Marino is in the Marine Corps

Marino has joined the Marine Corps again.


Little did I know when I last served in 1986 that "a" Marino Stathakis would again be enlisted into the United States Marine Corps.  Yes, it's true, Marino Stathakis is now in the Marine Corps. 

The riddle is in the fact that my youngest son named Marino is the one that has joined the Marines.  It has been his lifelong passion to do so.  I resisted and resisted, warning him about my time and the negative things that happen when you subject yourself to the military.  Please understand, the military is a fine organization, and I'm simply referring to MY personality quirk of not liking being told what to do, when to do it, where to do it, and what to where as I'm doing it.  I was young and rebellious and didn't do well with orders.  All that being said, the Marine Corps taught me many things.  Here are a few:

1. I loved my parents after all...  I really didn't get along to well with my mom when I was a kid.  A mixture of reasons of which I assure you, I was mostly the one at fault with my arrogant mouth, attitude, and refusal to take reasonable instruction and orders.  A few days of being awakened by the drill instructors immediately showed me the kindness contrast that was at home.
2. I missed my family and friends.  I didn't realize how the everyday life and relationships that were established could just dissipate. Facebook wasn't around then, so, people just went on with their lives and distance plus time typically equals separation.
3. You must be at a function or place at a certain time in the proper uniform to execute the tasks required.  I served twice in the Marine Corps.  The first time, I played in the drum and bugle corps, so, the timeliness and appearance were very high in priority because as the saying goes, "time waits for no man...", so it is, generals who want the star spangled banner played on the downbeat wait for no man.  The second time I was in, I was an electrician on the F4 jet.  There, LIVES were at stake.  You needed to properly troubleshoot, fix, and have an inspection to insure compliance with a standard of holding a pilot's life in your hand. 
4. There will be times where you must shut your mouth and simply do what you're told.  Man, that was so hard to learn.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a BIG mouth.  But, I did learn this skill.  Let me also say that one of the things that makes this work is that you trust the one telling you what to do.
5. I can do anything (within reason).  This was expounded further when I became a Christian.  "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me".  I do live with a passion that if I need to, I can go outside right now and run 3 miles.  I can still do 20 pull ups and haven't counted my sit ups lately, but after 3 years of doing P90X, I can probably meet the requirements for sit ups.  The confidence in an attitude to get the job done has done me well in life and I believe helped me to become a more successful employee, and business owner.

In conclusion, my son is, as of today, 10/11/2012 in boot camp... perhaps his first or second day.  Don't know yet.  But, it is ironic that I went in 1 day before him back in 1976.  He will miss (in order), his brother Pete's birthday, his uncle Steve's birthday, his cousin Steve's birthday, his Aunt Julie's birthday, his cousin Lanie's birthday, Thanksgiving, His own birthday, Christmas, New Years, his mother's birthday.  He will ponder the decisions of his life, including this one.  He will mature and the test of his passions will be before him.  He worked VERY hard to win my respect and has already achieved it.  He is a wonderful son whom I hope achieves the title Marine.