AW-#### moments

[shortridge]

 

The Wood Badge youngsters thread got me thinking...

 

What was your AW-#### moment in life?

 

Mine was the birth of my daughter five years ago, a slam-bang-dunk lifechanger.

[GernBlansten]

Could someone define what one of these moments are? I'm having a hard time differntiating normal life events from these.

[GKlose]

My moment was my first "D" in school, ever. College, freshman Physics, which also happened to be my first ever physics course. I had zero clue.

 

My dad saw my grade card, and simply said "what happened?" I think he understood because he had always told the story that his physics professor in college was an old German that had worked on the Manhattan Project, and that he couldn't make heads or tails out of what the guy was talking about.

 

Thinking back about it, I'm laughing. I can't even count how many moments since where I've had zero clue.

 

Guy

[Eagle92]

Although I had to grow up faster than my peers, once dad walked out I had to assume some adult responsibilities like paying my own way and helping to support my mom. The big " AW ############" moment was when I left everything behind: friends, family, home, and everything I was comfortable with, to move 1/3 across the nation to take my first job after college. I went from an urban, "les Bon Temps roulle" environment to "the Belt Buckle of the Bible Belt." I was in culture shock and depressed for some time, but eventually thrived.

 

Someone elsewhere mentioned boot camp. From my limited experience with my JROTC trip to Parris Island and 'Hell Week" in college ROTC, I can definately relate a little to that.

 

Some minor moments compared to the Big one above: getting married, and the birth of my first son. My wife and son gave me some additional realizations to life, and I am STILL learning from my three boys everyday, but that first move on my one proved to myself that whatever life threw at me, I could handle alone if need be.

(This message has been edited by eagle92)

[scoutldr]

Well, AW-#### doesn't mean what I thought, apparently...like some big terrible mistake with real consequences. Today's kids, for the most part, have been sheltered and have never had to experience consequences.

 

But, as far as life-changing events, definitely the birth of my two sons, both of whom were, um, shall we say, "unplanned" (but I was married, thank God). Even more surprising was that it was supposedly a medical impossibility, but God had other plans for us, as is often the case. The other events (so far) were, in 1995 getting the phone call at work that my dad had passed...he had cancer and was undergoing chemo and radiation, but his death at that point was not expected. Then having to hold my mom in my arms 6 months later as she breathed her last breath from complications of diabetes and a heart attack. Then last year, my own first major illness and surgery at age 54, diverticulitis and a colon resection.

 

The next event we're looking forward to is my younger son's marriage in October...I have a feeling grandkids won't be far behind (but at least 9 months behind, I hope)! (Son will make a great DL!!! I can't WAIT!)

[Eamonn]

I read what John posted.

I'm not so sure that I've had that many of these moments?

I have had some life altering events.

The birth of my son.

My marriage. - The big Stuff!!

I tend to think that as I age, I'm more open to these moments. I seem to notice things more than I used to. I enjoy the little things more than I used to and no longer go out of my way to chase the big things.

Someone once said to me that education comes from learning something from every-person that you have ever met, everyplace you have ever been, every book you have ever read. In short education comes from life.

If we choose to live a life where all we do is watch TV and wait for the day to come when we hit the Power-Ball.

Life will pass us by.

Working with kids does give us a lot of these moments. Most come and go with each of us just allowing ourselves a little smile. But when you add all of these moments up?

We can thank the Lord for the opportunity.

We also can learn a lot from the bad stuff that happens.

The worst day of my life was when the Doctor informed me that HWMBO had cancer.

I was mad.

Really mad, I wanted to blame someone,something, anything and everyone. It just wasn't fair!

A big part of what was going on was me being sorry for myself.

While of course I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. I do think that her cancer made me better husband, made me aware of how important she is to me and how much I love her.

I like to think that I'm a better person for having to deal with it all.

I'm also more aware of how very precious life is.

Stuff that sounds really corny! Sitting with the dogs in the grass watching butterflies! Having OJ make me a pot of coffee, without me asking.

I'm very fortunate, I do believe that I have been very blessed and live a life full of these moments.

Eamonn.

[OldGreyEagle]

I may have mentioned a few times that from early childhood to later teens I wanted to be a roman catholic priest. I went to the preparatory seminary in my Diocese for High School. The set-up was, you arrived on Sunday and then boarded there until Friday afternoon and then home and then back again on Sunday. I'll never forget that first Sunday evening when my parents drove off, to home 2 hours away and I realized, I was alone. I didn't have a room anymore, I was to sleep in a dormitory that held 40 boys. I wouldnt have my mother to tell me things would be ok if I didnt do well on a test or my father's advice on how to handle a bully (me being bullied)situation. I would have to do it alone.

