A sign of the times?...
Have had old flyin' buddies who pulled duties as aides to 4-stars (from all the Services), I know there is a grain of truth to the above. Not as low as the WalMart Greeter level...but there are some "challenges"--like figuring out how to find your objective during a business visit to an unfamiliar office when you normally just follow your entourage, etc., etc. Then there's reacquainting yourself with driving your own bad self to work every day. But they cope...
Charley, a new retiree greeter at Wal-Mart, just can't get to work on time. Every day he's 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he's a good worker, tidy, clean shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company.
One day the boss calls him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I like your work ethic. You do a fantastic job, but your being late so often is bothersome. I know you're retired from the military. What did they say if you came in late?"
"They said, 'Good morning, General. Shall I bring you some coffee, sir?'"
Have had old flyin' buddies who pulled duties as aides to 4-stars (from all the Services), I know there is a grain of truth to the above. Not as low as the WalMart Greeter level...but there are some "challenges"--like figuring out how to find your objective during a business visit to an unfamiliar office when you normally just follow your entourage, etc., etc. Then there's reacquainting yourself with driving your own bad self to work every day. But they cope...
It involves retired majors with bad habits.
The other side is when you are working together with them on a project and they have a Big Idea and turn to you and say something along the lines of "I have a great idea! Here, turn this into a brief and I'll take it up the chain." and you respond... "Um, no. Got my own work to do. I'll be happy to look over your brief and make sure it meets the requirement, when you're finished with it, though."
Would love to see your facial expression when you recite those lines, John...
"Just the facts, ma'am."
Though I might be doing a happy dance on the inside for the chance to take the shot...
Visualize Cujo the Polar Bear eyeing an AGW advocate roaming the Arctic, armed only with a solar-powered hand drill, in search of ice thin enough for his drill to bore through...