For What It's Worth

I have been asked a couple of times, why “For What It’s Worth” as a blog title? So, I thought I might take a moment to explain and also give a few insights into some of the symbology I use within it.

First, every blog must have a title or name. It should be something catchy, memorable, and provide an idea of the content. Based on the purpose of my blog, I wanted to share “my thoughts on current events and items of interest to me”. I did not want anything like “My Two Cents” or any cute variation, such as “.02” or “2¢” or even “$0.02”. Also, I did not want my name or moniker to appear in the title, such as “Eddy’s Views On…” or “A Marine’s Take”. I did consider for a while naming it “A Redneck Marine’s Guide To Life, Love, and Liberals”. I thought I might attract the wrong crowd, so I decided against it.

After a bit of thinking, I remembered a phrase my Dad used to say when he wanted to voice his opinion, normally in an unsolicited manner. He would say, “If it means anything,” then add his comment. People tended to listen when my Dad “added his .02”. At times, Dad must have felt like E. F. Hutton. If you do not recognize the name, then you probably need to read my blog so I can help fill your brain housing group with useful information. To that end, E. F. Hutton was a brokerage powerhouse. Commercials and advertisements had the phrase, “When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen”. In other words—also an idea for a blog title—produce something that people will stop what they are doing and “listen to what you have to say” or, more literally, in this case, read what I have to write.

"For What It's Worth" cover in 1967.

While kicking around a few ideas, I was listening to a Spotify station playing music from the '60s and '70s. I heard a song by Buffalo Springfield, a Folk-Rock band. Buffalo Springfield had several well-known musicians. Richie Furay, who went on to form the Country-Rock band Poco. Stephen Stills and Neil Young would get together with David Crosby and Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Jim Messina would later partner with Kenny Loggins, forming Loggins and Messina, and Jim Fielder moved on to Blood, Sweat, & Tears. Needless to say, there was a lot of talent in this group.

In the mid-60s, they wrote and recorded a protest song that was untitled. When Stills gave it to the band’s agent, he said, “I have this song here, for what it’s worth, if you want it”. Based on the phrasing of the sentence, the agent believed the title to be “For What It’s Worth”. They cut it as the A-side to a single. For those inquiring minds, the B-side was “Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It?”. However, the song title of the A-side song is nowhere in the lyrics of the song. You might assume the protest song was about the Vietnam War, which was just getting in high gear in 1967. Well, you would be wrong. While it is a protest song, it is not about war. If you want to learn about this, do a little research. It won’t hurt.

When I heard the song, I recognized it and I immediately knew this was my blog title. The band had something to say, “Hey what’s that sound?” it got everyone’s attention. Like E. F. Hutton, people stopped and listened. Having decided on my blog title, I was going to do something different. Every individual post or entry I publish to my blog will have the title of that post appearing somewhere in the text.

Except for “The World Is Black, The World is White” published on 24 AUG 13, the blog title For What It’s Worth, and the first letter in each post is purple. I chose not to use any color in the aforementioned post because it is about race relations between Blacks and Whites. The post is all black and white except when referencing bloodshed and violence. Here, I use red in an attempt to illustrate that we may have different skin colors, but we all bleed red. Back to the reason for using purple.

Purple is my favorite color. It is the color of royalty. However, that is not why I chose it. I have a wonderful, sweet friend whose favorite poem is “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple” by Jenny Joseph. She encouraged me to write years ago. She reminded me of my gift and that I need to share it with the world. This is my homage to her; my way of recognizing her impact on and importance in my life. To this person, PEAS.😉

Because of my health, my writing is sporadic. Trying to think in a coherent manner when all you want to do is yell, makes it difficult to capture your thoughts. This situation is compounded by the dulling effect of pain meds. Regardless, I try to write something each week. Most of what I write is never published; never read by anyone but me.

I write a lot of political posts or entries, but have a fair amount of military stories as well. I have tried to tag or label each published post with pertinent identifiers to aid readers in finding a post or something to read. Posts that are not political, historical, or about the military are what I call “Fun Zone”. These are posts, much like this one, that allow the reader to escape reality for a moment and mentally check out. Maybe a ten-minute break while having a cup of coffee. Fun Zone posts include “Cheers!”, “Battle of Ed’s Shed”, “Where Dreams Come True”, “LabCorp Comedy Club”, etc. Just use the drop-down list on the top left, “All Labels.”

