The White Tree

As time goes on, I notice here at Ft. Sill that there are some pretty curious idiomatic expressions that keep coming up- some make sense, some don't, but all of them are pretty amusing. Here's a few of the more common ones-

Deuces- an informal goodbye, usually indicating haste to depart. This is commonly used after a formation, indicating a hurry to get the duty day over with so we all can go relax. Origins unknown, possibly related to the peace sign. Another explanation is that of the local Hoover St. gang symbol, though this is uncertain.

Lizards, also Lawton Lizards- Slang term for prostitutes in or native to the Lawton area.

Pop smoke- Leave or depart in a hurry, in an unnoticed fashion. Usually to get out of a meeting early, or some event when other appointments press on time. Refers to the use of smoke grenades, which are commonly used to conceal movement in the field.

Stroking the ricos- To put up with and comply with an order that has no clear purpose except as an ego boost to some commander or other. The order usually seems completely senseless, but of course we have to do it anyway. Origins unknown

11 Bang Bang- Slang term for an infantry soldier, usually ground troops. Refers to the 11B MOS, which is infantry.

Playing Sancho- Refers to an affair with a married person, usually during the day when said married person's spouse is at work. Also playing Jody.

Now that I've enlightened you all, I noticed something in a reading a while ago that I thought was worth mentioning, especially seeing as this image pops up frequently in my own readings. For some odd reason the 10 of Swords makes me think of Lord of the Rings, more specifically the city-state of Gondor. The White Tree was a symbol of Gondor, and was planted in a prominent place, outside the home of the Steward. Though dead during the course of the book, the Tree was symbolic of the strength and might of Gondor. Gondor in many ways represented the height of human achievement, though again, at the time it was waning. The men there were smart, organized and strong, and worked towards a common goal with surprising efficiency and ability. Their Steward could command the Palantir, or the seeing stones, no mean feat. So what does this have to do with the Ten of Swords? It has a picture of a man stabbed with ten swords, with blood flowing out onto the earth. It symbolizes defeat, and endings. However, the image I got (which doesn't actually appear on the card, but bear with me) was always of the roots of that tree being sunk deep in the bloodied earth, and from that blood the tree growing and putting out leaves. Why this is, I was never sure, but it seems to point to a rebirth- an ending leading to a new beginning, a new strength. So though there is an end, and loss, the promise of a new future is there as well. Again, that image doesn't appear on the cards, but at the same time, it seems to fit- the Tens represent completion, and in this case perhaps even a moving onwards.