Patton: A Story Worth Retelling

For history, and more especially military history buffs, this book is worth picking up. Essentially a chronological retell of the life story of one of the most storied Generals of the last century, the authors put a scalpel in a history often bereft with half tales, luscious gerrymandering and flourishes and attempts to bring some dose of reality to the man, the story and the legend.

The book was an easy read..taking less than forty eight hours to devour at a sitting. The authors while seemingly not making excuses for the General, did attempt in many cases to explain away his weakness which they themselves highlight. No doubt, readers were steered in the direction of coming away with a fond recollection of the man..which essentially all, perhaps except a few purist or antagonist, would find easily anyway.

The book gets a A+ for honesty, B for literary flourish and C for objectivity. Four stars from me.

__
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Brothers on Spice Isle

Smack in the middle of East Caribbean, at Grenada, am enjoying a vacation of a lifetime. It has been a thrill thus far savoring this beautiful Island of peaceful people and diverse vegetation and wildlife. From the beaches to the mountain ranges, my brother and I hiked to the fresh water of the lake formed by the twin waterfalls we swam in or the indelible lake Antoine a mile or so to the ocean, at a depression in the middle of mountain ranges that disappear into that ocean, or even to Grand Etang Lake formed as a back drop the rain forest mountains...this has been a thrill.

If nature was all that I connected with on this trip, after a year travelling to the pacific coast twice, to the south east coast of Miami once, then it would be a wasted trip. This trip however have afforded me an even greater appreciation of the human connection and how small our world is. Here I met our immediate neighbor in Ibadan working on Island as a medical instructor, a friend of a friend that have seen over and over in Houston also is here and we plan to meet tomorrow. The daughter of our host, an uncle to my brother, lives fifteen minutes off my home in Houston...what a coincidence unh? Small world.

What else? Yes my brother..that guy. This has been a journey of discovery and bonding for both of us, Aside for affording us an opportunity to rub minds of pending family issues and make key decisions, it also offered us an opportunity to bond and explore his matrilineal heritage together. Of course, we ran into doubters of our blood relationship, and we occasionally had to fake who was older (yes, he is..by many years..lol). But in all, we have had a good bonding experience together.

For one, my feeling around my elder brother that I never really grew up with (guessed, I longed for that), was one which freed me of the responsibility of leadership and moral precepts that such forces when say holding court in Nigeria with my two sisters, younger cousins or even friends..which invariably always mean I always took the higher road of leadership. This time around, I could be irresponsible and daring (like at  St. Margaret Falls or at Grand Anse beach, St. Georges beach).  and I could cheat him, or play dirty like at the Bathway Beach, St. Andrews. In it all, I stoically enjoyed my little brother role; knowing fully well this would last only about a week or so, and that cascading responsibility that seem never to dodge my footsteps will come all over again.

For now am enjoying myself..three more nights to go; and am already missing Grenada and the joys of brotherly bonding...see complete pictures here.

Reevaluating & Reassessing Life's Priorities...

Guess as next year marks a new year in my life, I have been thinking lately what matters in life. My thought process in the last few hours may have indeed been muddled up beyond comprehension (actually scared me a little bit- sorry my peeps that got the panic call - much love! lol) when I begin to capture the ramification of the life I am potentially living and if truly, am living it to the optimum.

No doubt my short time on earth, I have met with my own fair share of triumphs, losses and discontent. I have seen trials, I have tasted victory and I have relished love, pain, loss and contentment. However, even those experiences won't possibly substitute for what I am yet to experience as I enter a new phase in my life. Life so far have largely been lived on my own terms. I do what I like, when I like to do it and with whom I so choose. That will change. That should change.

This for me presents a potential dilemma, only that I am now realizing that it truly is not about me. These past few months have been the ultimate "me" moment. At times I have been careless (and yes, may be I am just being too hard on myself), other times I have been self absorbed, and sometimes gloating. Call it the height of epic selfishness or self aggrandizement. At times like this, one one reflects what truly matters after the crowning achievements, the display of gallantry, the acceptance of accolades, the conquests of all things material and mortal, the unwarranted adulations from peers, strangers and acquaintances alike...when is it just enough?

Don't get me wrong, fundamentally we all seek a basic need to be accepted. But acceptance in itself can only be materially useful to society when one transcends self. It is for this reason even the most selfish of us will still seek communal explanations for advancing our self-interests be it in business, relationships or spiritually. The only check on this mental state of "the man" I believe is the divine. Which brings me to the subject of my faith.

In the middle of my muddled thoughts, and in the midst of the confusions that have been swirling around my head and heart in the past twenty four hours (for no discernible reason(s)), I have come to rediscover the power of my Christian faith. It is faith, in juncture with family and friends that brings these moments together and shows to one what truly matters. What matters is the divine, what matters is others. Yourself last, as that gospel song said..."JOY this is what it means: Jesus first, yourself last and others in between"

May the Lord comfort those that need comfort, and grant Joy to us all that pass all understanding. Amen.