If you have read this far, I hope by now you are interested enough to read some of my other posts. If you like it, disagree with it, or just have something to say, please let me know. Don’t be surprised if you come across some EDDYoms (idioms). I have made several, such as NERDvana—a mental or emotional state of Utopian bliss as a result of doing anything “nerdy”; Palate Party—a tasty bite of food that is a “taste bud treat”; Premature Exclamation—being in such a hurry to reply, you fail to fully compose your idea before you speak or hit Send/Enter; Electronic Erection—sort of self-explanatory, but any form of excitement brought about by electronic gadgets. To clarify, it is far short of NERDvana.

Who knows, you might read something here and find yourself in a conversation later in the day beginning with, For What It’s Worth…..

Just Another Band Out of Boston

Author. Christmas Ball 1977.

It was the fall of 1976. I was entering my sophomore year at the home of the Mighty Milton Panthers in Milton, FL. I was asked to serve “cokes” at the Christmas Ball at Baghdad Elementary School. It was my first ever dance—although I was too afraid to actually get on the dance floor—but I was able to watch all the pretty girls from the safety of my vending booth and listen to music in stereo. The truck only had one AM speaker and one could not really appreciate music from its tinny monaural speaker but Paul Harvey sounded great. It was here at this dance I fell in love with “just another band out of Boston”. I heard “More Than a Feeling” for the first time and it remains my favorite Boston song to this day.

Debut Album Cover.

At the time I knew what “sounded” good but did not fully appreciate music. Through the years I began to understand why Boston “sounded” so much different than other great groups of the time such as Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the harmonizing vocals, the layered guitars, and the manner in which they recorded their songs. Tom Scholz, the founding member studied classical piano as a child and later earned both a BSME and MSME from MIT—those are two engineering degrees—undergrad and graduate—in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (His son would later graduate from MIT with a BSME.) He wrote most of the songs on their self-titled debut album Boston. He played most of the instruments and recorded them individually on their own “tracks” then layered them to achieve the sound we easily recognize as Boston.

L-R Barry Goodreau, Tom Scholz, Sid Hashian, Brad Delp, and Fran Sheehan, in 1977.

Accompanying Scholz was a local singer and guitarist (who also played harmonica and keyboards) Brad Delp. If Scholz was responsible for the music behind Boston, Delp was the voice out front. His range from soothing harmonizing to the “wow, he must have some tight britches” high tenor, help redefine rock music. With their long lists of hits from the iconic ‘More Than a Feeling’, to ‘Foreplay/Long Time’, the band Boston rewrote the book on lyrical composition, musical instruments (layered guitars), and technical recording equipment.

Through each of their successive albums, their sound is easily recognized. Many thought there would never be another Boston album after Delp’s death (suicide) on 09 MAR 07. But even before his death, Delp and Scholz were in the basement laying down tracks. On 03 DEC 13, Boston will release a new album Life, Love & Hope. In a recent interview, Scholz described how he stayed true to the Boston sound. “They (songs) have all been meticulously recorded to analog tape on the same machines and equipment used for Boston’s hits for the past 35 years. Sometimes even the same amps and instruments”. (Incidentally, Scholz who is infamous for his basement recordings invented The Rockman, which allows musicians to record at home and not spend money on expensive studio time while still achieving studio sound quality results. He sold the company years ago for a nice profit. He is credited as one of the pioneers in home recording technology and making the process of cutting an album less costly and easier.)

The first single "Heaven On Earth" has been released on their website and

Heaven On Earth Album Cover.

YouTube to give you a taste of the music on the album. Based on this taste, I cannot wait to get more. For me, the song provides a musical link between today and the sounds of the 70s—the time of my youth. As I have mentioned in past writings, certain songs or artists bring to mind specific people. When I hear Jackson Browne or Chicago, I think of Kim Watson. Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” reminds me of Kerrie Shaw and all the times we danced to that song. (I finally overcame my fear of the dance floor with a little help from a Gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Jack Daniel. He, however, takes no credit for my movements that some have described as a cross between a dying snake and a frog’s leg attached to a battery.) Christopher Cross’ “Sailing” is all Suzy Timmons. Songs and artists from the 60s like Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and Peter, Paul, and Mary’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” brings Patti Peacher to mind. Lynyrd Skynyrd reminds me of Jeff Roberts and his "Smokey and the Bandit" Black Trans-Am Firebird (strange how all other songs remind me of girls and this one of Big Un). However, when I hear Boston, it is all Jill Garlock. Needless to say, I love Boston. 

