Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
I’m about a week late with my weekly Wrinkles, and I just need to explain. Three Marines and a wife landed at our house and have entertained us for a few days. It was delightful to have them breaking up our day, telling us old jokes that were new to them, eating us out of house and home, and using every possible plug-in that our humble abode has. Just now they headed down our hill, two Wrangler jeeps and Dodge pickup all vintage 2000, carrying their worldly belongings, happy to be on the road again. They are headed to Yellowstone National Park, another American wonder, and they should arrive about dark, looking for Old Faithful, buffalo, and deer. The vehicles seem to be abnormally noisy, so we wonder if Marines under the age of 25 are exempt from the muffler laws. They all wore ear plugs, so I guess we don’t have to worry.
They are headed to Camp Pendleton, California, from Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington DC and seem happy to see trees and mountains, after a three-year dose of gray buildings, traffic jams, and smog. They all headed outdoors as soon as they arrived, viewed the Beartooth Mountains, breathed deeply of the clear, fresh air, and complimented, “Oh, man, this is something to see!”
My grandson has been in DC for three years, and a couple years ago, I asked him what his job was, and he answered, “To look good, of course, Grandma.” Yesterday, I asked one of the other Marines the same question, and he answered without hesitation, “To look good,” and look good they did. They are all between 5’11” and 6’1”, closely cropped hair, and muscles popping out of their shirts. That they were handsome goes without saying, and the 21-year-olds were also polite and kind. We have a limited number of beds, but they can sleep anywhere, with or without blankets and pillows. They just sprawl. It makes me smile. Thinking they had been without laundry for a few days, I showed them my washer and dryer and offered they use them. The answer was, “We don’t need them, it rained a couple days ago.” I’m puzzled at that, but who am I to argue with three Marines and a bride?
They’ve been on the road for a couple weeks, stopping at every National Monument, seeing the nation they protect and are impressed with what they saw, including Mount Rushmore and a Reptile Sanctuary somewhere down the road. They mentioned a few more, but I lost track of their adventures. Thankfully, they didn’t bring snakes from the Reptile Sanctuary as souvenirs.
Now, they are onto a new adventure, the West Coast and beyond, who knows where. I remember being 21 years old, oblivious to the rest of the world, and they are too. I pray for their safety in this wild wooly world.
If you enjoy Gail’s blogs, please share and check out my website. Her newest book, Murder in the Parsonage will be available soon.
Also, mark your calendars: Boise Book Signing: Friday, December 8, 2023. Potter’s Winery 5286 W. Chinden Blvd, Garden City, Idaho 83714. SAVE THE DATE!
