George W. Parker III

      GEORGE’S TALES OF THE WOODS   LION HUNTING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA     Her name was Vendla.  Vendla Kivi Ajo.  Try saying it: Ven-d-la Kee-vee-ah-ho.  The Vendla has a little lift to it, and the Kivi Aho rolls off the tongue. Vendla Kivi Ajo! What a pleasure to speak it.  It’s […]

    EQUITATION “Fork the horse, Lieutenant, fork the horse!” the Colonel kept shouting. “Fork the horse.” Of course this brought out subdued laughter from the Marine 2nd Lieutenants in the Reserve Officers Class on this summer day in 1942.  We had just graduated from Officer Candidates Class in Quantico,Virginia and were going into other […]

GEORGE P. SHULTZ – MARINE Shultz – Original Letter

  SING FOR AMERICA I am embarking on a new adventure, only for a short period, but still with some trepidation.  Checking my e-mail last November, I received a message from General Mike Myatt of the Marines’ Memorial Club.  He said that an Erich Stratmann, a singer who has often performed at the club, was […]

  An Observer of War I I was hot, dirty, sweaty, tired, and thirsty.  Perhaps a bath would make me feel better and awaken me to my duties here.  I slipped down to the lagoon through a grove of scraggly pine trees, over a gravely bank and to the coral reef.  There, I removed my […]

  RESERVATIONS             “Have you ever been to Yosemite?” she asked.             “Oh, yes, several times,” I replied. “Once when I was very young, but I don’t remember. My father says we camped there.  But I’ve been there other times that I do remember.  Once, right after World War II, I went skiing there with […]

   THE TULE FOG I was standing on the gravel driveway that separated the house from the pasture; if you could call it a pasture.  Leaning against the wooden fence, I peered out through the dense, dreary fog at the lone cow slowly moving her head over the ground, as if she was finding something […]

  Sidewalk dining has become very popular and pleasant, weather permitting, and my friend and I are about to have some lunch.  Please join us – it’s on me. Click here if you’re hungry THE LUNCH         “This table O.K. with you, Bruce?” asked Will as he set down the little statue holding […]

  MUSIC SCHOOL Do your children like to sing?  Do they wake you up in the morning singing?  Do you have to tell them, “Be quiet and eat your breakfast”?  Do they enjoy beating out rhythms on drums, tunes on xylophone, playing the recorder, the flute?  And do they pick out tunes on the piano? […]

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS  I have never been much concerned about sinning.  I have never been religious, but am, what I consider to be, a reasonable person, a somewhat responsible citizen.  I have never been struck by God’s Wrath, or lightning; never been in jail; never been sued; I’ve voted every fall; and never needed […]