Click on the YouTube video for the new single and in the words of Boston….

Turned on some music to start my day

I lost myself in a familiar song

I closed my eyes and I slipped away

It’s more than a feeling…

My Top 10 Boston Songs

9. “Amanda”

    “Hitch a Ride”

8. “A Man I’ll Never Be”

7. “Smokin’”

6. “Rock & Roll Band”

5. “Peace of Mind”

4. “Foreplay/Long Time”

3. “Let Me Take You Home Tonight”

2. “Don’t Look Back”

1. “More Than a Feeling”

For additional information, please visit the Boston webpage.

Good Directions

Look familiar? It is her fault they are lost.

Wife: Do you know where you are going?

Husband: No, but we are making great time.

We have all heard the jokes about men not wanting to ask for directions and for the most part refusing to admit they are lost. I have never been lost. Although I must confess, there have been times I was “momentarily disoriented”.

The youth and young adults of this generation probably laugh when they read something like the above, not because of the subject but rather they have no concept of being lost. They live in a world of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that are standard features on many new cars, are available as portable GPS units (TomToms and Garmins), and even have it on their cell phones. They can “navigate” to a location, but still have no idea where they are. They confuse arriving at their destination, as knowing where they are and how to navigate. But before we speak too much of technology, let’s continue with men and women navigating.

Why are men better at navigating? Men have the edge in a type of memory called visuospatial processing. Men would be more likely to remember how to find their way out of the woods than women. Men have a better sense of direction. Men are better at getting from point A to point B, but at the same time less likely to realize if they take a wrong term. Men aren’t really reluctant to ask directions, we just do not realize we are lost.

In a recent brain imaging study (largest ever—over 26,000 men and women by Daniel Amen, MD), men had greater activity in regions associated with visual perception, tracking objects through space, and form recognition. Men have better spatial awareness—perhaps explaining why we like to use maps to navigate. This might explain why most men can “visualize” what a house will look like when constructed in 3D while viewing “blueprints” that are 2D.

All jokes aside. Knowing where we are and how to get to our destination is important. In the Marine Corps, we had to master Land Navigation (Land Nav). Since we usually deployed in 5 to 7-man teams behind established lines, we had to know our current location and how to get to our destination. The same principles we learned on land are also used during HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) parachute jumps and Combatant Diving Operations (think SCUBA with guns and bombs). Principles are unchanging, regardless of circumstances.

Lensatic compass and topo map.

My time in the Corps was long before the proliferation of GPS devices. The Department of Defense started working on a “satellite-based” navigation system in the late 50s and early 60s. The USAF was the first service to use a satellite navigation system in the 1970s and it was not until the late 80s that elite military units (USA Special Forces, USN SEALs, USAF CCT/PJs, and USMC Force Recon) started using first-generation hand-held devices. However, they were too bulky and extremely sensitive to weather (rain-blocked signal), water and dirt, and terrain, many units preferred the tried and true method of “map and compass”. Even today, with each man possessing his own GPS device, military units still teach and students must master map and compass techniques.

We used topographical (topo) maps, a Lensatic compass (“glowed” in the dark), grease pens, a ruler, and a length of 550 or paracord. (This is the material used in parachute suspension lines). We tied knots in the cord to keep track of our distance traveled. It is imperative to know how far you have traveled. To obtain your pace count, “ruck up” with all combat gear and clothing, walk a known distance, and count each time your “left foot strikes the deck”—your pace. Then divide that number by distance. Multiply the result by 100. On average, a man on level, smooth ground has a pace count of 60 per 100 meters. Many factors can influence pace count. Unequal weight distribution, direction Sun is shining or rain is falling (we turn our head away from these and go in the direction our head points), uneven ground, one leg longer than the other, uphill/downhill, with/against the wind, etc. In a 5 or 6-man team, at least two people would keep pace count. Every 100 meters, tie a small knot, on the 10^th knot tie it much larger.

Marine using a red lens to view map.

