saddle up

i saw the wierdest thing today on the beltline. there was a car off on that shoulder-curb-thing, hood up (engine trouble apparently). there was an SUV a short distance behind it, either the dude's other car or someone giving him a ride. he's in business attire, dress shirt, slacks & tie. and what does he pull from his trunk to put in the SUV? that's right! a saddle! a saddle for riding a horse. as in, "giddyup." as in, "hi-ho silver, away."

well, as lewis black once overheard, "if it weren't for my horse, i wouldn't have spent that year in college."



the biggest brother

friends, if you have not seen the HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers, or read Stephen Ambrose's book of the same name, you need to have a serious sit-down talk with your brain. this is a must-see in my opinion.

on sunday i finished reading a book titled, The Biggest Brother. it just came out in may of this year, so it's quite new. this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys, is fascinated by, studies or cares about:

1. biographies and memoirs
2. WWII and war experiences
3. leadership
4. personal journey
5. history
6. real people behind movie characters

From the mere portrayal of this man in Band of Brothers, i was in awe of him. it amazed me that this person really exists. dick winters was a great leader, a man of steadfast character and driven to do the best he can every day ("Hang Tough," as he says).

while the bulk of the book details his war experience, it does include a look at the kind of child and young adult he was before he joined the military. i found it fascinating to see the difference one or two people made on him, and that when he embraced their counsel to live by, it made him a most unique man. the differences are often noted between our present generation and those who lived through any of the world wars, but winters was most definitely unique even then.

here is something else that i noticed about winters: as a leader, as a paratrooper and as a person, he made decisions. he chose to live and to act in the way he knew he should; whether it was a decision that had to be made immediately under fire, decisions about how to handle the conduct or misconduct of his men, or the manner in which he would act as an officer. he did not wait for someone else to influence his choices (unless necessary, obviously), nor did he slack off just because he could or because others were. he had an understanding of what was expected, what he expected of himself, and he held himself to it. so many times i choose not to act/live in the way i know is right merely because i can. i am shamed and awed by his strength of character. am i such a flake to not want to stand as my own person and be all that i know i should?

irregardless of Band of Brothers being a fantastic miniseries, it is also helpful because as i read winters' stories of what he experienced, my mind immediately recalled what it saw on Band of Brothers. when he talked about Bastogne i recalled the foxholes, the trees, the dismal situation. it was a fabulous point of reference to have that made the accounts that much easier to place in my mind's eye. besides, winters himself says of the film that they got it right.