Me

[shaitan]

I am going to tell you a little story about myself growing up. I grew up listening to the stories my grandfather and grandmother used to regale us kids with when we at their house. He and my grandmother met while serving in the Army during World War 2 while at the time stationed in Hawaii. He would love to do it when we were at the table in the kitchen. It was some of my fondest memories with them. My grandma would always, and I mean always bring out the tales of how she would peel potatoes, and she was proud to be doing it for her country.

After those my grandpa would go into what he did as a police officer in New York for 20 years. He loved his job, he loved his beat, he loved helping out people more. After all those years he never lost his NY accent lol. My grandpa stood for everything that was ‘right’, he was by no means perfect, but you get the gist. Out of everyone in my life back then, they were the ones I looked up to the most.

My dad was in the Air Force, I never knew him. He killed himself and they had his funeral on my 4th birthday. One thing out of everything I wish I still had, was the uniform grandma and grandpa gave me of his. During show and tell, they let me dress up in his uniform and I told the class some of the stories grandpa would tell me about him and them. Corny as hell, but it was awesome to see my grandparents come to Attention after they had me set up exactly the way he used to be. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t that it was my dad’s, it was what it stood for. They took great pride in how it looked just-so.

I have others in the family who are Marines, been in the Air Force, but these ones stick out the most.

Every year(up until I left Illinois) when I was old enough I would go to the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois and put flowers on my dad’s grave, most of the times with family, but sometimes it’d be me taking a bus out there alone to do it. After awhile, it was to put them on grandpas grave too, then it was my grandmas turn as well.

From 1997-2008 I worked on a casino riverboat as an engineer/deckhand/maintenance. Was kind of a jack-of-all-trades there. Anyway, I was the one who would put up the Stars & Stripes, and the one who would bring it down when it was too worn out. I would hang off the rear of the boat to do this, about 20 feet above the steel deck & paddle wheel. Every time I would put my life on the line literally, there was no safe option in the way it was designed and noone else would do it. I carefully folded it, and gave it to Captain Kulpa who’d take it home to honor and burn it. I may never have served, but I know what the people who’ve served mean.

 

As an Engy on that boat I had quite abit of training in rescues, fire fighting. As an Engy, my job was first and foremost to seal off the engine room if there was ever a fire. If we could get out, we got out. If not, we sealed it off. Every day going to work had the chance of me sealing myself in to die. Yet, I accepted that, because I knew what would happen if I did not. To those who say I've never done that kindof thing, I lived it for almost 11 years. All the other situations I was in I got lucky as well.

The point to this? You do not know me, just like I do not know you. I do not like being vilified just because I disagree with people over Police and the abuse of power and how it should be changed or not changed. I really hate coming into a topic with my views and having someone start attacking ME(*snorts* anyone with a differing view) personally because they cannot use their head and see I have a problem with the topic at hand. That's not a debate at all.

[sydney59521]

I shed tears Shai

great writing

[Volcom]

Good to see you opening up a bit man.

[Joetorp]

Nice story Shai. Thanks for sharing it.

[Manuel857]

I could picture everything as I was reading this.

 

Very well written! 

[shaitan]

For the record, that topic was moved to the Head Admin section due to jks' post.

[m0a0n7er]

Shai <3

[bad2gurlz]

Amazed!

[Lucky]

Very sad to hear about your dad.

Inspirational story.

[shaitan]

I wish I had never dredged any of that up to "defend myself"(as I thought I had to) because it got me thinking about other things. Things that are better left bricked away.

 

The shai-behind-the-mask is something I have kept away from Rencorner for a reason and didn't want to repeat the same mistakes I made before, in this community. See ya in 3 years for my next break-down.

 

:brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall: :brick-wall:

[Joetorp]

It's too late now Shai.  It's out there, but it's nothing to be ashamed of.  It shaped who you are.

[StJohn Gumby]

Damned right.

 

Touching story, I have similar memories of my grandparents. Be Proud.

 

Gumby

[Guard]

Don't worry lord shai, we all love you here! (looks at RnD) Ok all but 1!

[Volcom]

Rnd came around after a chat last night. All is good.

[ice187dna]

Dear Shai,

 

I'm glad you opened up a bit and if you need to talk to me at anytime, just let me know. You do a great job here. Sorry about your dad, it was a touching story.

 

From Dear Ice. 

[DrSithis]

You sir are an inspiration in the eyes of most igloo building, polar bear riding, moose owning, beaver owning, Canadians.

[Butterfly]

Thank you for sharing a bit of your story. Grandparents can have such an amazing shape on our lives--as most elders can...glad you seemed to try to listen and absorb (I always figure it's to help us 'youngers" not make the same mistakes they did etc) As for people turning you into the bad guy for your opinions, or challenging who you are...it's pretty weak to pick a fight on the internet -- especially here in Renegade (this should be an escape in my humble opinion) So ignore the trolls, don't feed em...and they'll die of starvation (lack of attention)...thanks for sharing your story though...very cool!

[BeerBaron]

Dont ever change.

[Wyld1]

Very nice to see that Shai. I used to try to pull shit from you and you would go afk.....but those were stressful times and hard to get your focus. I think you have big time matured too.

 

I was very close to my Grandfather. He owned gas stations around St. Louis and I would hang at his main one at least once a month on the weekends. Nothing will ever replace the time and his words. My parents both worked and basically let me raise myself. I was doing my own laundry at 12, although I did have a live in maid. When I turned 16 and got my license my Mom stopped shopping for me and gave me a blank check to buy my own food and cook for myself.

 

Although this thread is all about "me" namely Shai, It would be cool to hear some other stories. Some of you, I could care less about but Volcom, Blacky, Joe, ice, and St Gumby to name a few would be interesting.

 

My life:

• Worked to make money since I was 10 cutting lawns, shoveling snow off driveways, and fixing cars.
• Worked 3 jobs during high school and college. (Fast food - Pizza delivery)
• Life Guarded at a major 14 station pool for 12 years; have 21 pool, 1 river saves, and 1 suicide save from a car in a garage. I remember each one of them in detail.
• Was a male model, doing print, runway, and TV  ads during college and made good $$. I would get $125 just for a hand shoot.
• Was a stripper during my Life Guarding = Modeling years. My picture is still on the walls at a few Illinois clubs.  Why not, I had the body and the tan + the moves. $1,000 cash for one night's work and $500 bar tab, who would refuse?
• Got my degree in Criminal Justice and was actually a cop for a few years.
• Ended up in Banking where all the money and women are, still could get shot at or abducted (I'm an Sr. VP)
• Been with over 500 women in my life to end up marrying the best of them all. Green eyed blond from Huntington Beach CA that will age very well. (Yeah I know shallow)
• I build all my own PC's with a network of 9 towers in my house and 3 laptops (I bought them).
• Favorite color purple, you all know I love cookies and sex.
• Oh yeah almost forgot, now fighting stage 4 cancer.

 

Now some or most of you know more than you ever wanted to know.

 

Post yours, show us who you are.

Edited November 10, 2015 by Wyld1

[AnThRaX]

Gonna need to see some proof to know Wyld is secretly Channing Tatum.