South Texas Shooters (Photography That Is!)

For my entire adult LIFE I have been involved in service to others, even as a kid I was providing service, shinning shoes, delivering groceries and a truck load of other jobs. My adult LIFE has seen me doing military service in the Army and after the Army I went on to be a public servant in the Transportation field, talking about moving people within a large metropolitan community.

During my military service I choose the medical field (Combat Medic) and never had a regret even when I was scrubbing pots, pans, two and half ton trucks and half a million other details that are a part of military service. But when the time came to be a Medic I was all in from top of my head, to the bottom of my feet and the whole heart. Nothing was more important than to take care of the soldier to my left and right and to the people we came in contact with. There was many, many times when I was scared shitless, but I never wavered I just said “F” It and did IT!!! Most times after I did what needed to be done to preserve a life is when the “Scared Shitless” feeling struck, that’s when my hands would shake along with my body. But I did what needs to be done.

After military service I entered the civilian job world as a bus operator and now as a bus supervisor I find myself still providing service to others. The current job is not as serious as being a medic but still providing service above self. I enjoy doing for others, sometimes the feeling is awesome, sometimes I question why the hell am I doing this. But then I see that smile or hear those words “Thanks” that makes it all worth the hassle! Service Above Self, three words that mean LIFE to me, my life, your life their life, everybody’s LIFE!

These days I feel like I’m going into a Hot LZ or Combat Zone!!! The biggest difference is the enemy has no face or many faces, no uniforms, no national origin, no language, no ideology nothing you can put a finger on or identify. It’s a disease that is the enemy, it attacks anyone, anywhere at anytime. The thing that brings out the fear is all the news, main stream or social media, most it I believe comes from folks that like to stir the pot just to see who they can get to cringe, cower and run away. I may run away at somethings or some people, but I never run from service to others!!!

Although these past few weeks have made me uneasy and what unknowns are laying in wait in the coming weeks I am here to Do The Right Thing and provide Service Above Self. Don’t get me wrong I am looking out for me also but I refuse to allow paranoia and doubt to take over my LIFE! Transit workers in this area are being called essential workers and I believe that we are for this someone who needs to get to their essential job or get to the doctors office, grocery store and other places of business. I am there for the men and women that keep us on the move. No I don’t have all the answers, nor do I have a cure, but I am there for you who has to get to work, store, hospital or other places that are necessary, not the club, the bar or any other place that you don’t need to go to. I’m here for my guys, I’m here for my family, blood and those have become family and for those friends that Dare To Care!

I may not be scared shitless at this moment and I may be later but I’m still going to do what has to be done for those that I serve! “Service Above Self” has been what I’ve done for so long that I don’t know any other way!!! So just to let you know, I’m going to be safe I’m still going to do what needs to be done for you!!!!!