When you start out on a course, you confirm your present location by comparing known surroundings to a topographical map. Set your course. Locate a fixed object(s) in that direction (in front of you) immediately turn 180 degrees and locate a fixed object behind you. Start walking and counting paces along the way. With a known pace count and a known distance between two points, you have a pretty good idea of your present location. Many times we had to perform individual Land Nav courses always at night. We gather with combat loads, a compass, a map, red-lensed flashlights, and a day/night flare (to signal help). We are given a set of coordinates and told to start. We have no idea how many coordinates (checkpoints) we must navigate, or what the maximum time allotted between each coordinate (checkpoint) is. Nor do we know the total maximum allowed time for the entire course. We were not to speak to anyone nor aid another Marine. Once we arrive at a set of coordinates, a Marine manning the checkpoint asks for our name and records the time of arrival. He then asks if we have any injuries that would prevent us from continuing. He then gives the next set of coordinates and asks “Show me where you are now” and “Show me where you are going”. Finally, he records the departure time and tells you to proceed. It is not until you are told to walk down the road to a pick-up point that you know you have completed the course. At that time you do not know if you “made time” or not. You learn that later.

From playing in the woods as a child, then hunting and my time in the Corps, I am fairly comfortable away from city streets and lights. However, there are times when you find yourself “momentarily disoriented”. What then? First, you STOP. Do not take another step forward. Instead, look behind you, and see where you have been. Then backtrack until you are no longer disoriented and know your location. Then plot your course, and proceed to the next set of coordinates.

Life is much like a Land Nav course, but unlike using a map both males and females get lost. Sometimes we know where we are and even our destination and have checkpoints along the way. Then there are times we find ourselves in a dark, densely wooded area and do not know where we are. We might have tripped and fallen down. We are lost and it might take some time but normally we find our way. Then a little while later, we are lost again. Or worse, we find ourselves and make it to our destination only to find that the destination is not where we really wanted to go or is not as it was represented.

It is easy to find your way when you are able to get a “bird’s eye” view, but when we are in the dark woods, we do not have that benefit. Maybe we lost (pace) count or have walked uphill too long and feel like quitting. Maybe we are injured either physically or emotionally and just do not have the desire to continue on. What then? Well, for me I then turn to GPS—God’s Positioning System—and place my trust in Him. God is a fixed point. He is an anchor. Isaiah 30: 21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” From this verse, there are several key points.

1. No matter which way you go on your own, it will not be the right way. We will always be lost unless God helps us.
2. God is willing to show us the way to keep us on the right path. We have to accept His offer.
3. When we are lost, God is behind us. Think of this last one for a moment. God is not where we are expecting to find Him, if so He would not be behind us but where we are looking. This is not the only time God is not where we expect Him. In Revelation 1:12, John hears a voice and God is behind him. Additionally, like Land Nav when we are lost, we must look behind us to find our way.

Once we are found, then we must go in the direction God leads. If and mostly likely when, we choose to go our own way, we will get lost again. We must listen to His directions. The Psalmist writes in Chapter 37:23-24, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Another way of reading that is God leads us and points out all the objects that could make us stumble or fall. He is in front, and we follow. Only when we “turn to the right or to the left” and leave Him behind, do we lose His guidance. Many times when I am walking through those dense woods thinking I am following Him only to learn I am blazing my own trail. I must go back to Him. He is right where I left Him. He will then lead me home.

Over the years Kim Watson and I have made several road trips. She is as smart and intelligent as anyone I have ever met. However, she is not that great with directions. That is okay, all that data at the beginning of this post, explains this. On one of our trips, we were listening to some road trip CDs and one of our favorite songs was “Good Directions” by Billy Currington. For those that have not heard the song, it tells of a young man sitting on the side of the road selling fresh-picked turnip greens, much like any roadside vegetable stand we see here in the South. Along came a city girl that was lost and “lookin’ for the interstate”. He gives her directions to a country store and to go inside to ask the owner Ms. Bell for a glass of iced tea and she could then give directions to the interstate. Well, the next thing you know she is back. It appears she got her glass of iced tea and Ms. Bell—his mom—gave her directions right back to him. To me, this song demonstrates we can get not only where we are going, but where we are destined to be if we just follow the right directions and get them from the right person.

Are you having trouble finding your way? Are you lost? Do you find yourself stopping and not recognizing your surroundings? Do you even know where you are going? Many of us can say “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” Can you? Perhaps, you simply need someone who can give you “Good Directions”.

"God will show me the path of life". Psalm 16:11 

Where Dreams Come True

Original Sleds.

