[pct-l] Creative Thinking

[Reinhold Metzger]

Say Switchback,
This weekend was exceptionally dear to me since it was both the USMC 
Birthday and Veterans Day.
And since I am both a former Marine and a Vietnam Veteran, this called 
for some celebration and "Spirited'' drinking.....hic.
Some folks say when I am drinking I do some of my best and most creative 
thinking...hic...hic.
So, as I was drinking and doing some creative thinking, I realized that 
at 236 the USMC is one year older than the United States of America....hic.
Then, as I was doing some more creative thinking, I was 
thinking.....what do the letters USMC stand for?
Some folks say they stand for  "University of Sience, Music and 
Art"....hic...hic.
Others say they stand for  "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children"....hic....hic.
I don't know about that but, I have, in my younger years, on more tan 
one occasion, been accused by the mothers of some of my former girl 
friends of being a naughty misguided child.
Hic..... even now, at the mature age of 71, some folks say I am misguided.
They say I should be lawn bowling, playing chess at the Senior Center or 
crochaing instead of running around in the wilderness for weeks at a time.
I say......THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME......running around in the 
wilderness for weeks at a time is normal behavior for 71 year olds.

BTW.....you ai'nt fully matured yet until your 71....hic....hic....hic.
Anybody under 71 is still somewhat immature....hic.

Say Switchback, since both of us are not only ''Military Veterans'' but 
also ''Backpacking Veterans'', Veterans Day has a special meaning for 
guys like us.
It was veteran hikers like us that tamed the wilderness and made it safe 
for the current hikers....hic....I
drink to that.

JMT Reinhold
Your spirit loving...hic...I mean spiritual...hic...I mean spirited 
trail companion....hic