Teenage Dale

Originally written in November 2004

Regrettably, Dale and I didn’t see each other too much before he went into the Marines. I guess it’s a normal teenage thing. I moved out of home when Dale was sixteen.

At this point Dale’s life already revolved around becoming a Marine. (Actually, I think it always did). When I moved out Dale took over my room and decorated it like a Marine barrack. Or at least that’s what I think it was suppose to look like. He painted the room gray and even painted numbers over his door. He slept on a cot in a sleeping bag instead of a bed. A marine flag worked as curtains and his furniture was black.

Dale also loved to “play” Marines. Most of this I learned from my sister because, being younger, Rachel was often forced to participate. We had a pool in our backyard where Dale and Rachel would complete “missions”. This would involve a raft, camouflage and assorted military gear. I don’t know the details, but I do know that Dale and his friends would complete other “missions” that involved sneaking around town and repelling off buildings. (Not sure, or don’t want to say, which ones).

Other than these strange tendencies, Dale was pretty normal. As a young child Dale loved baseball, but as he got older he like ice hockey and skiing. He liked electronic stuff, like computers and downloading music. Once old enough to drive his passion was his truck, first a Ford F150. Later, after joining the Marines, he bought a Ford F350, a monster of a truck. He loved the truck and would often go off-roading/mudding in it. (I recently learned he once did this in my car, a tiny VW Golf!!)

Dale also had a lot of responsibilities, because of my dad. My dad was disabled and required a lot of care. Being the only son, Dale often spent a lot of time with dad, physically caring for him or just spending time with him.