Happy Anniversary Space Mountain! Tuesday, 15 JAN 13 marks the 38^th anniversary of the opening of Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. I took my first ride in the last months of my senior year at Milton High School. All Beta Club Officers and several club members attended the National Beta Club Convention in Orlando, FL during APR 1979. It was my first visit to the Park and my first ride on Space Mountain. The excitement for the visit was indescribable: I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney on NBC on a small black and white TV every Sunday evening. (Years later, we got a color TV and to me, it was beautiful—especially the fireworks and the Castle and Tinker Bell with her magic wand. It was Magical.) To me, Disney represented a way to escape the problems of “real life” and mentally check out. To make the ride more memorable, I rode it with a special person. A young, beautiful girl that I am lucky to still have in my life: Kim Watson. Kim hates roller coasters, yet she rode Space Mountain. One extra benefit of that first ride was the type of “sled” used. The larger person sat down with their back against the vertical portion of the seat and then spread their legs. The smaller person then sat between the legs of the first passenger on the extended horizontal seat that was shared by both riders. A single lap belt strapped both riders together and safely in the sled. What man would not want to ride with her? I wish (1) pictures were taken of the riders like is done now and (2) Disney still used the original sleds. Regardless, if a redneck, country boy like me, could ride this ride with a beautiful girl, the place was truly "where dreams come true".

For those that have been lucky enough to ride Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom or at other Disney parks (Space Mountain, Disneyland—California, Space Mount: Mission 2, Disneyland—Paris, Space Mountain, Disney Resort—Tokyo, Space Mountain, Disneyland—Hong Kong), you know how your anticipation grows with each step you take along the queue. Pictured on the walls are the now familiar scenes of life in Space. Self-sufficient outposts, where families live in condos growing hydroponic vegetables. It appears so real; so life-like, that you begin to believe the fantasy. It is simply magical. If this is possible in the future, what other magical things exist? Walt Disney did not create his theme parks for children. No, he created them for the child in all of us. Children already believe in fantasy; and magic. Adults need a little help. Peter Pan had to believe before he could fly. Remember?

Queue scenes.

The Queue (Pre-Launch). After you enter the building, you are now in the queue that leads to the Boarding Zone. You notice the floor is sloping downward. On either side are scenes of humans living in space in the near future. The lights begin to dim and at times you can hear the sound of screams. Soon, you must choose to go either to the Left or to the Right. To the Left is “Alpha” and to the Right is “Omega”. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.

The Ride (Blast-Off). Once you are seated in your Rocket Ship, and your safety harness is checked, you are then launched downward and into a long straight tunnel. You feel your speed begin to accelerate. While in the tunnel strobe lights flash and blue lights rotate simulating your launch into outer space. Out of the tunnel, you begin to climb the 180-foot lift hill and hear that familiar “clack, clack, clack” associated with all roller coasters. At the top of the lift hill, you dodge incoming “space cookies” (meteors) and zoom into the inky black expanse of space. With Starry-O-Phonic sound, using over 60 speakers, you hear the meteors speeding by, and the sound of other space conversations. (I know, in the vastness of space there is no sound, but let’s not ruin our flight.) About 2 minutes later, you enter the explosion tunnel, then return to complete darkness. After you slow down, you enter the arriving zone, where you disembark. Afterward, you are on a moving sidewalk that is on an incline (remember you were walking down a sloping floor entering); we all remember the TV screens—don’t forget to smile.

Fun Facts and Trivia

Ø  Oldest operating roller coaster in the state of Florida

Ø  Mercury 9 and Gemini 5 astronaut Gordon Cooper was part of the creative team

Ø  First roller coaster ride to perpetual darkness

Ø  Two tracks, Alpha and Omega. Alpha is 10 feet longer at 3,196 feet.

Ø  Ride starts out 15 feet underground

Ø  Original name was Space Port and planned for Disneyland

Ø  Maximum Speed is 28 MPH in the morning (while grease is cold) and 31 MPH in the afternoon

Ø  Ride time: 2 minutes, 47 seconds

Ø  Originally was an “E” ride.

Ø  One of several rides to test “Fast Pass”

Ø  First official rider: Colonel James Irwin, pilot of the Lunar Module on Apollo XV

Ø  Space Mountain rides are in all Disney Theme Parks around the world

Ø  Capacity: 1250 per lane, 2500 total (based on 6 riders per rocket)

Ø  Height requirement: 44 inches

Trivial Engineering Info

Space Mountain Design.

Disney Imagineers are always “imagining” concepts that force design and structural engineers and architects to seek new technologies, design, and construction materials. Space Mountain was no exception. The designers wanted a smooth internal surface so they could project stars and other space objects. This meant no internal supports. Therefore the building has a distinctive roof line and superstructure. If you ride the Peoplemover, it takes you through Space Mountain. If you are lucky enough to be riding during a time of maintenance or unplanned interruption, you can see the track with the lights on.

