Grand Adventure

In the military (and civilian sector to an extent) it is common to walk into a leader’s office and see all their awards and gifts posted around them. It is jokingly referred to as a “love me” wall, perhaps because being surrounded by all those accolades boosts your own ego.

I made a decision a long time ago to not post things on my walls in my office. For a variety of reasons. People gain impressions about you when they read your stuff. In a way, the more you have up the more negative I take it when I’m in someone’s office. Its as if they are trying to overwhelm the visitor. I worked for a guy that had his doo-dads put up, plus “tastefully” placed “important” books…to show off his intelligence and suggest you should read those books too. Pfaugh!

The plan once we got the LaPine property was to put my stuff up in the pole barn/shop. The pic below is about half of the gifts and things gathered over 20 years of service. Not pictured is the wind sock that flew over my hospital in Tikrit. That’s on an adjoining wall. Interestingly to me, some of my favorite gifts were either made by a Soldier for me, have a joke or fun story behind them, or have meaning because of who they came from. And its not based on cost either (though some of the costlier gifts are cool too).

On the shelving to the left are mostly from my last unit in Washington: Task Force Phoenix. The Warrior Transition Battalion (sometimes referred to as a “Wounded Warrior Unit” but that’s not completely accurate). If you come by to visit us at the house, ask me about the story behind each thing displayed, including the shelving unit itself. I’d love to share the fun behind each one.

By the way…one of the reasons I don’t put stuff up on my work walls is because we move so often in the military. Lest you think I’m totally principle based, it also has to do with not wanting to put stuff up just to have to take it down. Makes for a quicker exit!