So I learned how to make the title a link to a website! Under ideal circumstances, and assuming I didn't foul it up, that should take you to one First Sergeant Schofield's page, AKA El Diablo Blanco. As you can probably guess, those that know him have a lot of respect for this guy. I've known him but a short time, and I can say I do too. The First Sergeant has been recently assigned to our unit, the 696th FSC, and already has been making some pretty good changes, and in my opinion, much needed ones. But at any rate, apparently he left enough of an impression on his last unit to inspire them to create the rather bizarre Facebook page. At any rate, there's not a lot else to add, except that things are pretty busy around the motor pool- we've been getting things organized, as well as preparing for the never-ending EPA inspection. And yes, that is Environmental Protection Agency. So everything remains pretty much up to standard, and on that front, not a lot else going on. So perhaps when you Google El Diablo Blanco, you'll find a link to this post! Well, actually I have no idea, but that would be cool. So would a new Harley, but the odds are about the same.
At any rate, that's about all the news from here. I realized recently that it was another visit from the f*ck up fairy- though I filed divorce paperwork, I never sent the summons! Whoops! To explain in brief, a summons is a notification of pending legal action against a person. Obviously, this is required to proceed with the legal action- you need to tell the person that you're going after them in court, and give them a chance to answer. I feel somewhat bad about this, but at the same time am of two minds about it. I would have readily settled this a long time ago, (and should have)- when I got ready to file, the ex informed me that she had gone ahead and done that- filed in the Hartford, CT county court. Great, I thought! I'll be heading up that way on leave soon- when that happens, I can kill two birds with one stone- give the divorce papers an examination, determine if everything's on the up and up, sign them, then have the lady drop them off at the courthouse, where it would be entered as a non-contested divorce. I really do want what's best for the kids- my (soon-to-be) ex wife, I wish well, but apart from that, could give a rip less. I hope she has a great life, and is happy. As long as I never have to see her again!
Which brings us to Connecticut. After a long and trying flight down, resulting in a night spent trying to sleep in the Newark airport (sleeping in the blackfly-infested fields of southern Georgia was easier), I made it back to CT. What happened next? I saw members of my family, and generally took it easy. However, what's missing? Divorce papers! Can't read them and sign them if they're not present, still floating around in the void of "could-be", instead of getting filed, signed and so on.
So back to Oklahoma I go, report in, and life goes on. So, however, does time. And time is the one thing I'm running out of. Okay then, says I. Guess I'd better get on that divorce! Paperwork is filed in my state, and there it sits. I understand I'm to wait for a court date, which is hunky dory with me. Time passes, no word. Okay, I say, thirty days is ticking away, so pretty soon. Turns out, upon further investigation, the divorce paperwork is pending a summons- whoops! Easy to correct though. So in that goes, and then I send it off with delivery verification. This means that, as far as Oklahoma is concerned, if the ex receives the paperwork, then read it, turn it into origami, jump up and down on it and curse me to the depths of Tartarus, it doesn't really matter as long as she's received it. She then has 20 days to respond, which I would welcome. Very few things in the agreement I had drawn up are not negotiable, and I want to ensure she gets a fair shake on this one. At any rate, I waited for her, and then nothing happened. The explanation I received, in retrospect, made no sense. In Connecticut, when a divorce petition and summons is filed, you get a marshall to deliver it. However, the paperwork came back as undeliverable. There are marshalls, as well as sherrifs, down here. All have free access to post. If they were to be serving paperwork to myself, one of two things would happen. I requested that the address she use be my battalion office, wherein they are able to contact me, though I myself work down at the motor pool. The marshall coming there would mean that they would be directed either to the motor pool or would call me and tell me to go to the office. Failing that, the marshall would stop at the MP office, and ask where to find me. Then it would be a long chain of phone calls terminating with me- either way, the marshall not being able to find me is not an issue. Believe me, I work for the government- we're the easiest people to find. And so it was I said hell with it, I'm going to do this my way. The summons was sent, the divorce paperwork is filed, and tomorrow is the projected delivery day. No doubt this will be a very bitter and unpleasant emotional scenario, and I dread it like a root canal. Nonetheless, the situation is what it is. I almost feel like my hand was forced on this, as too much time has been wasted already. And I did try to give her every chance, but finally it comes down to me. Well, let the cards fall where they may, then. I take no pleasure in this, merely wish it to come to a quick and final end. Let the past lie, and let us live in the present.