While special effects have changed dramatically in the last 30-plus years, the effects used in Space Mountain were cutting-edge in the mid-70s. The stars are simply reflected light off of a mirrored spheroid ball. The ride has 20+ balls. The shooting stars are spotlights mounted on a system that allows for 160-degree movement, thus giving the illusion of movement across the sky.

Inside the “mountain” is an area of 4,508,500 cubic feet. Alongside each track is a walkway to give maintenance access and provide a means of egress in the event of an emergency. The base of the building is 300 feet. The ride is made using tubular steel (the second roller coaster to use this technology, the first was Matterhorn in Disneyland), with the load wheels riding on the “top” of steel, with guide and stop wheels on the “bottom” of the steel. The steel replaced laminated wood, which reduces maintenance, increased lifespan, increases ride capacity, and allows for more dramatic turns (can be bent), and with polyurethane wheels, the ride is quieter. Quite simply, Disney’s design revolutionized roller coaster technology. Without Space Mountain and the Matterhorn, none of the modern rides would have existed. At least, not in the time frame we know.

In my first year of college, I had to write and give a speech of tribute. The instructor suggested individuals such as a coach, Sunday School teacher, or a family member who has had an impact on our lives. I chose Walt Disney. It had only been a few months since my first visit, so I was still reliving all the events. I enjoy public speaking; I have no problem standing in front of a room full of people. I like grabbing their attention and not letting go until they have heard all I have to say. The person I chose to give tribute to was one everyone including the instructor could relate to. I saw their faces change from casually observing to being fully engaged; from showing no emotion to grins and smiles. Walt Disney has that effect on everyone. I still remember some of my speech: "....then in 1955 near Anaheim, CA, Walt Disney created the ultimate escape. A place adults can go to escape the outside world, a place they could smile as only a child...." At the conclusion of my speech, I received a standing ovation. The only one in a class of 30 plus students. I like to think it was my great oratory skills, but I know it was more about the subject and how all adults can relate to the magic of Walt Disney.

Twenty years later while in grad school I wanted to write my thesis on Disney, but had to change to Nike. The purpose of the thesis was to take a Fortune 500 company, report on its profitability, marketing strategy, potential threats, etc, and then suggest what the company could do to increase market share, increase revenues, and increase profits. It would have been more difficult to write that paper because Disney is such a successful company. When it comes to best practices, Disney leads not only the other entertainment companies but is world renowned for its management techniques  The  Disney Institute is a division that trains other company’s management teams. I really wanted to do my last college assignment on the same subject as one of my firsts. Sort of like "first and last", or Alpha and Omega. Perhaps, my college days are not yet complete.

Disney is successful because it hires individuals who have the right attitude and want to make guests' experiences magical. They invest in the cast member and in turn, the cast member buys into Disney's philosophy, vision, and mission. They allow the cast members the freedom to exercise their judgment in an effort to make the guests' experiences magical. Disney listens to their guests (customers), the process, and their cast members (employees). Disney is successful because they pay attention to their customers (guests) and want to provide them the best experience they can possibly imagine. It does not matter if the customer is watching an animated movie on DVD, a sports program on ESPN, or the rides and shows at a Disney theme park. Disney believes a “guest” is not merely entering an amusement park when they walk through the turnstiles, but rather are entering a “magical place” where lifelong memories are made and dreams come true. In a previous blog Tonight, We Are Young,  I describe how the brain “makes” a memory using the five different senses. Every Disney cast member takes part in creating wonderful guest experiences. Walking down Main Street in Magic Kingdom, you cannot help but smell freshly baked Apple pie wafting from the Main Street Bakery, or mouth-watering hot dogs coming from Casey’s Corner. Music from the Dapper Dans (Barbershop Quartet) puts you in a festive mood. If you are on Soarin’ at EPCOT, (a ride that places the guest in a hang glider soaring over the California landscape), Disney installed fans that blow a gentle breeze over your face. When flying over breaking waves, they mix in a little sea spray; flying over orange groves you smell citrus. If visiting the Tower of Terror In Hollywood Studios, you cannot help but feel the musky, damp air that you would expect in an old worn down, haunted hotel from yesteryear. Of course, when you are visiting A Bug’s Life in Animal Kingdom, you cannot forget the distinct odor of a stink bug. Yes, Disney knows how to use the five senses synergistically to not only make the experience more fun while you are there but also make the memories more vivid and easier to recall.

