During later years, I have more and more become somewhat.... reclusive...., during Christmas. This, since "everyone" all of a sudden become so outspokenly "goodhearted" and "sharing". Everyone all of a sudden run around with their yearly "warm and good smile" towards their next and anyone they meet...

What about the rest of the year?

As William Shakespeare wrote: "One may smile, and smile, and be a villain". Not unlikely, even Brutus knew how to smile... It just feels so utter unsincere, and I more and more try to avoid moving around people that time of year. Rather stay indoors at home, also avoiding to view television-broadcasts, with exception of classic yearly cartoons on Christmas Eve of course.

The contrast between the above described, and from what I sense when ever I talk with Men and Women whom either have served or are serving in the United States Marine Corps, I feel only grows larger and larger for each year that passes. I had said this before, but will again.... There is something, something I can not explain fully, which distinguish Marines from all others. Is it the training? (And by that I do not mean on the shooting-range). Or is it already inside some, with the "spirit of the Corps" drawing them to join what they can not find outside the Corps? Perhaps a little of both...? I do not know the answer in full. But there Is, a distinguishable difference, between a Marine, active serving or not, and... well, "others". Best way I know how to describe this, is the single word "Spirit". It is as if the rest of the world more and more become increasingly mean and cunningly deceitfull, while Marines are left standing as guard for Honesty, "clean". Even on Veteran internetforums, I have through later years seen this... "devide", grow between Marines and "non Marines".

Makes me wonder... If judgement day is to far in to the future, there will be noone left standing in the ranks of our Father In Heaven, but Marines.

Did not really whish to come out this "gloomy" in my post. But as the for example the "commerce of Christmas" starts earlier and earlier for every year, and the smiles on peoples lips and in their eyes strikes me as more and more hollow, it is hard not to...

Thank You, Ricardo, for being who you are! A Marine. So much more, than only "a servicemember of a military branch".


Sincerely
A.B