Tanks-A-Lot

Almost gone are the days of finding myself stretched out on the floor with a pillow and my snuggie while I watch my daughters game up on the Wii. Adjusting my head to a better view of the TV as M.L.M. and I.L.M. play a tank game. They have to work together for victory as they exchange artillery with enemy tanks. The older sister unintentionally schooling the younger on the engagements of tank warfare. Then, we settle in and convert the audio input to "cable" and put the Military History channel on our radar (TV) screen. We watch an episode of Greatest Tank Battles. I hope M.L.M. and I.L.M. connect in a distant way to the strategy and courage of the Sherman tank operators of WWII as they battled the German Panzers.

I got to thinkin about tanks...a lot, as I founded this photo op. The tank is unidentifiable with a broken turret on top. But, my favorite historian guru, I.D.M., gave a crack at it and also gave me insight to the crux of the core 4 tank unit: commander, loader, gunner, driver. I started thinkin about my core 4: myself, my wife, my 2 daughters. They are the prize of my drive, they are the ones who I would comprise my tank unit. Growing together as a family, they know the secrets, know the way, know the intricacies of each other. They are my tank unit. They, I trust in a closed compartment with ammunition and artillery. They give me recourse and leadership. If one breaks, we are each others glue. That is the way through the fray. That is our firepower down range. To them, I raise my glass and say "Tanks-A-Lot."