Space Mountain

Since my first ride 34 years ago, I have logged numerous laps on both Alpha and Omega at Disney World and also have ridden Space Mountain at Disneyland (while stationed in California). To me, Space Mountain is a must-ride on each visit. It is far more than a roller coaster ride to me—it is a tangible example of all I thought of as a child watching “Disney” on television. Sadly, I think my days of riding are over. On my last trip to Disney World in 2011, I rode Space Mountain only one time. I am not as young as I used to be and certainly do not have the physical health I once had. My pain level after the ride was too high and lasted much longer than I like to acknowledge. However, I have wonderful memories of this ride and whenever I see the ride’s distinctive superstructure I am immediately drawn back to Disney World Resort, to the Magic Kingdom, to Space Mountain, to my first ride with Kim, and back to those Sunday evenings watching The Wonderful World of Disney with my brothers. You know, I think I have one last ride left in me. I will save that for a trip when I can share it with the person I rode with on my first ride. In a way it is fitting. Kim was there for the first and hopefully will be there for the last. Sort of like, Alpha and Omega. Well, Disney World is the place "where dreams come true".

Update: My youngest daughter Morgan just learned she was accepted into the Disney College Program. She will leave in mid-August and work through the first of JAN 2014. When we were visiting Disney World in 1999, Mo kept noticing the name tags worn by the cast members. Some had a city and state, others had a college. I explained to my six-year-old daughter if she worked hard in school and college, she too could get a job at Walt Disney World. I had tried before explaining the importance of making goals and working towards them. My six-year-old made her first goal or as she called it a 'dream', to work at Disney in college. This past month her 14-year dream came true. (APR 2013)

"Laughter is timeless; imagination has no age, and dreams are forever." --- Walt Disney

Tonight, We Are Young

Years ago, while serving in uniform I had several “periods of instructions” from guys with lots of letters behind their names teaching us how to take in and record the situation—essentially they taught us how to make a memory. They explained how different senses store memories in different parts of the brain. The intent or purpose of the instruction was to help us capture data in the field and then be able to ‘download’ it when we returned to base. So many hours of close your eyes and tell me, “What do you smell?” “What do you feel?” What do you hear?” “What do you taste?” and finally, “What do you see?” We got to the point where we were always on sensory overload, but it worked. Today, people say, “Eddy remembers everything”. Or, “Eddy is great with dates.” (I assume they are referring to calendar dates, but I like to think I am (was) great with the ladies I took on dates.) Regardless, we need our senses. They are the inputs for our environment. Our senses are the pathways for interpreting the world.

(l-r) Author, Shavone, Billy Joe, DEC 84.

(l-r) John, Randy, Author. DEC 81.

Many things we experience through our senses can transport us to another time and place. The smell of bacon reminds me of all the mornings camping as a young boy with my family. Mom would usually fry bacon and scrambled eggs. That aroma puts me in my sleeping bag at any of a hundred campsites. The smell of homemade rolls reminds me of Thanksgiving at my maternal grandmother’s house—we always had to eat at 1100!  The sight of a green rose stops me in my tracks; the world gets fuzzy then I am back in the arms of an older woman; her soft, smooth, skin, contagious laughter, and the scent of perfume on her wrists and neck. Beautiful memories. Songs can have the same impact on us. Something as simple as a college fight song can pull you back to a time of watching your team take the field. Music is everywhere: in the background of commercials, in malls or shopping centers, passing cars, and soundtracks to movies.

Over the last several months I have heard the song “We Are Young” by the Indie Rock group Fun. featuring Janelle Monàe. Yes, there is a period after the band’s name. This is the song that was in the Super Bowl ad for the Chevy Sonic. The chorus is simply:

Tonight, we are young

So let’s set the world on fire

We can burn brighter than the sun.

Author. AUG 1978

The lyrics accompanied by the drum, piano, and guitar plus the tempo in which they are singing, grab me. Throw in Janelle’s bluesy, sultry voice and it makes you sing along. This song takes me to a time of just beginning my “adult” life. A time when I no longer had the constraints of a curfew. A time of feeling invincible. A time of great promise. A time with wonderful friends, who together can do anything, and we are going to do it tonight. A time filled with youthful exuberance when we would not let anything come between us and our goals. A time we felt invincible. A time we told lies and made memories.