[CalicoPenn]

I'm thinking the first one of these moments can be either positive or negative.

 

For me, it was being diagnosed with cancer in the lymph system at age 16. It's one thing to say "life is short", it's a whole other thing to learn at an age when you think you're invincible that life really can be short. I've had other "life-changing" events happen since, including 2 more bouts of cancer and developing a recurring lung condition, but as I think back on it, the negative events (as mentioned above) didn't take the same wind from my sails as the first time and the positive events, of which there are a lot, can probably be attributed to opening myself up to as much as life has to offer, because life truly is short, which may not have been the case if I never had that first diagnoses of cancer.

[ntrog8r]

In the post in Saudi when the first SCUD missile alert came then - these became VERY ho-hum, very quickly.

When the Most Beautiful Girl in the World said "Yes" - I'm still in shock over this one.

When MBGW sid "We're pregnant".

Intestinal anthrax.

When our son said he was thinking about hurting himself.

 

[GernBlansten]

So how do these moments relate to WB?

Do you have to have experienced them before attending WB?

Does WB help you deal with them?

Or does WB help you realize them?

[packsaddle]

OGE, you'll appreciate this. My best aw Sxxx moment was actually when I told my son about condoms. He was about 10 years old and we stopped to get fuel on the way to NY, one Christmas, just west of OGE. He and I went into the men's room and he asked me what those special dispensers were on the wall next to the sink. I thought a moment and decided to go ahead and tell him. I will never forget those wide eyes, the look of shock, and his only words, "ohhhhhhh myyyyyyy goddddddd"

I still laugh when I think about it.

[Eamonn]

"So how do these moments relate to WB? "

WB is a leadership course.

When I take the time to seek out what my Vision, Mission and all that good stuff really is these moments do help me to be able to see the bigger picture.

It's more than lightly, (Not always) having had these moments, easier as a team member to help the team move from the Forming stage to the Performing stage.

 

I don't think it's an accident that some of the best leaders that I've known are also the most interesting people that I have met.

Eamonn.

[Nike]

First day I took my son to German Evangelisher Kindergarten and realized I was completely and totally illiterate, in Germany at least. Up the river....

[John-in-KC]

For me, it's that raw awakening moment, the one that bashes you upside the head with a very painful life lesson. Some of mine include:

 

- The day Trooper Bill had to be escorted to his off-post quarters to get his gear for deploying to Fort Drum ... and refused then to leave. Lesson learned: If they don't want to go on a major deployment ... something deeper is happening in their lives. In his case, he was a dealer.

 

- The day my former battalion XO was crushed in his jeep in a 3 truck wreck on REFORGER, because he insisted on tailgating the battalion fuel 5ton. Keep your distance.

 

- The day one of my gun chiefs dunked a charge 2 Green Bag (very low muzzle velocity to drive a 100lb bullet) in the wipe bucket before loading it ... and had himself an in-bore stuck 155mm projectile. When it comes to weapons safety, there is no substitute for doing things by the numbers every time.

 

- The day a former battalion commander (I was out of the battalion by then), the XO, the S-3, the CSM, a firing battery commander, HIS XO, First Sergeant, and Chief of Firing Battery got relieved for cause ... because they shot 8 rounds out of the impact area on a test firing. The Corps Artillery commander was not amused, to put it mildly. The lesson reinforced: It takes teamwork in weapons safety, and there is no substitute for doing things by the numbers every time.

 

- The day a Sergeant in my battalion, walking home on the railroad tracks, drunk, was killed being clipped by a freight train. Two lessons: Leaders in charge have tremendous discretion within broad limits of program. The Bn Cdr had the whole battalion go to the guys' memorial service, no matter that we were on Post Support detail that month. The other lesson: If you aren't well and need help, by golly ask for it.

 

Every one of those lessons happened between my 22d and 27th birthdays. They are part of who I am now.

[dewASM]

Hey Packsaddle,

 

Here's my funny moment explaining condoms to my son. My oldest son was about 10 or 11 when comes to me and asks what's a condom. Being a truthful and "current" kind of parent I explain. He looks at me blankly and says he thought people lived in them! Seems he was watching a game show and they talked about a condom in a wallet. He couldn't understand how someone got their apartment in their wallet.

 

I learned to ask for context before answering any and all questions that came from left field!

 

dew