Tuesday the 20th....

Two of my Minnesota co-workers. Hey! I work hard up here in the Great White North....


Have any of you ever noticed that Kerkove is always smiling? Every picture, whether he's looking at the camera or not, he's smiling. What's up with that? What's your secret, Jeff?


Jesse the Baby Klansman was something of a bully in the apartment complex that we lived in the second time I was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. Must've been early '79. He picked on all the kids when they went outside to the playground and was a general social malcontent. One of those menial minded mental midgets incapable of original or complex thought.

We had a pretty good view of the playground from our 3rd floor balcony so it was no big deal to let Jackal go outside to play. He was just a young pup but he was pretty responsible even at that age and the apartment complex was 9 stories high and full of G.I.s. What could happen? There were 3 apartments per floor and most everyone looked out for each other. Soldiers are funny that way, ya know.... Anyway, one of our neighbors was from North Carolina and prided himself on being a Klansman. A real head case! The entire family would sometimes wear their robes around the complex just to see what they could stir up. Dad, mom, Jesse, and his sister, whose name I can't recall. Doesn't matter. Cute family! Colorful!

One day the kids were playing in the sandbox minding their own business and Jesse was lurking around the building, watching them. I don't know what all transpired that day or what caused Jackal to "take care of business" with young Jesse but words were spoken and the next thing ya know Jackal is walking toward a big oak tree that stood on the corner of the playground with Jesse right behind him. (Jesse was a year older than Jackal, and a little bigger...) The two of them disappeared behind that tree for a few minutes and then Jackal emerged with Jesse following him. Funny thing was that Jackal had a smile on his face and Jesse had a bloody nose. Jackal went back to the sandbox to play with the other kids as though nothing had happened and Jesse came into the building crying. A few minutes later there was a knock at our door and Judy was there to answer it. Surprise! It was Jesse's dad asking Judy where Jackal was at and "what the hell is he doing beating up on Jesse"? Those of you who know Judy can probably guess what happened next.... She lit that guy up! Talked about how it was never a concern when Jesse picked on the other kids but seemed like the world must be ending when someone finally took care of business. Poor Jesse. He was speechless. You know that no woman ever talked to a klansman like that. Where he comes from "women know their place" and no one whups the son of a klansman. Uh huh. Welcome to the real world.

Anyway, Jackal was duly spoken to about the incident and turned out to be something of a hero to the other kids in the complex.... I'm not aware that he ever had any more problems with Jesse the Klansman after that day. Don't think the other kids did either. That's Jackal for ya.

That's all for now. As soon as Jackal gives permission, his mom will scan the famous (infamous?) "lederhosen" picture and I'll post it here.

Peace out, yo!