I remember all the nights with Randy Meredith, all the places we went, the people we met; all the fun we had. We would buy a 1.75-liter bottle of Jack (back when it was 90-proof) and we would drink it all on Friday and Saturday nights. Nights we spent at Rodeo (Holiday Inn behind University Mall), closing it down and going to Waffle House (Double Double platter) before going back to his momma’s house. We would inevitably wake her because our rooms were directly above hers. Do you remember trying to drive from Ft. Pickens back to Gulf Breeze on the beach with Mimi and getting my F150 4x4 stuck? Do you remember the many nights with Robin the DJ at WXBM playing the songs from Byrd's (Maples) "Do Not Play" stack? I still cannot believe she opened the door at midnight to two guys she had only talked to on the phone.

I remember all the nights in Palm Springs, CA while stationed at 29 Palms MCAGCC, CA. On my first night in Las Vegas, walking from one Casino to the next. Oh yes, I remember Bambi. She had her own burlesque show and taught me the tease was more important than the strip. I remember the cold sleepless nights at Amphibious Reconnaissance School (think Ranger school on steroids and you spend the entire time wet). I just wanted to make it through until morning. Then I can eat some chow. Then hang on until lunch. When I finished the course, I was invincible.

I remember all the piano and jazz bars in Chicago. Such wonderful music, great drinks, and fun people. Never wanting the night to end. Her voice, her incredible voice. She was a transplant from The Big Easy to her new home in The Windy City. She was a “redbone” girl with a mixed heritage of Black, Native American, and French. She sang with an emotion in her voice that left no doubt she had experienced all she sang about.

I remember all the past girlfriends and why it did not work out for us. The possibility of what could have been. I remember kissing you for our last goodbye as the Sun rose over the Atlantic and walking alone on an empty beach as the last of the Sun’s rays filled the western sky, setting over the Pacific. I remember the feelings of falling in love; when I could not wait to hear her voice on the telephone. I remember the scent of her hair as she sat beside me in my truck. I remember seeing her for the first time and having to think to breathe. I remember riding horses beside the creek. I remember picnics and the sundress she wore, and the sandals she so easily kicked off.

Donna and Author. JUN 1982

I remember my first time at Walt Disney World and riding Space Mountain for the first time with Kim Watson. I remember my trip to Disneyland—I went alone because no other Marine wanted to go. I remember my nights at Hotel del Coronado. I remember the first time I “jumped” from an aircraft and the first time I met a Gold Star Wife.

I remember all the parties, get-togethers, outings, gatherings, and bonfires. I remember all the laughs and all the tears. I remember all the plans. Drinking beer, telling lies, and making memories.

Normally, my memories of yesteryear are triggered by hearing a song of the time around the accompanying memory. Songs like “Hot Blooded”—always think of Kerrie Shaw dancing with me, “Key Largo”—I wanted a love affair like "Bogie and Bacall", “Working on our 'Night Moves'” with so many beautiful girls, the songs of Kansas, Boston, and Lynyrd Skynyrd; the list is endless. However, this song—this contemporary song—turns the calendar back decades. I do not know if it does the same to you, but you know what I am referring to. The songs that evoke a tangible emotion connecting us with our past.

For me, this song evokes great memories. We all have those moments in our past. The times we spent with great friends. Times full of youthful indiscretions. Times when we had our entire lives ahead of us. Times when we did not worry about tomorrow; “now” was far more important. Times of throwing responsibility aside and living in the moment. The times we felt invincible. The times we just enjoyed telling lives and making memories

As we get older, the distance between the “now” and the times of the memories grows. It is sometimes hard to accept that we might never be able to capture the magic of those moments. This makes the memory sweeter. Please do not misunderstand. I am not suggesting at our age we should roll over and die—we have a lot of living left in us. A lot of memories left to make. But the times of our youth are behind us. We cannot go back. You do not need all the “periods of instruction” from the government teaching about memories. I am glad I received the training; it helps me at times when I want to recall my past. Some of my memories are only important to me and those I was with at the time. With songs like this, I simply close my eyes and relive some of my happiest and even saddest moments.

With my current health, I cannot do what I used to do. I realize each year my pain level increases and my mobility decreases. Yet, I want more memories. I want to live like there is no tomorrow. I want to be with my friends. I want to go out and do crazy things. I want to stay out all night. I want to feel invincible. I want to tell lies and make memories.  I want you to join me. I want to live as if Tonight, We Are Young.

"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone." - John Cougar