Which brings me to an interesting Tarot reading I did this morning. Seems like a while since I've had time to sit down and do that, but then again, things have been pretty crazy busy lately. At any rate, here's the results- there were a couple things that struck me, which I'll get to momentarily. This was a regular (well, for me) 14-card Celtic Cross, and the first card was The World. This tells of expansion, growth and change. Think of it as a "new world", or a new horizon- this calls for the courage to take the bull by the horns, and get down to do what needs to be done. Next, covering it, was the Empress. I've always had the image of the Empress as connected to the earth, indicating that you have the foundation, the resources and the abilities to move forwards, to grow and develop. All you really need to do at this point is what was suggested by the World- get to growing, get to changing what you want changed!
The next card tells of the Past- here was the 8 of Pentacles, telling of a starting over, and at the same time working towards something new- a new direction, incorporating past knowledge and understanding, and bringing it to bear on the current situation. In other words, this differs from The Fool in that this Fool isn't starting from scratch- he's already got a lot of tools in his bag, and will build with them.
The Foundations position contained the Strength card, reversed. This tells me of working to renew something lost- time wasted, effort was expended in futility. However, the time now is to recover from that, and move forwards. Interesting that Strength is also numbered 8 in the Major Arcana- a point that will be reiterated throughout the reading.
The Near Future position held The Hermit, which I thought surprising- so many Major cards! Things must really be cooking. The Hermit tells of a need to examine- a need to look ahead, and at the same time look within, perhaps to see "what you're truly made of"- to cast a light of truth on illusions, and see what turns out to be just shadows. So again, the theme seems to be move past, look beyond wasted effort and see the truth of the situation. Then stop wasting time and get your ass in gear!
The next position was the Aspirations position- telling of the hopes I have for the situation, or the best possible outcome. Here was the Justice card- I should mention that in this deck, the Justice card is kind of creepy. A woman, hair and eyes wild, mouth open in a scream, brandishes the sword the typical Justice figure carries over her head, while her other hand holds the scales- reward and punishment as each is due, but this chick looks ready to unleash some serious punishment. But nonetheless, it's all karma, a reaction to an action. The question is, whose karma? Perhaps it's both of us together, and things will happen based on that. I don't dismiss the fact that this woman has not abandoned her scales- she holds to the principle of justice- let each receive as they are due.
Now in the 7th position, telling of the Future, is the 8 of Wands and the Page of Pentacles. The message here ties to that theme of moving forwards, of taking the lessons and wisdom from past experience and pressing forwards with it. The Page tells also of a new start- though I'm not as young as a Page would indicate, it's perhaps time to begin anew- to start things over. The Eight reflects this, and its suit of Wands tells of the potential to do just that.
In the Eighth position, thoughts and feelings on the situation. Here was the 8 of Swords and the Page of Cups- a similar combination to the seventh position! Here we see again, an 8- change, however here the change is a frightening one. It seems I'm surrounded by blades- wherever I move, I'm going to take some damage. But with this, you can't stay in one place forever- and it'll be that much worse procrastinating and waiting for an end. Better to move, to make the decision on your terms than being forced into it. However, again, the Page tells of a restart- a do-over, a new beginning. I can certainly attest to this, that it seems that very much the time has come for change.
The ninth position tells of hidden influences, things that affect the situation but may not be apparent. The two cards here were the 2 of Pentacles and the King of Pentacles. The 2 points to a temporary balance- things are in balance, but temporarily, like a wheel rolling down hill-eventually it'll run out of momentum and tip over, but for the time being it's moving in a straight line. However, this card promises the developments will come to bring things to a conclusion, for better or worse. The King of Pentacles, reflecting the suit, apparently tells of things changing for the better- it would seem there is a mastery of these things, as would be indicated by the King. The King also denotes learning and a man of means, who can accomplish what he needs to. Could it be that we see the evolution in the reading from Page to King, from inexperienced and unlearned to learned and wiser?
The last position tells of the outcome- here is the 8 of Cups and the 9 of Swords. The 8 tells of moving on- leaving what you know for the promise of a better and brighter future. I thought this was interesting, as there is the promise of a new future beyond the horizon, and coupled with the 9, it tells of awakening to it- things are not as bad as the 8 of Swords would indicate- this tells of opening one's eyes to see the world as it really is.
One thing that struck me was that there were essentially five 8's in the reading- the four suit cards and the Strength card. It would seem then, that the Eights have the meaning of change- the time has come for change, and to marshal strength for this change. As the Eight and Nine of Swords show, that change might not be a particularly comfortable or easy one, but when it happens, look to the knowledge of the past to help you through it. This Fool has tools in his backpack, and the key to success is knowing how to use them for the end you want.
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