Ears to Hear

Robert Aleph's Personal Blog Site

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I seek to share the light, life and peace that I have received.

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  • There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler (LITC 23)

    Reflections on October 1958, October 1976, and October 2026 Mom probably sent cookies. She knew how much I loved them and wanted my first birthday away from home to be a happy one. I’m pretty sure I shared them with my roommate Dave and maybe some friends in Bravo Company. Or maybe not. I turned…

  • Fly Like an Eagle (LITC 22)

    Reflections on 11 Sep 1976, 11 Sep 2001, and 11 Sep 2026 I want to tell you about one of the genuine American heroes in the Class of 1980. Your regimental parade on 11 Sep 2026 honored him (among others). On 11 Sep 2001, then-CDR Gary Smialek was the CO of USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908),…

  • Sweet Emotion (LITC 21)

    Reflections on September 1976 and September 2026 It was early in the fall semester of 4/c year that we were gathered into our dayrooms to be told about the “adapts.” The adaptability reviews were to be completed by each of the classmates in our company as well as the cadre. We were to rank each…

  • Desperado (LITC 20)

    Reflections on August 1962, August 1976 and August 14-15, 2026 I dropped my daughter off at Purdue yesterday, and you got your shoulderboards today. Not related? Hear me out. I’m guessing that a lot of you in CGA 2030 have had the experience of going through a cheer tunnel. Not me. Until yesterday. And it…

  • From the Beginning (LITC 19)

    Reflections on August 1976 from the perspective of August 2026 The cadre told us to stencil our serial number on all of our issued items. Most everything was a dark color, so they gave us a white pen. The problem was that it had runny ink, and it flowed under the edges of the stencil.…

  • Spinning Wheel (LITC 18)

    Reflections on July 1976 and July 2026 I remember the wall. The height of it. The pressure builds as the line gets shorter. Taller as I get closer. Jump! Yes – a grip on the top edge. Kinda rough. Pull, swing legs. A long way down on the other side. Must be safe, or they…

  • If I Were a Carpenter (LITC 17)

    Reflections on June 20, 2026 about the day June 28, 1976 Generally, I believe in progress. I’m usually willing to leave old traditions in my wake and steer towards the innovations that appear on the horizon. But there is one particular value handed down to me over time that I have learned to steer by…

  • Hair (LITC 16)

    Reflections on the date of June 29, 1976 In my day, long hair was a statement. It began as a form of protest against the war in Vietnam, as if to say, “Hell no, I won’t go.” Hair the musical hit Broadway in 1968. At first, the older generation sneered at long-haired men, but by…

  • Ride, Captain, Ride (LITC 15)

    Reflections back to June 28, 1976 and forward to June 29, 2026 All epic adventures begin with a call. Jesus called the twelve, the Fellowship of the Ring was called to Rivendell, and the Reaping placed a call on Katniss and Peeta. Both you and I, in our respective times, received a call to the…

  • Young Americans (LITC 14)

    Reflections on the date of May 17, 1976 and May 17, 2026 My stepdaughter graduates from high school today in the Class of 2026, like many of you. She is an impressive young person – her first seven years of school were in Thailand and the last five here in the states. Twice, she was…