THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: flag


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Wow

Something very special happened yesterday. I got a delivery from an unknown angel. And I’m guessing it was related to a post I did on last Thursday the 20th called “Missing.“ At the last paragraph I talked about getting a case for the burial flag that was given to us at Arlington National Cemetery for my father.

Well, a case for it came unexpectedly and I’m blown away. I’m so touched that someone reached out in this special way. Besides being very thankful and excited to get his flag out of the chest I have it stored in with other belongings of his.

But I do want to thank the individual who gave me this generous gift. Like I said in that post, I’m going to hang it over the picture of the WWII Destroyer he served on. I’ve always had that in my office near the old cherry desk of his that I still use to this day.

I would like to thank you personally but if you would like to remain anonymous I can also respect that. But you have my sincere thanks, love and appreciation.

This has made me think about passing it forward and I’ll get busy with that this evening and let you know what contribution or gift I’ve decided on in tomorrow’s post.

I apologize for the late reply about this. I’m not feeling 100% today.


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Missing

I think I figured out what was missing in my home office. I have a small desk flag but what I had behind my office at work was a bit more obvious.

My old office at One Franklin Square used to be very near these flags. If I turned my chair around, I had a good view of them. I’d pass by them on this wall display, several times a night going up to the Editorial floors or out to the computer rooms.

They were the flags that flew outside the entrance to The Washington Post on 15th Street. In meetings on the 3rd floor from that site I would see them waving outside. I really liked the 15 Street building. It felt like a real newspaper. Even after the presses were moved out it still had that feeling.

Since my retirement just over a year ago, I thought I might have more trouble stepping away from the intensity, pressure and that daily deadline cycle of excitement. It was surprisingly easy except for the sleep issues. I don’t miss that grind. I certainly don’t miss the commute. And with the return to the office 5 days a week, that wouldn’t work for me any longer.

I feel for those friends who don’t have the flexibility they once had.

Management told me the times are changing. And they did. Ownership change, technology change, location change, personnel change, all things I’ve experienced before, many times. I changed with them for 5 decades, but it wasn’t the natural fit it always had been in the last few years.

And that’s okay because nothing lasts forever except some loves and passions. All my work experience has been great. Oh, I had bad days and ran into some bad people, but you’re going to get that just about anywhere. People can make or break a job no matter how much you love your work.

Thankfully a majority were good. Some great. I’m still in touch with a lot.

But back to what is missing. I think I’ll get one of those nice triangle frames that could hold the flag that was over my father’s casket at Arlington. I’ll put it over a nice pen and ink sketch of the Destroyer he was on in WWII. The office needs some more family touches.