH x20
Little Baby Arm Circles: x12 forward, x12 backward
Cherry Pickers x12
Overhead Claps x25
THA-THANG:
Mosey to Mt. Crumpet
Partner Up (one teammate ascends while other starts exercise count):
Run up, Merkins x12, Dry Dock x12 300 squats
Bernie up, Merkins x12, Dry Dock x12 150 BBS
Bear crawl up, Merkins x12, Dry Dock x12 150 OH claps
Mosey to Grinder
Partner Up (one teammate runs suicide while other starts CME exercise count):
100 OH lifts Suicides
150 Bent rows
100 Curls
100 cross over merkins
100 lunge dead lifts right
100 lunge dead lifts left
MARY:
Box cutters x20
Flutter kicks x20
Protractors, various
LBC’s for 1 minute
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Total of 20 HIMs
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
It happened on my 5th of 14 trips to Saudi Arabia. Typical of the United Airlines flight from Washington, DC we landed in Kuwait City and had to deplane while refueling the plane and taking on more passengers. Over an hour later we would load up and head to my final flying destination in Manama, Bahrain. 3 to 4 hours later I would finish the drive from Bahrain to the work site in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia.
About a minute after deplaning in Kuwait City, I saw John entering the gate holding area and coming toward me. I stood up, stuck out my hand, shook his, and said “hello, John, it’s good to see you.” John nodded his head, gave a sheepish grin, and said it was nice to see me. He continued over to a seat a few rows away. I sat down and was kicking myself for saying what I said. I decided to pull out a piece of paper and I wrote a note. In it I apologized for greeting him with a casual “hello John.” He deserved much more respect that that. I recognized the service he has given to our country as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, the awful conditions and treatment he endured as a prisoner of war for many years, and his continued service as a United States Senator. I wished him the best and continued success in his job. My note began with “Dear Senator McCain.” I handed Senator McCain the note as we were getting on the plane. I said, “Senator McCain, this is for you.” I got another sheepish grin and a slight head nod.
Getting off in Bahrain meant descending the stairs to the tarmac and getting on a shuttle bus to get to the terminal. Senator McCain entered the bus shortly after I did. From about 12 feet away we looked at each other. This time he gave me a real big smile and a more deliberate nod of his head. I believe his gesture indicated acceptance of my note to him. I felt better about the entire encounter.
I reminded the group this morning that many of the exercises we did could not have been performed by Senator McCain because of the broken arms and leg he sustained while ejecting from his jet bomber and the subsequent abuse and lack of medical care he received in captivity. I also said that this story is not really about him. It is just because of his recent death that I was reminded that I learned something a long time ago that I wanted to share – especially with the younger men in our group.
There are many things that I have done wrong in my 66 years of life. I have been unkind, judgmental, angry, and a host of other things. I have hurt others with my words and deeds. I have found that the best thing to do for those I’ve hurt, and for myself, is to try to make things right. I try to own up to my mistakes and let those I’ve hurt know that I am sorry, that I recognize how I was wrong, and that I seek forgiveness. It certainly isn’t easy but it is always good for the soul. Going through that act of self-inflicted punishment introduces a little bit of pain that helps me on the straight and narrow in the future.
MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.
