Wing Man Departures and Curious Case

Wing Man in Action Last Saturday

Yesterday was a downer, no doubt involved, and not due solely to the infamous Monday appellation the day carries.  My daughter and son in law were called back to New York City to pursue their lives while leaving a gaping hole in my wife’s and my contentment percentage.  While understanding the need to continue with their own path it was difficult (as always) to drop them off at the train station.  Connecticut must have understood my need to grieve as it threw up only a token of its normal effort to disrupt the drive there and back even though it was the peak of the rush hour.

Of Course there was a Sword Involved!
A Bit of Overkill on that Sized Cake

He's Fairly New to the Sword so He Blew the Candle Out After the Cut
Rookie Mistake

Today is my son in law’s birthday which we made a gallant attempt to mark yesterday before they hit the road.  We fielded what was billed as the “world’s best cheesecake” (and possibly the smallest).  He’s not comfortable being the center of gift giving but that didn’t slow us down.  He needs to understand how much we think of him and the joy he’s brought into our lives.  He also a more than capable wing man for pub crawls and an energetic defender of sirloin steaks against canine predation.  His real talent though is making my daughter happy; his most appreciated aptitude.  You can thrust him into a crowd of strangers and he will emerge shortly thereafter with a group of new friends; a deep and thoughtful soul.  Happy Birthday Wing Man!

Son in Law and Daughter Yesterday
Boy Do I Miss Them!

The curious case of Sergeant Bergdahl is currently plying across the air waves.  I think the Obama administration thought they were going to get a big political boost by their “heroic” exchange of five senior Taliban idiots for Bergdahl.  If so, I think they should prepare for this to blow up in their face.  Bergdahl abandoned his post and walked willingly or at least inanely into Taliban custody. I agree with Obama that we never leave anyone behind, even if the one we’re looking for is more than a little misguided.  Bergdahl should answer for his actions and the lives his actions cost. 

Since the administration is trying to spin this as a “good news” story I hope that they don’t lean on the military to prevent justice from catching up with Bergdahl; if in fact it’s warranted.  I’ve seen political pressure exerted in this regard and it never ends well for anyone involved; including commanders in chief.  At this point we only have the uncorroborated, breathless news coverage to go on which means we really don’t know what truly happened that night in Afghanistan.

There’s a hue and cry that that the “idiots” will go back to work for the Taliban but I’m guessing they’re pretty much compromised from their extended stay in sunny Cuba and will never be trusted into the inner circles again.