Bedrock

In this life, there come times when you think you really need things to happen in a certain way. Trains need to run on time, people need to call you back, checks need to be delivered and it sure as hell needs to not rain when you’re trying to get somewhere. Even jaded, experienced Vols have things they do not expect to have to deal with. Things you told yourself would never happen occur. Stable earth falls away, but you realize you’re still standing. I have learned as long as you have faith in your own abilities, your tools and your friends, pushing through stays a question of when and not if.
I was in one of those situations that are so ridiculous that I expected Ashton Kutcher to run in at any moment and tell me I was being “punked” (fooled with). It was so bad that Becca felt sincerely bad for the jam I was in. This has never happened before. Of the actual situation, let’s just say when it came to work partner roulette, this Starsky didn’t quite get his Hutch.
How I got through it is counting those things that I trust. First is always the Ka-Bar. I’m getting pretty proficient at butchering with it and it’s always in the pack when I leave Porto-Novo. As a tool, its useful sure, but just the thought of its cool weight in my hand calms me. I may be completely SOL occasionally, but I also have a knife I can skin enough animals to build a raft to float down the Oueme River to the sea with (direct quote).
The second was my friends, who I can call whenever I need to. They’ll know what’s going on and give me balance for whether it’s a real problem or not. Without the other stagiers this would be a well-nigh impossible task. They help each of us unlock our potential, smoothing out the worst so that we can get into gear and fix the holes that we find ourselves in.
And finally, I had to trust myself. I figured it out and I have a plan. The man who sent me said we should not ask for easier times, but to be stronger men. We’ll see if he had something there.
-Dave out.