online today!Abagail Blog Comments (1,403)

RE: I was only carrying out orders.

I think Non, that we have to learn to live with our decisions. Hindsight might be a beautiful thing, but it is called such for a reason. I am not sure there is a right or wrong answer...just a hovering question.

I re-read your comment several times, Non...

"Life being the motivator of the actions."

We do what is necessary to survive. Your comment rings true.

RE: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Jill... I agree. Sometimes saying sorry is accepting what you have done wrong, so you can forgive yourself too.

Ownership is a unique concept.

RE: I was only carrying out orders.

No. The action has not changed.

So, would you , in that case, choose to be shot, rather than follow directions and make it home to see your family again?

RE: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Hello Average... This is a well thought out and well written blog and I enjoyed reading it.

Sometimes it's too late to say sorry... and sometimes the person never wanted to hear it. By not accepting an apology a person can blame them indefinitely.

RE: June 6, 1944

I have been brought up on stories of Gallipoli and the Kokoda Trail... Those men united with the belief that it was their fortitude that would make the difference. They were true to their countries and their convictions ... it's hard to imagine what they faced.

Last child in the woods

I don't believe I can control my fear enough to jump from a plane. I had a panic attack at the Grand Canyon years ago. However, since then I have pressed forward and climbed Tarzans Tree at Disneyland ( I don't remember much about what was in it, as I was focused on making it to the top), I have done SkyRail in Cairns, I have been over Cataract Gorge twice in Tasmania, had dinner in the CN Tower in Toronto, been across Niagara Falls in a helicopter... My fear grounds me, and challenges me.

Last child in the woods

Why DO people jump out of perfectly good aircraft?

Last child in the woods

Dare I ask? Let me guess, you were tied up by the natives and as you fought gallantly against the ropes, you damaged your shoulder... .

Last child in the woods

I have one on my leg from a swimming accident as a teenager, another on my hand from a broken bottle, the other hand a stab wound... and the list goes on. Life certainly was interesting.

These days, I play too carefully. Although, I did cut myself rather badly on rocks in Thailand. I laughed about it at the time, because I had to explore them... and then I returned to the boat bleeding, much to the horror of my friends. Although, the worst of it was I broke my toe when I walked into a rock , when I was out swimming. But seriously, I am slowing down.

Last child in the woods

I asked someone recently if they had any scars, and they honestly answered , "Just one". I was astounded. I perhaps have too many, but then they are signs of the times.

So, what about your, Bogart... do you have any?

Last child in the woods

Mark Twain went out and discovered his environment... I believe you align well with him, Bogart.

RE: I was only carrying out orders.

I am confused about the angle you are coming from, Non. In War, we always believe the opposing side are brutes... however that is how they see us. I know that German soldiers for instance, were shot if they did not carry out orders. There is a chain reaction there... they have families to feed.

So, what are you referring to?

Last child in the woods

Calli... There is certainly some truth in it. They cannot cope without their mobile phones. I recall when I took my daughter to the US in 2009... She was so angry with me initially. No phone, no computer. I tend to not carry either on vacation. Nowadays she has some amazing memories of Yellowstone Park, Mt St Helens and other places... But for the whole time, she remained angry that I 'stole' her devices.

Last child in the woods

I have friends that have been married for over 20 years... and others that have only been married recently... There doesn't seem to be a design or a reason, Martha. Your day will come, then I will expect an invite.

Last child in the woods

You look young, Martha... so you still have time to marry.

I am glad you had a wonderful time.

Last child in the woods

Martha, I have a few friends I keep in touch with from when I was younger... It's amazing how long friendships can last. Actually one of them brought me dinner last night... I have been friends with her since I was 16, and she felt sorry for me being housebound. That's what friends do I guess.

Did you enjoy the re-union? Finding out what had happened to everyone?

Last child in the woods

KNenagh... Isn't it interesting that we don't consider it safe for children these days, to do what we did ourselves?

You describe your walk so vividly, without the same experiences as us... what will the children of the future be like as adults?

Martha... it was a pretty wonderful time, wasn't it?

Last child in the woods

Is our generation as guilty as our predecessors... We want for our children what we didn't have ourselves. But ... was our childhood really that bad? I recall having less, never being bored and always exploring.

Thanks for washing my car, Mike.

... Oh wait, you didn't... it's still sitting out there unwashed!

Last child in the woods

Thank you, Non.

So let me guess, your parents and grandparents walked ten miles to school in the snow... uphill...without shoes...???

I do think we are making it too sterile for children... I think there's a time in our life where we eat dirt, bleed and all with wild aplomb.

Enjoy your swim.

Last child in the woods

It's okay, Mike... You can't be clever, like a girl.

Last child in the woods

Thank goodness it's only you losing your mind, Mike... I had wondered where it was coming from.

Last child in the woods

Do you mean my boss, my co-workers, my friends? Um... No. I think it's lovely that they all care.

I used to have a man I hired as a gardener, he was here one day. I had a plasterer here the same day, when a friend dropped by to help me put a hose reel on the wall. ( Yes, I fail with boy toys , such as drills). The last one commented loudly out the front of my home, "You have an ever revolving door with men coming and going, what sort of place do you run here". I nearly died. The plasterer said he had wondered the same thing.

Last child in the woods

You are a clever wee laddie, Mike.

Last child in the woods

Oh I remember my parents playing music on the record player, but you weren't allowed to jump around to it, because it made the record skip... and usually made my father very angry.

I do remember times being different. You knew the names of your neighbours, you stopped to talk to them, in fact... sometimes you shared lunch with them.

RE: PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY

Yes, Mike. Really... a gold star! I have seen struggling poets destroy the concept of poetry, but you have done something that is very good here.

Last child in the woods

Thank you for sharing, Welela. I recall playing outside until it went dark... and then my mother would yell at me. The good thing was that there were four of us to focus on yelling at...so we took turns. The boys usually were worse than me, so they were yelled at more often.

Last child in the woods

Thank you, Boban.

So do you think the children remain inside because that's where the electrical outlets are?

RE: PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY

Rather like Bogart, I would have asked who wrote it. To write like this bespeaks of personal experience. Raw emotion , added with talent, can lead to some remarkable results with poetry.

Again... I am upset that the emoticons do not have a gold star.

Ladies, I have a dilemma...

Welcome back, Martha... But I went to bed, I really needed sleep.

Luke... Watching the Arrow series is not a hobby, I literally own hundreds of DVDs and most of them are in plastic, because I don't sit and watch them. I would like to be gardening, but I can't do that... I would like to be going to work, but the medical certificate stops me from doing that... Good Lord, I am whining.

So when you say you fiddle with your bike, Luke? Is this a treadly or a motorcycle?

RE: New hope for us or just another deception

Boban, if you do remember the author, please pass that one on. I have never read such an article. Wouldn't we need to wipe out satellite dishes for that to occur?