Troopathon 2009: An All-Volunteer Military

Last year, an acquaintance named Dave, a television writer who had fallen on hard times, decided to make an economy move to South Carolina.  An indicator of his sour mood is that he now includes “The Swamp” in his e-mail address.  I have every reason to believe that this Hollywood transplant isn’t referring to the physical landscape, but to the folks who live there.  Over the past several months, he has made it perfectly clear that he feels as if he has awakened to find himself dwelling in Dogpatch. 

As we all know, a certain amount of trauma takes place anytime we pack up.  But that’s especially the case when we set down 3,000 miles away.  No longer do we know where the barbershop is or the dry cleaner or the coffee shop where they remember to drain the tuna before making your sandwich.  If you add to the mix the fact that the man is middle-aged and, thus, regarded as over-the-hill in a business that confuses youth with ability, one can readily understand a certain amount of bitterness.  (more…)