tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post8147566047023028456..comments2024-02-24T00:41:37.836-08:00Comments on The Buddha Diaries: HEATPeter Clothierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-73020480175097481002012-09-15T14:54:25.027-07:002012-09-15T14:54:25.027-07:00And there I was, feeling sorry for myself! Thanks...And there I was, feeling sorry for myself! Thanks for checking in, Maria, and for the salutary reminder. Peter Clothierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-38389341336195427222012-09-15T14:52:44.052-07:002012-09-15T14:52:44.052-07:00I live in Nebraska. We are of hardy stock because ...I live in Nebraska. We are of hardy stock because we cook in steamy heat all summer and then freeze all winter with brutal blizzards. But spring and fall are balm for us. Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049511202014141182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-50277177585211843632012-09-15T10:32:38.497-07:002012-09-15T10:32:38.497-07:00Grim memories, Gary. Sorry to have reawakened the...Grim memories, Gary. Sorry to have reawakened them. And you need have no doubt about my own vote--nor, hopefully, those of my readers!Peter Clothierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-29203393394306613842012-09-15T09:31:24.872-07:002012-09-15T09:31:24.872-07:00I believe it is our genetic code that regulates ou...I believe it is our genetic code that regulates our ability to withstand heat. I am of German, Welsh and French decent. I love snow, fog, rain and ice. When we lived at 8,000 feet in New Mexico I was in heaven. <br /><br />When I served in Vietnam I suffered from three factors. The first was of course Charlie, then the frigging oppressive sweltering heat, and lastly the mosquitos. They make the same noise as they do anywhere but in the Nam they are bigger and very plentiful. It was so humid at 105 degrees and 95% humidity that I felt I was hot breathing liquid air. The first thing I would do when we got off recon was to get a drink in Saigon at the officers club. This was off bounds to noncoms except for Hospital<br />Corpsman. In the Nam the Doc's were God and could get a drink and blessed air conditioning wherever it was available. Every officer knows that they may be next and it is a life of odds so they treated us with respect. <br /><br />The downside of being God is that when you fail to save someone, usually someone you know, you have to overcome the guilt and the ire of others who think you didn't do enough to save the soldier and this makes the heat even more oppressive.<br /><br />I imagine the war fighters returning in large numbers now are feeling relief from the heat of the dry and arid portions of the theaters where they were stationed. I truly wish them the best care and hope we all give them a chance to recover emotionally and physically. <br /><br />I know that Michelle Obama has spent years tracking their recovery. She told an audience at Virginia Commonwealth University that 105 U.S. medical schools and 25 schools of osteopathic medicine are bolstering their efforts to train students in treating brain injuries, PTSD and other mental-health issues affecting service members. <br /><br />This is the treatment we did not have after the Nam. Returning Corpsmen like myself had PTSD but their was no phrase for it yet. It was vaguely called "shell shock" but there were few advocates that addressed the need for comprehensive treatment. We formed our own groups and worked it out with a few WWII and Korean War vets who were physicians and felt it needed to be conquered. I thank them here again as I did in person during the years 1968 through 1973 each week when we met at the VFW to hear each others dilemmas regarding sleep apnea, guilt, pain, isolation and rejection by our neighbors and family members who could never really "get it".<br /><br />Vote for Obama for I'm sure he and Michelle will continue to do all that must be done for our very brave men and women who have placed their lives in harms way and their families who will need support to assist them as they return. <br /><br />If your a small or large business person reading this I can tell you from my heart that they need jobs that are meaningful, not pity or suspicion.<br /><br />CHI SPHEREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278628028066177635noreply@blogger.com