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Socrates' Letter |
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Socrates' Letter |
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The story surrounding the SOCRATES letter complements the author's 55 years, and counting, alliance with "the man of Greece." Since SOCRATES is always flying his wing, (BOOK I, II, III) he accompanied the author to a party in Virginia to meet a number of very high ranking officers from the USAF and Navy. They made him feel very much at home. The letter is an epistle of "thanks." The Author
Month
of October To the Ladies and Gentlemen reading BOOK III of the Trilogy: I am using this missive as a venue to introduce myself as an above average friend of Jack “Suitcase” Simpson known to me as “Suits.” My name is Socrates, a Greek philosopher from Athens with a view of philosophy as a pursuit proper and necessary to all intelligent men and women. By the way, I vicariously attended an elegant dinner party not too long ago. Suitcase was invited as an honored guest. The party was hosted by a Mr. and Mrs. Christian Drake; a beautiful lady teamed with a Marine buck-ass private. You know how some of these parties go-a lot of brass and a buck-ass! I didn’t want to say that but the temptation was overwhelming. I better explain! “Suits” called me (collect) from gunnery school a little more than 50 years ago. (See BOOK I) He was reading Boorstin’s HIDDEN HISTORY and in discussing Gibbon’s The History of the Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire, Boorstin said, “Gibbon seemed to speak to me.” Well, “Suits” jumped all over that. He said, “Mr. Socrates, if Jimmy Stewart can talk to a rabbit, and Col. Scott can have God as his co-pilot, why can’t I talk to you about flying my wing?” So, after importuning me with numerous reasons why I should say “OK”, I accepted his call and the rest is history. In talking to him I learned he was an assiduous reader in the historical aspects of philosophy. He besieged me to fly his wing and teach him about philosophy and how, through the search for wisdom, he could become a better man. We have met a number of times; a very friendly man but a little bit of a wise cracker. I must have picked up on that; therefore the “brass and buck-ass”! Blame it on “Suits.” “Suits” and I discussed the party. Overwhelm is not an exacting word but I know he was affected deeply by the thought that such an august group of great men and women would take the time to meet him. Of course credit goes to Mr. and Mrs. Drake but since I was flying “Suits” wing, I had the sense these great men, regardless of rank, were there to meet the pilot, the author, and the genuine friend of Mr. Drake, Yes, we discussed Christian Drake. “Suits,” told me Chris left Manhattan Beach (See BOOK I) in tattered shorts with pockets full of sand. He returned later in “tailor maids” full of gold; well earned through steely self-discipline, hard work, and determination. Credentials for a tough United States Marine! We also exchanged thoughts on the attendance of the number of bright stars and eagles; not to go unnoticed by “Suits”! He told me although these men of esteemed character knew how to laugh at themselves and with others not to be fooled. “For within,” he said, “there lies a band of structural steel that through time, self-assertion, confidence, attained knowledge, and a bit of cockiness, the steel undergoes a metamorphosis into gold and silver. It is then carefully metered and molded for those who earn the right to wear the silver wings as a pilot in the United States Air Force and the gold wings of the United States Navy. Ah, yes! And the wives! Scintillating, convivial, liking company, well groomed! Leaders all! I know “Suits” will be, over time, keeping in touch with all of his friends; he always does. He couldn’t say enough about his feeling of a very strong emotion in meeting, what he said, were such an honorable group of fighter pilots and their wives. If you have read any of SOCRATES ‘N SUITS, you know I will be there for you any time you need assistant. I can be reached in Club Cloud Nine any evening. Just please don’t interrupt me if I am in a chorus of Salley in the Alley! Very personal regards, SOCRATES Wingman to a guy named ”SUITS”
An addendum: Socrates, I’m sorry to say that Chris Drake has died in the middle of July 2006. Jack Simpson |
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