Gimme coins

I was thinking that I should write about the embaressment that my Carolina Panthers experienced yesterday - but I just don't want to reopen that would just reopen a fresh wound. :) The coin pictured above was the second coind I received in my military career. I'd like to go into a long chest thumping on this one, but the truth is I didn't do anything to earn it other than be in the right place at the right time. Before the United States turned the Panama Canal over to Pananma per the lease agreement the National Guard unit I was in at the time had been tasked to perform rotations down to work with and help out the active duty MP battalion there. For about 2 1/2 years we were able to pull 3 sets of 3 rotations. I missed one rotation - but I can't remember why right now. The work was pretty straight forward. One week of gate security - check ID's etc. and one week of patroling (on foot). I remember it was HOT! I specifically volunteered for the midnight shifts. Tales of guys Kiwi melting off of their boots and leaving outlines was enough for me. :) Two quick (I hope) stories. The first one was one night while I was on foot patrol my partner and I heard the sound of breaking glass. We called it in and responded to it. It turned out a DOD teacher had went downtown and lost his keys (house and car). Well, it was around 2 am and he did not want to wait until the office he would need to go through to get a new set of keys and opted to break into his own house. The only problem is that it was not his own house/apartment. It belonged to the Army. Basically he had to go "downtown" to answer questions, and fill out paperwork... but it all went well. The second tale is my attempt to do some sight seeing. My roommate on one trip was a soldier who had been stationed there many years before. So, he talks me into getting a cab to go see some sights in Panama city. Since he supposedly had been there before I let him get the cab, negotiate the fare, and choose the destination. Well, we end up near the French embassy. it was very nice and had a wonerful view. Nearby was an Opera house that was being refurbished. Very nice architecture. But once we'd seen those sights we opted to walk around. While walking down one street we were looking at the profile of a police officer who was standing at the end of an alley way. Now, this is not America so I didn't think too much about it. As we got closer the policeman asked to see our ID's. Ok, but while he was looking over them I looked down the street along the water front - our destination. There were Police about every 30 yards as far as I could see. Just then we are handed back our ID's and told, "This is not a place you want to be." He called us a cab to take us back to base. And thus ended my tourism adventure. :) I did get to go see the locks - and that is really cool. Both times my barracks room looked out on the Pacific locks. What an awesome sight to see these huge ships moving up and down - by water power alone! A quick note about the coin: The stamped number... I was in-line to get the number 1863 coin. But the active duty unit (who was basically handing out the coins because they were folding their flag when the canal was handed back) held it back to give to the Platoon Leader. Some of you all may know the significance of that date... I was in a West Virginia NG unit at the time, and the year they became a Federally recognized state was - 1863. :) Update: None today Verse for today: Psalm 121, esv I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.