Slowly Turns the Wheel
Nov. 7th, 2007 03:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mlerulesThe time has come, the Walrus said, to speak of many things...
Today's article on "Easing Standards for Our Military" (thoughts welcomed) came to my attention just after I pulled out of the overflowing In-Box the Selective Service System Form 404 (board member application), enclosed in a letter dated 10/31/07 from the Region III director. Okay, adding to a nearly frightening level of synchronicity is the song that just came on: The Cardinals' Wheel of Fortune. *shakes myself and continues*
Well, it's just not that easy these days to describe/explain myself simply. I've chatted w/several folks recently 'bout the difficulties of labels. Item 21 of this fed'l form asks for my "Occupation" while Item 22 requests my "Occupational Category." Unfortunately, neither "In Limbo" nor "Biding My Time" appears on the list.
The thing is, I haven't ruled anything out yet. I'm sorta retired, but I might return to the ranks of the more "gainfully" employed - oh, and don't even get me started on this topic...glimmers of Candy Apple red buttons). Heck, it's not even clear what I'm retired FROM exactly, although 07 - Legal seems to edge out 03 - Education. Furthermore, 17 - Student doesn't really work b'c I know they don't mean "Student of Life," which is what I truly am more than anything else on the list. 15 - Self Employed doesn't really work either. And I don't even feel as if I'm qualified as 08 - Homemaker since I'm rarely home and have yet to pull the place together. Can one be a single (as in living alone) homemaker? Several years back some dear friends suggested I take on the title of "Professional House Guest." This amuses me but doesn't quite work either. I've considered "Roaming/Roving Community Member" but am pretty sure the gov't won't be understanding or sympathetic to this kind of nonsense, regardless of its truth.
Anyway, I'll figure it out and work on getting it in soon enough. Hmm. Will pull out my olde paperwork (I did this down in SoCal for a few years before moving Northward) and see if'n I had to sign the same "Oath of Office" bit. My hackles're rising because of the oath's last few words: "SO HELP ME GOD." As if that has any bearing or extra weight over and above my giving my word and swearing (or rather: affirming - at least this option exists). Still. Not that huge a deal. ("Slippery slope, slippery slope" echoes in my mind.) And I have no problem swearing to support and defend the CONSTITUTION of the U.S. Well-worded bit, this.
Interesting. I do not think of it (the U.S.) as a her. Purely gender-neutral, this ideal - in my mind at least. And that's where it exists. In my mind. Not in my heart. Not in my soul - although this could be argued, I s'pose.
"You are old, father William...and your hair has become very white." Okay. My hair's now officially 05 - Gray. Not yet 06 - White though. Labels...
Okay. Reading all the small print's made me realize I needn't affirm/swear to anything quite yet. That happens after the initial interview. And it's possible that there won't even be a spot available for me for years to come. Given the messes We're getting ourselves into these days (note the royal We), however, it strikes me as better safe than sorry to at least get into the running soon. 'Cause if it happens, it's gotta be done right.
Today's article on "Easing Standards for Our Military" (thoughts welcomed) came to my attention just after I pulled out of the overflowing In-Box the Selective Service System Form 404 (board member application), enclosed in a letter dated 10/31/07 from the Region III director. Okay, adding to a nearly frightening level of synchronicity is the song that just came on: The Cardinals' Wheel of Fortune. *shakes myself and continues*
Well, it's just not that easy these days to describe/explain myself simply. I've chatted w/several folks recently 'bout the difficulties of labels. Item 21 of this fed'l form asks for my "Occupation" while Item 22 requests my "Occupational Category." Unfortunately, neither "In Limbo" nor "Biding My Time" appears on the list.
The thing is, I haven't ruled anything out yet. I'm sorta retired, but I might return to the ranks of the more "gainfully" employed - oh, and don't even get me started on this topic...glimmers of Candy Apple red buttons). Heck, it's not even clear what I'm retired FROM exactly, although 07 - Legal seems to edge out 03 - Education. Furthermore, 17 - Student doesn't really work b'c I know they don't mean "Student of Life," which is what I truly am more than anything else on the list. 15 - Self Employed doesn't really work either. And I don't even feel as if I'm qualified as 08 - Homemaker since I'm rarely home and have yet to pull the place together. Can one be a single (as in living alone) homemaker? Several years back some dear friends suggested I take on the title of "Professional House Guest." This amuses me but doesn't quite work either. I've considered "Roaming/Roving Community Member" but am pretty sure the gov't won't be understanding or sympathetic to this kind of nonsense, regardless of its truth.
Anyway, I'll figure it out and work on getting it in soon enough. Hmm. Will pull out my olde paperwork (I did this down in SoCal for a few years before moving Northward) and see if'n I had to sign the same "Oath of Office" bit. My hackles're rising because of the oath's last few words: "SO HELP ME GOD." As if that has any bearing or extra weight over and above my giving my word and swearing (or rather: affirming - at least this option exists). Still. Not that huge a deal. ("Slippery slope, slippery slope" echoes in my mind.) And I have no problem swearing to support and defend the CONSTITUTION of the U.S. Well-worded bit, this.
Interesting. I do not think of it (the U.S.) as a her. Purely gender-neutral, this ideal - in my mind at least. And that's where it exists. In my mind. Not in my heart. Not in my soul - although this could be argued, I s'pose.
"You are old, father William...and your hair has become very white." Okay. My hair's now officially 05 - Gray. Not yet 06 - White though. Labels...
Okay. Reading all the small print's made me realize I needn't affirm/swear to anything quite yet. That happens after the initial interview. And it's possible that there won't even be a spot available for me for years to come. Given the messes We're getting ourselves into these days (note the royal We), however, it strikes me as better safe than sorry to at least get into the running soon. 'Cause if it happens, it's gotta be done right.
