Teddy Noon:
CLASS OF 1974
Medical Lake High SchoolClass of 1974
Medical lake, WA
Hazen High SchoolClass of 1974
Renton, WA
Teddy's Story
My Dad retired from the USAF in June of 1973 and I joined the Marines in September, 1974. I graduated from Hazen in Renton and went to MCRD Sandy Eggo. Damn place is sandier than Spokane!!! LOL
Spent 8+ years in the Corps until PTSD drove me out in 1982. Finally got my 100% disability rating a handful of years ago. The local VA has treated me well. Just had cataract surgery on both eyes in November of this year. First time since Jr High with no specs!!! Also made a deal with my doc that I'd happily quit her opioids if she'd quit lecturing me about my smoking Ganja.
God love Ganja!!! As I've told more than one person... God made Ganja and man made booze... Just who do you trust??? I'm now the John the Baptist of Ganja at VA. Get some angry looks on occasion from nurses, but, I hate seeing MY "kids" (if you weren't an E5 as of 1 Jan, 1978 you're my kid) OD when there's no need for meds that strong in most cases. I preach it every chance I get. I'm legally able because I became a Dudeist Priest and am licensed to preach, perform weddings, and funerals, etc... And so it's a First Amendment issue because my "church" has Ganja as a sacramental herb. Never could get passed the dogma of "Organized" Christianity enough to attend a seminary.
I do have some meds for the PTSD, and went through a PTSD system management course at VA. I feel a whole lot better. The Ganja helps with the chronic pain and the anxiety. And, besides, I've always loved it anyway. Can't drink alcohol because of the meds, and, besides, I'm an asshole when I'm drunk - family genes and tradition on both sides. So me and the peace pipe have been great friends for a long time.
Got my BBAd in Accounting from Gonzaga in 1988. Then worked for the Department of Revenue in Oly as an accountant and then as an Excise Tax Examiner. Finally had to quit and came back to Spokane to get treated at VA for the PTSD. Wasn't being medicated or treated before that point. That was FUN!!! Hey... I have no secrets. I had a rule in the Corps. You ask me a question in a haphazard way and I'll dance my ass off. You ask me a straight up question and you'll get a straight up answer, no matter the consequences. Rule still applies. So if ya feel froggy??? Leap!!!
Been divorc...Expand for more
ed for about 20 years. Now I live with my furry lil Jarhead Rena. She has PTSD as well. It's why I adopted her. She was barely two and had been in a pound in Oregon for two months and one here for six weeks when my niece showed me her picture on Facebook. Went down to rescue her the next day. She completely hates men. I got greeted with a fang to the knuckle that broke her fang and shattered a tooth four back. The lady was afraid I wouldn't take her. 20 minutes later she was adopted and sleeping between my feats on the way home. That was four years ago. She's come a long way. I've trained her with the lessons I learned at VA and now she's a 35 pound little Doxie-Whippet-Muttley princess who earns her keep warning me about passing cars, people on the street, cats, squirrels... And by hunting the occasional Mousk who sneaks into the house. They're Russian, that's why I call them Mouskes...
Now days I look like Santa and ask random folks in stores with young kids in tow if the kids have been good this time of year. Should see the looks on some little kids' faces. I love it. Most parents think it's great because I always tell the kids to behave for the parents because the naughty and nice book is still available for changes...
You might ask how an olde hippie became a Marine sergeant, an accountant, and, a tax examiner... The last two were no big deal to me. The Marine Corps??? I adore the US Constitution and have always believed my more conservative brothers and sisters shouldn't be the only ones caring the load of defense of that document. It's for all of us to cherish and defend. No matter our political beliefs. I'm a Berner and most of my friends seem to be Trumpeteers... We don't judge each other, we just keep the friendship and keep rolling down the road.. Without the Constitution the rest is irrelevant.
Hope to hear from some of ya soon. I'm not the shy little guy I was in the early 70s. Nor am I the introverted mistrusting creature I was in the 90s before being treated at VA. I'm back to being the opinionated Marine sergeant who loves to debate facts and share knowledge, love, and a great conversation with friends of any length of time.
Y'all be good Fellow Babies.
I'll see ya around the playground...
Ted
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